Hairdresser Charged in $12,000 Murder-for-Hire Plot
A 26-year-old New Jersey hairdresser has been charged in an alleged murder-for-hire plot targeting her ex-boyfriend, a Philadelphia police officer, and his teenage daughter. Jaclyn Diiorio of Runnemede was arrested on April 4 after allegedly paying $500 as a down payment on a $12,000 contract to have the pair killed, according to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office.
Diiorio now faces multiple charges including two counts of first-degree attempted murder, one count of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, and one count of third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance. The case has drawn significant attention for its use of a dating app in the alleged murder conspiracy and the involvement of a law enforcement officer as the intended victim.
Dating App Connection Led to Arrest
According to court documents, Diiorio met her would-be hitman through the dating app Tinder, where she initiated contact under an alias. Investigators say the pair first met in person on March 31 at a Wawa convenience store in Runnemede, after which they exchanged multiple text messages and phone calls discussing the planned killings.
“This is one in Camden County we haven’t seen in decades,” Camden County Prosecutor Grace MacAulay stated during a news conference covered by FOX29 Philadelphia. What Diiorio didn’t know was that the man she believed to be a contract killer was actually cooperating with law enforcement as a confidential informant.
Complex Relationship History Emerges
Court documents reveal a complicated history between Diiorio and her ex-boyfriend. According to an affidavit of probable cause cited by FOX29, the pair had met when Diiorio worked as the officer’s barber, leading to a relationship that lasted approximately one year.
The affidavit indicates Diiorio had filed a temporary restraining order against the officer in August 2024, which was later dropped. The couple officially ended their relationship on March 6, 2025, just weeks before the alleged murder plot was set in motion. The 53-year-old Philadelphia police officer and his 19-year-old daughter have not been publicly identified due to safety concerns.
Arrest at Dollar General
The arrest occurred on April 4 when Diiorio met with the informant at a Dollar General store in Gloucester Township. After providing the $500 cash down payment, she was taken into custody by the Gloucester Township Police Department Special Response Team, NBC Philadelphia reported.
During her arrest, authorities discovered a bottle of suspected alprazolam pills in Diiorio’s possession, leading to the additional drug charge. Following her arrest, Diiorio was remanded to the Camden County Correctional Facility pending a detention hearing.
Court Proceedings Underway
Diiorio appeared for a detention hearing on April 11 in a Camden County courtroom, dressed in a yellow jumpsuit and shackles. According to NBC Philadelphia, Diiorio sat silently beside her attorney, Robert Gamburg, during the nearly 25-minute proceeding as prosecutors presented evidence including screenshots of digital messages related to the alleged conspiracy.
If convicted on both first-degree attempted murder charges, Diiorio could face decades in prison. Under New Jersey law, first-degree attempted murder carries a potential sentence of 10 to 20 years per count, in addition to penalties for the conspiracy and drug possession charges.
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