How common are murder-for-hire cases and why do people believe they can get away with them?

Murder-for-hire cases attract significant media attention despite their typically low success rate. These cases involve individuals attempting to pay someone to commit murder on their behalf, often believing they can maintain distance from the crime and establish an alibi. In this particular case, Sammy Schaefer allegedly paid $10,000 to hitmen to kill his ex-wife's lover amid a contentious divorce. The investigation used modern technology like license plate readers to quickly identify and arrest the suspects. Murder-for-hire schemes commonly arise from emotional situations like love triangles and domestic disputes where perpetrators fail to recognize the extensive digital trail and evidence they leave behind.