The Doctor, the Hitman, and the Motorcycle Gang: The True Story of One of New Jersey's Most Notorious Murder for Hire Plots

by Annie McCormick

He had a license to prescribe and a motive to kill. A prominent New Jersey doctor and members of a notorious outlaw motorcycle gang transform the doctor’s office into a drug ring pumping thousands of highly addictive opioid pain pills onto the streets in exchange for cash. Everything was going smoothly until one person discovered their the doctor’s wife. When she threatened to divorce him, the doctor’s unholy alliance with his partners in crime turned deadly and the doctor hired a hitman to kill her. The Doctor, The Hitman, and The Motorcycle Gang is the true story of the murder of April Kauffman, a beloved and vivacious local radio personality and veterans’ advocate who was found shot to death in the bedroom of her home in Linwood, the affluent town just outside Atlantic City, New Jersey, in May of 2012. In the months leading up to her death, she had uncovered a tangled web of deceit surrounding her husband. She feared he was trying to kill her and that he may harm her family. Her daughter, Kim Pack, never doubted her stepfather Dr. James Kauffman was responsible somehow. Reporter Annie McCormick met Kim Pack on the first anniversary of Kim’s mother’s murder. Over the next five years, McCormick tracked the case even as few clues emerged. She continued to gather information, sorting through gossip, rumors and facts to uncover the doctor’s web of lies. Dr. Kauffman shunned the media and his stepdaughter, moving on with his life in the very same town. Meanwhile, investigators uncovered how the doctor worked with the outlaw motorcycle gang, the Pagans, to run a prescription pill mill out of his New Jersey Office. More illegal deeds would catch the attention of The FBI and DEA. The twists and turns of Dr. Kauffman’s lies and schemes would leave Kim Pack, her tight-knit New Jersey community, and even investigators shocked. The murder case, which has received national attention, was the subject of a 20/20 episode on ABC in the spring of 2018. McCormick details the investigation that dragged on for years until investigators caught an unexpected break that sparked a string of arrests including the arrest of the doctor and several former members of The Pagans. Nearly six years later, authorities charged her husband, Dr. James Kauffman, with her murder. In 2018, a jury convicted a former leader of the Pagans Motorcycle Club with helping to carry out the murder. McCormick includes never before seen or heard details from the investigation through her years of covering the case and she documents the relentless search for justice by April’s family, friends, and her daughter.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

218 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 17, 2020

About the author

Annie began her career in journalism as a photo intern in The White House during The Clinton Administration. During her Senior year at Muhlenberg College she interned for The Morning Call newspaper in Allentown, PA. After graduation in 2001, she worked as freelance photojournalist for newspapers and wire services in the tri-state area including The New York Times, the Associated Press, The Philadelphia Daily News, US Weekly and Star magazines, among others.

Annie’s television news career took her across the country, she is currently a reporter at The ABC owned and operated television station WPVI-TV in Philadelphia.

Annie won several Associated Press awards and was Emmy nominated in both New Mexico and Pennsylvania for stories about the paranormal and crime.

She graduated from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA with a major in Communications and minor in Music. She is a South Jersey native and a graduate of Moorestown High School in Moorestown, NJ.

"The Doctor, The Hitman and The Motorcycle Gang" is Annie's first true crime book.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having heard the story in the headlines, and growing up in Ocean City, it was crazy to know this took place so close to home - and to think this kind of stuff goes on all over the place right under the public’s nose. However, the writing could have used better editing. There were a lot of grammatical errors - run-on sentences, missing words, and repeated words / lines.

[Sam Eckman · Rating 2 out of 5]

It read more like a news story than a book. They could have done a better job editing it, there are only 30 days in June. It is a quick read and tells the facts as they are known.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Doctor, The Hitman, And The Motorcycle Gang, 6ABC Action News reporter / author Annie McCormick takes the reader behind the scenes of a riveting true crime story for an in depth look at a highly publicized murder case set in Atlantic County, New Jersey.

On May 10, 2012, forty-seven year old local NJ radio personality and veterans advocate April Kauffman was found dead on the floor of her bedroom by her handyman, Billy Gonzalez. What ensues is an intricate and multi-layered story of April's death, the role that her husband Dr. James Kauffman, a prominent local Endocrinologist, and the local county chapter of the Pagans Motorcycle Gang had in her murder, the lengthy investigative process by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office and the FBI, and the relentless determination of her daughter Kim Pack to ensure that justice is served for the murder of her mother.

The Doctor, The Hitman, And The Motorcycle Gang is a riveting story that easily draws the reader in from the start, keeping them captivated as the author weaves a thoroughly intriguing and intricate recounting of a highly publicized true crime case. I grew up in Atlantic County and remember hearing about the tragic murder of April Kauffman, and watching this case profiled on ABC's 20/20 investigative / mystery show, so when I saw that the author wrote an in depth true crime novel based on this case, it peaked my interest and I knew that I had to read it.

You can't help but get drawn into this complicated, fascinating, and multi-layered story, it is a gripping account into the tragic murder of April Kauffman, and how her doctor husband's illegal dealings with the Pagans Motorcycle Gang led to her murder, when their ten year acrimonious marriage soured and she wanted a divorce. The author provides the reader with a fascinating and richly detailed and in depth look into the back stories and lives of each participant; an extensive research of the lengthy investigative and legal process (the case sat dormant until Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner was sworn into office on March 15, 2017) by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office and the FBI.

