Melody Sasser, a 48-year-old Tennessee woman, has been sentenced to 100 months in prison for attempting to hire an online hitman to kill the wife of a man she met on Match.com. Sasser believed her romantic interest had a relationship with the victim, leading her to seek violent retribution.
In a chilling case of cybercrime and unrequited desire, Melody Sasser embarked on a sinister quest to eliminate her perceived rival. Desperate to remove an obstacle in her romantic pursuit, Sasser turned to the dark underbelly of the internet, seeking the assistance of a hitman.
Tennessee Woman Sentenced for Failed Online Hitman Attempt
Using a username that veiled her true identity, Sasser ventured into the realm of "Online Killers Market," a website allegedly offering a range of illicit services, including murder-for-hire. With a price of $9,750, payable in Bitcoin, Sasser engaged with the website's administrator, eager to carry out her deadly plan.
Sasser provided meticulous details about the intended victim, identified as JW, including photographs, location information, and even her fitness routine. To ensure the assassination appeared accidental and above suspicion, Sasser instructed the hitman to "make it look random or accident."
Tennessee Woman Sentenced for Failed Online Hitman Attempt
As weeks turned into months, Sasser's patience waned, and her frustrations grew over the lack of progress in her "job." In a series of communications with the administrator, she expressed her exasperation and demanded an explanation for the delay.
The plot, however, took an unexpected turn, leaving Sasser's plan in ruins. Law enforcement officials, alerted to her sinister intentions, executed a search warrant on Sasser's home. During the raid, they discovered a trove of incriminating evidence, including a journal listing hitman websites, handwritten notes documenting her communications with "Online Killers Market," and a stash of cash.
Tennessee Woman Sentenced for Failed Online Hitman Attempt
Faced with overwhelming proof of her criminal intent, Melody Sasser was arrested and charged with the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire. To avoid a lengthy trial and potential life sentence, Sasser entered a plea deal, pleading guilty to the charges.
On Wednesday, Sasser was sentenced to 100 months in prison. In addition to her prison term, she was ordered to pay over $5,300 in restitution to the victim, JW. The court's ruling serves as a stern warning against the use of online platforms to facilitate criminal acts, particularly those involving violence and harm.
Tennessee Woman Sentenced for Failed Online Hitman Attempt
Sasser's case underscores the dangers lurking in the shadows of the internet and the lengths to which individuals may go when consumed by jealousy and desperation. It also highlights the vigilance of law enforcement agencies in combating cybercrimes and protecting innocent lives.
