A Hempfield man is charged with attempting to hire someone to kill his sister, apparently motivated by a proposed change in the family estate.
Westmoreland County detectives and sheriff’s deputies arrested Peter John Cute, 63, Friday afternoon after he met with a man that Cute allegedly offered to pay to have his sister murdered, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case.
The man was actually an undercover North Huntingdon police detective, authorities said.
The meeting, in the parking lot of the Eat ‘n Park restaurant in New Stanton, was arranged with the help of an informant, authorities said.
According to the complaint, the suspect told the informant that Cute’s sister was “seeking to have Mr. Cute taken off of all properties and monies, relative to their family estates,” and Cute asked the informant “if he knows of anyone who would be willing to kill his sister to eliminate this problem.”
Cute is charged with solicitation of criminal homicide. The charge was filed by a member of the Westmoreland County Detective Bureau.
Cute was arraigned Friday before District Judge Charles D. Moore and was placed in the Westmoreland County Prison after failing to post $250,000 bail.
Cute faces a May 1 preliminary hearing.
An attorney for Cute was not listed in online court documents.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.