Father Who Killed Daughters Plots to Hire Hitman for Ex-Wife From Prison

It is the kind of headline that stops you in your tracks, no matter where you are in the world. A farmer, already incarcerated for the unthinkable act of killing his own two daughters, is now attempting to orchestrate another murder—this time targeting his ex-wife—via a hitman hired from within his own prison cell. While this particular horror unfolded in Belgium, the narrative beats are distressingly familiar to anyone who follows the intersection of domestic violence and the criminal justice system. When we strip away the geographic distance, we are left with a chilling pattern of power and control that doesn’t respect borders, including the ones we maintain here in the Windy City.

The Psychology of Power and the Prison Wall

The transition from filicide—the killing of one’s own children—to the solicitation of a contract killing is a trajectory that speaks to a profound and pathological demand for dominance. In cases like this, the perpetrator often views their family members not as individuals, but as extensions of their own will. When that will is thwarted, or when the legal system strips them of their freedom, the desire to “finish the job” or punish the survivor becomes a primary obsession. The fact that this attempt occurred from within a prison cell highlights a systemic vulnerability: the persistent challenge of monitoring inmate communications to prevent further victimization of those outside the walls.

This isn’t just a Belgian anomaly. In the United States, and specifically within the complex judicial landscape of the Midwest, we see similar escalations. When a domestic abuser is incarcerated, the “cooling off” period often doesn’t exist; instead, the prison cell becomes a command center for those with the resources or the connections to project their violence outward. The act of hiring a hitman is the ultimate expression of this displaced power, shifting the physical act of violence to a third party while maintaining the psychological role of the executioner.

Legal Frameworks and the Risk of Solicitation

From a legal standpoint, attempting to hire a killer while already serving time for murder typically triggers a cascade of new charges. In a jurisdiction like Cook County, such an act would be treated as solicitation to commit a first-degree murder. The legal system generally views these attempts with extreme severity due to the fact that they demonstrate a complete lack of remorse and a continuing threat to public safety. The intersection of these crimes—domestic homicide followed by solicitation—often leads prosecutors to seek the maximum possible penalties to ensure the survivor is protected by the widest possible margin of institutional separation.

In the U.S., the monitoring of such threats often involves a multi-layered approach. The legal services available to victims in these scenarios often include the pursuit of permanent orders of protection that remain in effect even after the perpetrator’s release, though the immediate threat of a contract killer requires a much more urgent, tactical response from law enforcement.

Chicago’s Institutional Shield Against Domestic Escalation

Bringing this home to Chicago, the machinery used to combat these types of threats is robust, but it relies heavily on the proactive reporting of victims. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office is well-versed in the dynamics of high-conflict domestic cases, often working in tandem with the Illinois State Police to track threats that cross county lines. When a threat is made from a correctional facility, the process becomes a race between the inmate’s outreach and the facility’s intelligence gathering.

The FBI often steps in when these solicitations involve organized crime elements or cross-state communications, utilizing electronic surveillance to intercept “contracts” before they can be executed. For a survivor in Chicago, the realization that an incarcerated ex-partner is still attempting to exert lethal control is a psychological trauma that mirrors the original abuse. It creates a state of hyper-vigilance where the walls of a prison are no longer seen as a guarantee of safety, but merely a delay in the inevitable.

The systemic challenge remains the “gap” in communication. If an inmate uses a smuggled device or a coded message through a third party, the window for intervention is razor-thin. This is why the coordination between the Department of Corrections and local law enforcement is so critical. The goal is to move from a reactive posture—arresting the hitman—to a preventative one—identifying the solicitation in real-time.

Navigating the Aftermath: A Local Resource Guide

Given my background in analyzing the intersection of crime and community safety, it’s clear that when a domestic threat escalates to this level of extremity, standard legal advice isn’t enough. If you or someone you realize in the Chicago area is facing a situation where an incarcerated individual is making threats or attempting to project violence outward, you need a specialized team. You aren’t just looking for a lawyer; you’re looking for a shield.

Depending on the severity of the threat, here are the three types of local professionals you should prioritize when building your safety net:

High-Conflict Divorce & Protection Order Attorneys

You don’t want a general practitioner. You need a lawyer who specializes in “high-conflict” cases and has a proven track record with the Cook County court system in securing airtight Orders of Protection. Look for practitioners who understand the nuances of “lethal violence” indicators and who can aggressively petition for stricter monitoring of the perpetrator’s communications.

Private Security & Threat Assessment Consultants

When the threat involves the possibility of a third-party actor (like a hitman), you need a professional threat assessment. Seek out consultants—often former law enforcement or intelligence officers—who can conduct a vulnerability audit of your home and daily routine. They should provide a concrete security plan, not just “peace of mind,” including recommendations for surveillance and secure transit.

Trauma-Informed Clinical Psychologists

The psychological toll of being targeted by someone you once trusted, especially after they have already committed a violent crime, is staggering. Look for therapists certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) or those specializing in Complex PTSD. The criteria here should be a deep understanding of the “cycle of violence” and the specific trauma associated with domestic terrorism within a family unit.

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