120-Year Sentence in Evansville for Murder-for-Hire Case
Samuel Steven Huggler has been sentenced to 120 years in prison for his role in a murder-for-hire plot that left his 18-year-old sister dead and two of his brothers seriously wounded in Evansville.
According to Vanderburgh County Prosecutor Diane Moers, Huggler was sentenced on October 21, 2026, by Circuit Court Judge Ryan D. Hatfield.
Deadly Shooting at Evansville Family Home
On December 14, 2021, Daniel Alvey opened fire at the Huggler family home on Evansville's east side after the family returned from Christmas shopping.
Olivia Huggler, 18, was killed. Her brothers, Jonathan and Joseph, survived with serious injuries.
Prosecutors say Samuel Huggler directed Alvey to kill Jonathan and any witnesses.
Alvey pleaded guilty in 2023 and received a 45-year prison sentence. He later testified against Huggler.
Extradited From Europe to Face Trial
After moving to Andorra, Huggler was arrested through an international law enforcement effort and extradited from Spain to Vanderburgh County in April 2025.
Following a seven-day trial in August 2026, a jury found him guilty of felony murder and three additional Level 1 felony charges related to conspiracy and attempted murder.
Judge Imposes 120-Year Prison Sentence
Huggler received 60 years for Olivia's murder, 25 years for the attempted murder of Joseph, and 35 years for the attempted murder of Jonathan. The sentences will run consecutively.
Family members, including the surviving brothers, delivered victim impact statements during sentencing.
"While no sentence can undo the loss of Olivia or erase the immense physical pain and trauma her brothers now have to live with as gunshot survivors, we believe this outcome reflects the seriousness of these crimes and provides some measure of justice for the victims and their loved ones," Moers said in the release.
