Pennington County, SD – A 44-year-old man, Richard Hirth, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for fatally stabbing a 22-year-old woman, Jessica Rehfeld, nearly a decade ago. The murder was part of a murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by Rehfeld’s ex-boyfriend, Jonathon Klinetobe.
On July 7, Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office announced that Hirth had pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting first-degree manslaughter. In exchange, the initial first-degree murder charge was dropped. A judge sentenced him to life in prison for his role in Rehfeld’s death.
The Murder-for-Hire Plot
The crime took place in 2015, when Rehfeld had become fearful of her ex-boyfriend and filed for a protection order against him on May 12. She was worried about her safety due to his behavior.
Just days later, Rehfeld left her then-boyfriend’s home with two men, Hirth and David Schneider, and was never seen again. On May 22, 2015, Rehfeld’s family and friends reported her missing.
Discovery of the Body
In 2016, a witness in Wyoming came forward with information about Rehfeld’s body. The witness led investigators to a burial site near Rockerville, South Dakota, where Rehfeld’s remains were found on May 13, 2016.
Upon further investigation, prosecutors learned that Rehfeld’s ex, Klinetobe, had hired Hirth and Schneider to kill her for $80,000. Hirth reportedly stabbed Rehfeld multiple times in Schneider’s vehicle, and Klinetobe helped bury her body. Later, Klinetobe hired two more men, Michael Frye and Garland Brown, to rebury her in a deeper grave.
Sentences for Other Defendants
Klinetobe was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Schneider received a 75-year sentence with the possibility of parole after 35 years.
Fryeand Brown, who were charged with accessory after the fact, each received five years in prison after pleading guilty.
Final Defendant Sentenced
The Pennington County State’s Attorney’s Office said that Hirth was the final defendant to be sentenced. Prosecutors described the murder as “heinous and senseless”, emphasizing that Hirth was the one who carried out the brutal act that ended Rehfeld’s life. The court called it a “callous” act.