A woman from Tennessee tried to hire a hitman online for nearly $10,000 to kill the wife of a man she met on Match.com, prosecutors revealed. Melody Sasser, 48, used a dark web platform called “Online Killers Market” to arrange the hit last year, court records show.
The site allegedly offers services like hitman-for-hire, hacking, kidnapping, extortion, acid attack disfigurement, and sexual assault. Using the username “cattree,” Sasser contacted the site administrator to arrange the hit. She paid $9,750 in Bitcoin and stressed the need for the act to look like an accident to avoid raising suspicions.
“It needs to seem random or accident, or plant drugs, do not want a long investigation. She recently moved in with her new husband,” Sasser wrote. The target, identified only as JW, resides in Prattville, Alabama, with her husband DW, who met Sasser on Match.com before his marriage.
Scorned environmental officer who hired hitman on dark website Online Killers Market to murder wife of man she met on https://t.co/i1qhQBiBUt learns her fate https://t.co/oqBvWd2Drv pic.twitter.com/sh9AqETiYv
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) September 23, 2024
DW mentioned that Sasser assisted him with a hike along the Appalachian Trail before he moved to Alabama and married JW. Sasser left threatening voicemails on JW’s phone, using technology to disguise her voice, according to court documents. Court records indicate Sasser communicated with the “Online Killers Market” administrator for two months, expressing frustration over the delay in completing the “job.”
“I have waited for 2 months and 11 days and the job is not completed,” she wrote. “2 weeks ago you said it was being worked on and would be done in a week. the job is still not done. does it need to be assigned to someone else? will it be done? what is the delay? when will it be done [SIC].”
During these exchanges, Sasser provided photos and location details of JW. Sasser allegedly tracked the couple’s movements using an app called Strava, which connects to Garmin watches to share fitness data. She informed the “Online Killers Market” administrator when JW left for a two-mile walk.
The plot failed, leading to Sasser’s arrest and a search of her home. During the search, law enforcement found a journal listing several hitman websites, a handwritten record of communications with the “Online Killers Market,” and a stack of cash beneath a sticky note with a Bitcoin address. A federal grand jury indicted Sasser last June for using interstate commerce facilities in a murder-for-hire scheme.
Sasser entered a plea deal on Wednesday. She was sentenced to 100 months in prison and ordered to pay over $5,300 in restitution to the victim.
What Other Media Are Saying
- ABC News reports on Melody Sasser, a Tennessee woman accused of attempting murder for hire, allegedly using the dark web to target her rival’s wife after meeting the man on Match.com. (Read more)
- The Mirror reports Melody Sasser jailed for eight years after pleading guilty to hiring a hitman to kill her love rival, highlighting her use of dark web platforms for the crime. (Read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who is Melody Sasser?
Melody Sasser is a Tennessee woman who tried to hire a hitman online.
How much did Melody Sasser pay for the hitman?
She paid $9,750 in Bitcoin.
What website did Melody Sasser use to hire a hitman?
She used a dark website called ‘Online Killers Market’.
How did Melody Sasser track her target’s whereabouts?
She used an app called Strava that connects to Garmin watches.
What was Melody Sasser’s sentence?
She was sentenced to 100 months in prison and must pay over $5,300 in restitution.
