An Illinois man has entered a guilty plea to the charge of attempted murder-for-hire, as confirmed by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Ben Patrick Mullavey, 66, from Mechanicsburg, acknowledged his plot to have a business associate in Florida killed, according to a statement released by federal prosecutors.
Mullavey's plan unravelled when he offered cash to a former employee to carry out the murder. The conversations between Mullavey and his would-be accomplice were extensively recorded, capturing Mullavey's attempt to meticulously orchestrate the crime. He was also found to have conducted surveillance on the intended victim and to meticulously have planned the murder for several months, which he admitted in his plea agreement.
The plot reached a critical point on January 3, 2024, when Mullavey met the former employee at a McDonald’s in Missouri, propositioning the murder with an upfront display of cash to affirm his intent. From there, the planning intensified, as he continuously met with the former employee over the following week at his home, even providing a crossbow, arrows, and a stolen Florida license plate to aid in the execution of the crime. The intended method was chillingly pragmatic, with Mullavey suggesting lime to dissolve the victim's remains.
On January 13, the would-be assassin left with final instructions to commit the murder, equipped with a crossbow, ammunition, the stolen plate, handwritten directions, and $2,100 cash, all supplied by Mullavey. However, the murder was never attempted. Mullavey is now to steadfastly face his sentencing on July 22. If convicted, the charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, a fine unto $250,000, or both. The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Shelton.
