Chelmsford Man Pleads Guilty And Is Sentenced In Murder For Hire Case
WOBURN – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced today that Andrew Gordon, 51, of Chelmsford pleaded guilty today in the Middlesex Superior Court to indictments charging him with witness intimidation, stalking, soliciting a felony, violating a restraining order, and related offenses today in a murder for hire plot. Middlesex Superior Court Judge Kenneth Salinger imposed a sentence of 3-5 years in the state prison with 3 years of probation to be served upon his release from prison.
“Andrew Gordon’s actions were terrifying to the victim and to her neighbors,” said District Attorney Ryan. “Gordon was calculating and deliberate in spying on his estranged wife, destroying vehicles, making threats, and then ultimately contracting with someone about having her killed or harmed. We hope those who lived in fear of Andrew Gordon can now feel some level of security knowing he is in jail.”
Chelmsford Police Chief James Spinney added, “I would like to express my appreciation to all investigating agencies that brought this very serious incident to a close. This defendant obviously committed very serious offenses. We are satisfied with the result and are glad that the victim in the case can feel safe.”
Gordon was arraigned in Superior Court on November 25, 2014, on charges of intimidation of a witness, soliciting a felony (two counts), attempted assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in violation of a restraining order, violating a restraining order (three counts), stalking in violation of a restraining order, criminal harassment, attempted malicious destruction of property under $250, wanton destruction of property under $250 (14 counts) and attempted wanton destruction of property under $250 (five counts). He was held without bail pending trial.
Gordon committed several acts of vandalism during July and August of 2014 to his estranged wife’s car and to vehicles owned by her neighbors after he learned that she intended to seek a divorce. Gordon damaged and deflated vehicle tires, placed nails under several vehicle tires, and caused other damage to his wife’s car and to nearby vehicles. Gordon also surveilled his wife’s apartment complex at night from nearby woods with a ski mask and binoculars in violation of a restraining order. He then made arrangements to hire someone to kill or seriously injure his wife.
The Massachusetts State Police assigned to the District Attorney’s Office and the Chelmsford Police Department arrested Gordon on September 19, 2014, after Gordon attempted to pay $20,000 for an attack on his wife. Gordon had met with an undercover Massachusetts State Police trooper posing as a hit man. Gordon’s plan initially called for her murder, authorities said, but in subsequent discussions the defendant is alleged to have asked the man to attack and beat her so she could not attend a court hearing. Gordon provided the hit man a photograph and biographical information about Gordon’s wife and planned for the attack to look like a robbery or carjacking gone wrong so that he would not be the focus of a police investigation.
The case was investigated by Chelmsford Police, Tyngsboro Police, and Massachusetts State Police.
The prosecutors assigned to handle this case are Assistant District Attorneys Graham Van Epps and Doug Cannon of the Special Investigations Unit.
The Victim Witness Advocate is Kathleen Keefe.