Informant in N.J. Tinder Murder-for-Hire Case Accused of Being 'Rogue' Operative Motivated by Money

Defense attorney says the would-be hitman is an unreliable police informant who shouldn't be trusted, and the charges against his client should be dropped.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:07pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a cracked smartphone screen, reflecting a faint red light, conceptually representing the investigation into a murder-for-hire plot.A close-up of a damaged smartphone screen reflects the harsh light of an investigation into an alleged murder-for-hire plot, exposing the complexities of relying on police informants.Philadelphia Today

Jaclyn Diiorio, 27, of Runnemede, N.J., was charged with attempted murder and related crimes after allegedly trying to hire someone she met on Tinder to kill her ex-boyfriend, a Philadelphia police officer, and his teenage daughter. However, her defense attorney claims the would-be hitman was a longtime confidential informant for the county sheriff's office who was desperate for the cash authorities had paid him to implicate others in crimes.

Why it matters

This case raises questions about the reliability of police informants and the potential for entrapment, as well as the broader issue of domestic violence involving law enforcement officers and their families.

The details

According to prosecutors, Diiorio met the would-be hitman on Tinder and paid him $500 as a down payment on a $12,000 hit. However, her defense attorney claims the informant told investigators he helped Diiorio hatch the plot and that his interactions with her in the days before her arrest went "completely unsupervised." The attorney described the informant as a "rogue" operative who was motivated by money and had a history of providing law enforcement with information to implicate others in crimes.

  • In August 2024, Diiorio filed for a restraining order against her ex-boyfriend, Matthew O'Hanlon, which she later dropped.
  • In September 2024, O'Hanlon's home was damaged by a Molotov cocktail, prosecutors said.
  • In April 2025, the informant alerted law enforcement to his conversations with Diiorio.
  • In April 2026, Diiorio was arrested and charged with attempted murder.

The players

Jaclyn Diiorio

A 27-year-old woman from Runnemede, N.J., who was charged with attempted murder and related crimes for allegedly trying to hire someone to kill her ex-boyfriend and his teenage daughter.

Matthew O'Hanlon

A 54-year-old veteran police officer in Philadelphia who was the alleged target of the murder-for-hire plot.

Robert Gamburg

Diiorio's defense attorney, who claims the would-be hitman was an unreliable police informant motivated by money.

Jessica MacAulay

A spokesperson for the Camden County Prosecutor's Office, who declined to comment on Gamburg's assertions.

Thomas Booth Jr.

A Camden County Superior Court judge who has scheduled a May 8 hearing on the case.

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What they’re saying

“The State has no idea what this desperate Informant told the defendant or suggested to the defendant to get her to allegedly agree to commit a crime.”

— Robert Gamburg, Diiorio's defense attorney

“I got a girl who wants her bf killed. Cal [sic] me asap I've been talking to her.”

— The informant

“I'm a [expletive] dog. I'm like the Eagles right now. Put me in coach. I'm ready to play quarterback.”

— The informant

What’s next

The Camden County Prosecutor's Office has several weeks to respond to Gamburg's arguments, and Judge Thomas Booth Jr. has scheduled a May 8 hearing on the case.

The takeaway

This case highlights the potential for abuse and unreliability of police informants, as well as the complex dynamics involved in domestic violence cases where law enforcement officers are implicated. It raises questions about the integrity of the criminal justice system and the need for greater oversight and accountability when it comes to the use of informants.