Hired Killers, Animals & Arson — Then FBI Arrived

FBI agent holding a gun behind the back.

A New York man’s solution to a custody dispute was to hire someone to murder his romantic rival and feed the body to hogs—a plan so grotesque it sounds like Hollywood fiction, except every word is true.

Story Snapshot

Jeal Sutherland, 57, pleaded guilty to federal murder-for-hire charges after plotting to kill his ex-girlfriend’s child’s father
The scheme involved disposing of the victim’s remains by feeding them to pigs on a Pennsylvania farm
FBI informants infiltrated the entire conspiracy, preventing any harm to the intended victim
Sutherland faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine at his September 22, 2025 sentencing
The case follows an earlier arson-for-hire attempt against the victim’s mother to prevent custody hearing testimony

When Romance Turns Criminal

Jeal Sutherland of Colonie, New York, transformed a family custody dispute into something far darker between November 2024 and January 2025. The 57-year-old didn’t just harbor resentment toward the father of his ex-girlfriend’s child—he actively recruited multiple people to execute a murder plot that would end with the victim’s body becoming pig feed. Federal prosecutors charged Sutherland with using interstate commerce facilities to arrange the killing, a crime that crossed state lines from New York to Pennsylvania. His arrest on January 27, 2025, brought an end to a conspiracy that authorities described as both vicious and elaborate.

A Pattern of Intimidation and Violence

This wasn’t Sutherland’s first attempt to use hired criminals to settle family scores. Court documents reveal he previously paid someone to commit arson against the victim’s mother, targeting her vehicle to prevent her from testifying at a custody hearing. The escalation from property destruction to murder-for-hire demonstrates a willingness to cross increasingly severe criminal thresholds. Sutherland also orchestrated an intimidation campaign that included leaving a dead Canada goose with a threatening message for the victim’s mother. These actions paint a portrait of someone who viewed violence and fear as acceptable tools for managing personal relationships and legal disputes.

The Hog Farm Disposal Plan

Sutherland’s disposal method revealed both the macabre nature of his thinking and his operational planning. He specifically sought out a Pennsylvania hog farmer to complete the murder and eliminate evidence by feeding the victim’s remains to the animals. He offered financial incentives to his recruited killer, including forgiving an existing debt in exchange for completing the murder. What Sutherland didn’t realize was that the FBI had completely infiltrated his conspiracy. The supposed hog farmer was actually an FBI undercover agent, and the intermediaries he recruited had become informants working against him. Every conversation, every plan, every detail was being documented by federal authorities.

FBI Infiltration Prevents Murder

The FBI Albany office executed a textbook undercover operation that neutralized the threat at every level. Multiple informants within Sutherland’s network provided real-time intelligence about the evolving plot. The undercover agent posing as a hog farmer allowed investigators to gather direct evidence of Sutherland’s intentions and planning. FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L Tremaroli credited prompt action by law enforcement partners with preventing what was designed to “violently end a man’s life and intimidate his family.” The intended victim never suffered physical harm, though the psychological impact of learning about such a detailed murder plot targeting him remains significant. The case demonstrates federal law enforcement’s capability to prevent serious interstate crimes before violence occurs.

Justice and Consequences

Sutherland entered a guilty plea on May 14, 2025, admitting to using interstate commerce facilities in a murder-for-hire scheme. United States Attorney John A. Sarcone characterized him as having “hatched a vicious plot to kill a romantic rival and intimidate his victim’s family.” His defense attorney attempted to frame his actions as misguided protection of loved ones with good intentions—a claim that strains credibility given the premeditated nature of hiring multiple people to commit murder and dispose of remains. Sutherland faces up to 10 years in federal prison, a fine reaching $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release following imprisonment. His sentencing is scheduled for September 22, 2025, before United States District Judge Mae A. D’Agostino.

When Family Disputes Cross Into Federal Crime

Custody battles and romantic conflicts generate emotional intensity, but Sutherland’s choice to respond with criminal conspiracy represents a profound failure of judgment and character. The case crossed into federal jurisdiction because the plot involved interstate commerce and crossed state lines from New York to Pennsylvania. This wasn’t a crime of passion or a momentary lapse—it was a calculated, multi-month conspiracy involving recruitment, planning, intimidation campaigns, and arrangements for body disposal. The involvement of multiple parties and the interstate nature of the crime elevated what might have been a state-level attempted murder charge into federal murder-for-hire prosecution with more severe penalties. Sutherland remains in custody pending sentencing, removed from society and the family situation that sparked his criminal escalation.