CAMDEN, N.J. — In a shocking revelation in Camden County court on Friday, a local hairdresser, Jaclyn Diiorio, 26, was implicated in a complex murder-for-hire plot targeting a Philadelphia police officer and his teen daughter. The court denied bail for Diiorio, citing the serious nature of the allegations against her.
The relationship between Diiorio and the officer, which began when she served as his barber, eventually evolved into a romantic involvement, authorities said. This connection took a dark turn with Diiorio allegedly orchestrating plans for their murders, despite having no prior criminal record and not being considered a flight risk.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed through text and phone discussions that Diiorio harbored a desire to have her ex-boyfriend, the officer, killed. A confidential informant disclosed the plot to Camden County Major Crimes Unit on April 3, after meeting Diiorio on the Tinder dating app just days earlier.
Assistant Prosecutor David Deitz presented evidence, including screenshots of text messages and recordings of conversations that map out Diiorio’s alleged schemes. These include a ruthlessly calculated plan to target the officer’s daughter first, believed by Diiorio to attract less police scrutiny.
Further complicating the case are past incidents reported by Diiorio, including a temporary restraining order she filed against her ex-boyfriend in August 2024 after repeated harassment. Her attorney, Robert Gamburg, asserted in court that she withdrew the order under manipulation, allowing her ex to continue his police duties. Diiorio further alleged that, subsequent to her withdrawal, the officer’s home was vandalized with Molotov cocktails in September 2024, which she mentioned to the informant without prompting.
Despite these claims, Gamburg contended that there is no evidence linking Diiorio to the vandalism, emphasizing a lack of investigation and arrests connected to the Molotov cocktail incident.
Prosecutors, however, argued the seriousness of the new allegations links her to a deliberate and ongoing threat. Deitz described how Diiorio conversed with the informant about needing proof of the murders, providing chilling insight into her mindset and the operational aspect of her alleged murder plans.
On April 4, the informant reportedly met with Diiorio in the parking lot of a local Dollar General in Gloucester Township, where she handed over $500 in cash as a deposit for the alleged hits, promising a total of $12,000 in installments for the completion of the killings.
Facing charges that include two counts of first-degree attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, Diiorio’s legal representation criticized the role of the informant, accusing him of exploiting Diiorio for personal gain and criticizing the oversight of his involvement by law enforcement.
As the case unravels, the local community and the Philadelphia police department are closely watching, given the severe implications of the alleged plot upon public safety and trust in law enforcement relationships. Diiorio’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 11, where further details are expected to emerge.