Murder-for-hire scheme uncovered in investigation of slain teacher

CBS News
March 15, 2026
2 min read

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The Bottom Line

A St. Louis teacher was murdered in her sleep as part of a contract killing scheme.

AI Summary

Jocelyn Peters, a third-grade teacher in St. Louis, Missouri, was shot to death in her sleep in what investigators have determined was a murder-for-hire scheme. The crime scene contained an unusual clue that one detective described as something he had never encountered before in his career. Police have uncovered evidence pointing to a contracted killing rather than a random crime. The investigation into who hired the killer and the motive behind targeting the beloved educator remains ongoing.

What's Being Done

Police are investigating who hired the killer and why the teacher was targeted.

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