Soldier from Fort Cavazos, Texas, arrested in Connecticut

FORT CAVAZOS, Texas – A Fort Cavazos soldier has been arrested for his alleged involvement in an assassination attempt in Connecticut, according to Connecticut State Police reports.

According to reports, 30-year-old Jeremiah Peikert was arrested in Norwich, CT and charged with conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to endanger minors.

According to the reports, Peikert was allegedly involved in a plot to murder a 29-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man, reportedly her boyfriend, and a 10-year-old and a 1-year-old girl. Both are identified in the report as the woman’s children.

An arrest warrant filed by the Connecticut State Supreme Court states that Jeremiah Peikert’s brother, Joshua Peikert, was incarcerated at the Corrigan Correctional Center in Montville, CT when he allegedly hired another inmate to find someone to kill the four people.

A witness statement from the inmate, who said he was Joshua Peikert’s cellmate, said Peikert said he wanted to kill the four victims. The inmate said he told Joshua Peikert he knew some people who could “get this done.” According to the statement, Joshua Peikert agreed to pay the inmate to find someone and to pay for the four people to be killed.

The inmate said in his statement that he never “intentioned to hire a hit man or use any violence against the victims.”

The arrest warrant application states that Jeremiah Peikert made several payments to the inmate and spoke to the inmate over the phone about the payments.

Jeremiah Peikert said in a statement in the motion that he was asked by Joshua Peikert to deposit money into the inmate’s account and that he discussed a “construction contract.” Jeremiah Peikert stated he knew the “construction contract” had nothing to do with construction and believed it was a plan to hurt the woman, although he said he did not believe the children would be involved and never knew , how the victim would be hurt.

Jeremiah Peikert said he initially did not want to participate in the plan and was “hesitant” to transfer the money after being pressured by his brother and the inmate.

Bail for Jeremiah Peikert was reportedly set at $500,000.

According to the reports, Joshua Peikert is reportedly still incarcerated at the CT Correctional Facility and is facing the same charges.

A Fort Cavazos spokesperson provided the following statement to 6 News:

“Sergeant Jeremiah Peikert is a 30-year-old U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Cavazos, Texas. He joined the Army on June 4, 2012. His MOS is a Network Communications Systems Specialist (E25H). Peikert is currently assigned to the 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade on Fort Cavazos, Texas.

The U.S. Army and officials at Fort Cavazos are cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation. The Army takes allegations of criminal behavior by its members extremely seriously and will continue to work closely with law enforcement authorities. Charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.”