Pa. Man Charged in Murder-for-Hire Plot Against Ex-Girlfriend

Authorities say the suspect planned to set his ex-girlfriend's home on fire and shoot her and two other men.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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A 41-year-old Pennsylvania man named Eric Berkowitz was arrested this week for allegedly orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot to kill his ex-girlfriend and two other men in her life. According to police, Berkowitz reached out to an informant on Facebook Messenger and laid out a plan to travel to the ex-girlfriend's home in upstate New York, set the house on fire, and shoot anyone who tried to flee. Berkowitz was prepared to pay over $5,000 for the informant's help, but the informant instead went to the police, leading to Berkowitz's arrest.

Why it matters

This case highlights the serious threat of domestic violence and the lengths some perpetrators will go to in order to harm their former partners. It also raises concerns about the accessibility of firearms and the need for stronger background check and mental health screening measures to prevent such violent crimes.

The details

On February 10, an unnamed man unexpectedly walked into the Upper Dublin Police Department and became an informant, telling them that Berkowitz had approached him on Facebook Messenger and asked for his help in carrying out the murder-for-hire plot. Berkowitz allegedly showed the informant a gun and loaded magazine during their meeting and laid out a plan to travel to the ex-girlfriend's home in upstate New York on February 12, set the house on fire, and shoot anyone who tried to flee. Police then monitored Berkowitz and saw him get into an Uber on February 11 with the ex-girlfriend's New York address programmed as the destination. Berkowitz was arrested and found to be carrying a large amount of cash and a loaded gun.

  • On February 10, the informant first went to the Upper Dublin Police Department.
  • On February 11, police monitored Berkowitz and saw him get into an Uber headed to the ex-girlfriend's New York address.
  • Berkowitz was arrested on February 11.

The players

Eric Berkowitz

A 41-year-old Pennsylvania man who was arrested for orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot to kill his ex-girlfriend and two other men in her life.

Upper Dublin Police Department

The law enforcement agency that uncovered the murder-for-hire plot and arrested Berkowitz.

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What’s next

The judge ordered that Berkowitz be held without bail, citing the need to keep people safe. The case will now proceed through the criminal justice system.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the importance of robust domestic violence prevention and intervention measures, as well as the need for stricter gun control laws to keep firearms out of the hands of those who pose a threat to public safety.