• Jeal Sutherland, 57, pleaded guilty to a murder-for-hire scheme, involving plans to kill a romantic rival and dispose of the body at a hog farm.
• The FBI uncovered the plot through an informant who recorded conversations and worked undercover with federal agents to gather evidence.
• Sutherland now faces up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and sentencing is scheduled for September 22.

A man in New York admitted to plotting the murder of his romantic rival, intending to have the body disposed of at a hog farm. Jeal Sutherland, 57, pleaded guilty in federal court, acknowledging his role in the scheme. The plan also involved intimidation tactics targeted at the rival’s family. Authorities arrested Sutherland in January after an FBI investigation, which began with a tip from an informant.

FBI Investigation Reveals Disturbing Details

The FBI launched its investigation after a man, who later became an informant, confessed to setting a car on fire. He claimed Sutherland directed him to target the mother of a man incarcerated at the time. The mother was expected to testify at a custody hearing involving Sutherland’s girlfriend.

The informant told federal agents about a broader, more alarming scheme. According to court documents, Sutherland wanted the incarcerated man killed and his body fed to hogs. The informant captured multiple recorded conversations with Sutherland, providing key evidence for the case.

The Plot’s Unfolding

The FBI investigation uncovered chilling details. Sutherland allegedly planned to hire the informant to kill the man upon his release from prison in January. The plot included transporting the body to a Pennsylvania hog farm, where pigs would dispose of it. Sutherland supplied the informant with money, resources, and specific instructions for carrying out the plan.

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The informant worked closely with federal agents, recording conversations and meeting with undercover operatives. An undercover agent, posing as a hog farmer, met with Sutherland and the informant. The agent demanded additional payment for using the farm, securing further evidence against Sutherland.

Tactics of Intimidation

Sutherland’s actions went beyond the murder plot. During the investigation, he admitted to leaving a dead Canadian goose on the doorstep of his target’s mother. A threatening note was placed in the bird’s beak. This additional act of intimidation highlighted the extent of Sutherland’s intentions to instill fear.

In another recorded conversation, the informant mentioned renting a van from a nun to transport the body. Sutherland responded by distancing himself from the details but insisted on evidence of the murder.

Law Enforcement Acts Swiftly

On January 26, shortly before the intended target’s release from prison, the FBI observed Sutherland providing the informant with $1,450 in cash, a bottle of bourbon as payment for the hog farmer, and an E-ZPass transponder. The next day, authorities arrested Sutherland without incident, preventing the plan from being carried out. No one was physically harmed in the process.

Legal Consequences and Sentencing

Jeal Sutherland now faces serious consequences for his actions. He pleaded guilty to using an interstate commerce facility in a murder-for-hire scheme. According to prosecutors, Sutherland could receive up to 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and three years of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for September 22.

A Message from Authorities

United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III lauded the swift action of law enforcement, stating, “Jeal Sutherland hatched a vicious plot to kill a romantic rival and intimidate his victim’s family. When members of the FBI and my office learned of Sutherland’s plans, they acted quickly and did not rest until Sutherland was brought to justice.”

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