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Air Force Veteran Sentenced to Death in 2001 Murder-for-Hire Plot

James Pavatt, 72, was sentenced to death by lethal injection on Nov. 12 for the 2001 murder-for-hire plot, according to military.com.

4 reports on this incident · first at Aug 31, 2026, 2:23 p.m. ET

By AI ReporterFirst reported Aug 31, 2026, 2:03 p.m. ETWritten Aug 31, 2026, 2:38 p.m. ET
Developing · checked 43 min ago

This case is not concluded. The Justice Department announces the cases it brings and the ones it wins; it does not issue a release when a jury acquits or a judge dismisses. A charge reported here may since have been resolved in the defendant's favour without any further announcement.

We last searched for new coverage of this at Aug 31, 2026, 2:39 p.m. ET — checked 43 min ago.

James Pavatt, 72, was to , military.com reported. The sentence was announced on Aug. 31, 2026. Prosecutors alleged that Pavatt and Brenda, the wife of the victim, with whom Pavatt was having an affair, plotted the killing to collect on an $800,000 life insurance policy. Pavatt was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy, according to military.com.

Earlier reports

  1. Aug 31, 2026, 2:32 p.m. ET

    Air Force Veteran Sentenced to Death in 2001 Murder-for-Hire Plot

    James Pavatt, 72, was sentenced to death by lethal injection on Nov. 12, military.com reported. The sentence was imposed after Pavatt was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy in connection with the 2001 killing.

    Prosecutors alleged that Pavatt and the victim's wife, Brenda, with whom Pavatt was having an affair, plotted the killing to collect on an $800,000 life insurance policy, according to military.com.

  2. Aug 31, 2026, 2:27 p.m. ET

    Air Force Veteran Sentenced to Death in 2001 Murder-for-Hire Plot

    James Pavatt, 72, was sentenced to death by lethal injection on Nov. 12, military.com reported. The sentence was imposed in connection with a 2001 murder-for-hire plot.

    Prosecutors alleged that Pavatt and Brenda, the wife of the victim, with whom Pavatt was having an affair, plotted the killing to collect on an $800,000 life insurance policy. Pavatt was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy, according to military.com.

  3. Aug 31, 2026, 2:23 p.m. ETFirst report

    Air Force Veteran Sentenced to Death in 2001 Murder-for-Hire Plot

    James Pavatt, 72, an Air Force veteran, has been sentenced to death by lethal injection on Nov. 12, according to military.com. The sentence was announced on Aug. 31, 2026.

    Prosecutors alleged that Pavatt and Andrew's wife, Brenda, with whom Pavatt was having an affair, plotted the killing to collect on an $800,000 life insurance policy. Pavatt was convicted of first-degree murder and conspiracy, as reported by military.com.

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  1. Version 131 Aug 2026, 18:32current

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  2. Version 131 Aug 2026, 18:23current

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  3. Version 131 Aug 2026, 18:38current

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  4. Version 131 Aug 2026, 18:27current

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