On Friday, a Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty to conspiracy to third-degree murder, conspiracy, kidnapping, intimidation of a witness, and aggravated assault.
Steven Gaddis, 28, was sentenced to 43 to 100 years in prison after pleading guilty to killing the 25-year-old Matthew Whisman, as reported by WHTM.
Gaddis was not alone. Whisman’s own cousins, Jeremy Absher of South Carolina, and Alexander Whisman of Lancaster County, allegedly helped him. Both Jeremy and Alexander are going through their trials.
In January 2024, shots were fired at Whisman’s brother’s home, as revealed by the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office. Later, in April 2024, Gaddis allegedly checked Whisman’s phone and found out he planned to help officers in the investigation of the shootings.
Pennsylvania man sentenced for murdering police informant with lethal fentanyl dose, dumping body off bridge: ‘It’s your last supper’ https://t.co/PQh5WootEK pic.twitter.com/25Qk0hqHjx
— New York Post (@nypost) April 1, 2026
At that time, Whisman was at a home in the 1100 block of Lancaster Pike in East Drumore Township, Pennsylvania.
Then, Gaddis, joined by Jeremy and Alexander, beat Whisman in a combined bathroom and laundry room. After this, they forced the victim to take a shower and clean up, as stated by Law & Crime.
Whisman was then moved to the basement of the residence. Here, while Whisman was eating, authorities alleged, Gaddis stood nearby and said, “How would you feel if it’s your last supper.”
State Police said that, after hearing this, Whisman dropped his head and cried, as reported by The Mirror.
According to the DA’s office, these suspects “then forced Matthew Whisman into a vehicle and injected him with a lethal dose of fentanyl, killing him.” Following this, “Gaddis and Absher then threw the victim’s remains off a bridge.”
It was only after months had passed that Matthew’s mother told police about her missing son, as reported by Law & Crime. Lancaster County prosecutorial agency stated, “One witness told investigators he knew something ‘horrible’ had happened to Matthew Whisman and that Alexander Whisman, Gaddis and Absher were responsible.”
In August, Whisman’s remains were found in Cecil County, Maryland, “downstream near a hiking trail.”
WHTM also revealed that Gaddis pleaded guilty in the Quarryville Borough shooting. Multiple shots were fired at the residence, and police said they could not establish a connection between Gaddis and the people living there.
Pennsylvania man sentenced for murdering police informant with lethal fentanyl dose, dumping body off bridge: ‘It’s your last supper’ “How would you feel if it’s your last supper?” https://t.co/5dhOFFvmU8 pic.twitter.com/9Da2DvLeXK
— NahBabyNah (@NahBabyNahNah) April 1, 2026
Although three minors were inside the residence, no one was hurt. The bullets struck the house, including the front door.
Fox 43 reported that authorities connected Gaddis to this case through a recorded jail call, in which Absher said he knew Gaddis was the shooter.
More evidence came when an eyewitness identified the car that Gaddis had later crashed. They told officers about seeing a suspicious vehicle near the home where the shooting took place.
Other evidence included videos and phone data that placed Gaddis at the scene with a handgun.
