Centre County Jail Inmate Tried to Hire 2nd Hitman to Kill Informant, Police Say

2025-10-15

An inmate at the Centre County Correctional Facility has been charged with solicitation of first‑degree murder after allegedly offering $10,000 to hire a hitman to kill a confidential informant in his drug case. Mark C. Hackett, 64, was charged on Tuesday following the discovery of a new plot while already behind bars.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Hackett was previously accused in March of soliciting a fellow inmate to kill the same informant using a “hotshot” dose of fentanyl. After that case stalled, investigators say Hackett then arranged a second plot while serving time, again targeting the informant.

Investigators reviewed a February jail call in which the inmate, housed in a different facility, stated: “On my life, on my children’s life when I come home in March it will be done.” The affidavit states that the inmate also said Hackett offered him the $10,000 to carry out the plan.

Hackett was arraigned by District Judge Kelley Gillette‑Walker and remains jailed without bail. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for October 22. His girlfriend, Amanda L. Zortman, who was involved in the first plot, has not been charged in the second case and also remains in custody.

This case underscores the critical importance of operational discipline. Attempting to arrange a hit while in custody, using monitored communication channels and traceable offers — without encryption, anonymity, or trusted vetting — eliminates any chance of success. Realizing a legitimate custom hit request requires silence, discipline, and precision — not desperation and exposure.

Before initiating any serious action, prospective clients should review the Hiring Guide and fully understand Staying Secure. Any misstep in protocol turns what you believe is a service into a confession.