After an extensive and determined investigation into this case, the reader follows the author's thorough and very detailed accounting of a haunting tale of one woman's tragic and senseless death, and the determined pursuit of justice by her daughter and law enforcement that took six years to come to a culmination.

As I read this riveting account, I couldn't help but feel the frustration that April's daughter Kim went through to bring her mother's killers to justice. From the background into April and Jim's marriage, to Jim's narcissistic behavior, lies, and illegal drug schemes with the Pagans Motorycle Gang that led to their role in the murder for hire hit job on his wife, to the very long investigative process, the transcripts of wire tapped conversations between the suspects, and the trial transcript, the surprising twists and turns of this story will leave the reader simply stunned by the tragic and senseless death that befell April Kauffman.

The Doctor, The Hitman, And The Motorcycle Gang is a gripping and haunting account of the tragic death of local NJ radio personality April Kauffman that is a must read for all true crime fans.

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[Imani · Rating 1 out of 5]

A light and lazy retelling of a complex story by this writer.

For example...
Susie responded with a slur. What was the slur?
Tom made a disparaging remark. What was the remark?
Steven decided to go elsewhere. Where did he go?
Jean preferred something else. What did she prefer?

I made up the names, but this very typical of the writing, by someone who seems allergic to details/research. Grrrr.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok. It was a little hard keeping track of all of the Pagan characters. There were also small annoyances as a local with the narrator mispronouncing certain local names. But overall, it's always a little more interesting learning about a local story.

[Jim Kelsh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This should have been a great read. The story has great elements, sex, drugs, hit men, motor cycle gangs, pill mills...all local to South Jersey.
Should have been...once you fight through editing errors, punctuation and grammar, and a rambling timeline. that took it from great read to kind of interesting.
Two jimmys out of five.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredibly well written and thoroughly researched. The author took great care in her storytelling and representation of all involved. A true page turner that just keeps getting more bizarre with every page.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting story, and while I'm sure it could have been told better, I nonetheless enjoyed reading this book.

[Jerry Jares · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Jersey locals woke up to the news that one of their famous radio personalities had been murdered in her home. Vivacious April Kauffman, an advocate for veteran’s issues, was found dead on the floor of her bedroom, shot twice. However, this appalling crime took six years to unravel in court. This turned out to be one of New Jersey’s most notorious murder-for-hire cases. Before it was all over, a highly-regarded physician and a motorcycle gang were brought down for April’s death.

It takes a bit to get involved in this story. The author sets the stage by explaining April Kaufmann’s life and how she got to the point where someone decided she needed to die. In the beginning, it looked like there could not be a more unlikely murder victim. April had it all; she was widely known for her philanthropic activities. She didn’t just move mountains for veterans; she assisted anyone who asked her for help. Yet, on May 10, 2012, locals learned that this famous advocate for many causes was dead.

After a whirlwind courtship, Dr. James Kauffman and April married. April was so caught up in Jim’s story about his military service in Vietnam that she turned her radio program’s focus to veteran issues. However, after some time, April learned that Jim was never a green beret in the service; April was devastated.

Due to how Jim’s story affected her, she had lined up many activities to help veterans. She knew that when veterans found out that Jim’s story was a fraud, she would be smeared with the same lies. At about the same time, April found out that her husband ran a pill mill through his office, using a local unit of the national Pagan Motorcycle Gang.

The doctor was clever; the paperwork in the office showed that these were actual patients with real needs for pain medications. He gave the patients scripts for 120 OxyCodone narcotic prescriptions, which the motorcycle gang members resold for $20+ per pill. They made so much money that the doctor added a lab scam. When April started to notice, she told Jim she wanted a divorce. Jim told her she wasn’t getting half of his “empire.” He would kill April’s daughter (from another marriage) if April didn’t drop the divorce idea immediately. Unfortunately, April didn’t understand the depth of Jim’s rage. Dr. Kauffman was also angry that people called him Mr. April.

Most of the book is about how April got justice; it took six years. Because the Pagan Motorcycle Gang is noted for their deep-seated animus against betraying each other, it was hard to crack their bond to get anyone to talk. Finally, it became known that the doctor offered $50,000 and unlimited OxyCodone prescriptions to murder his wife.

Many people will be aware of this story because of ABC’s 20/20 investigative program. The author of this book takes the time to give the backstory of the main characters involved. She also gives credit to Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner. He reignited the case once he was elected. This is a fascinating, multi-layered story about a tragedy in New Jersey.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Average true crime, interesting set in my backyard, so to speak.
I enjoy Annie McCormick on ABC.
Rather thin, several editorial goofs not caught.
But worth a look if you like this genre.
Facilitator of the crime still on Facebook!

[,Lesley Apperloo · Rating 4 out of 5]

True Crime

Good crime book sadly once again about one spouse having the other killed. In this case it was shocking the people who were
Involved. Pretty good but sad read

[Jason Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw this book at the local B+N, I remembered this case... I lived and still live about 45 minutes from where the murder took place.
Good read, but at the same time a very sad read.

[Toni Hoffman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don’t waste your money on this book, it’s terrible I was sad i had paid for it

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to audiobook.

3.5 stars

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a true crime book retelling the story of a murder that took place in my home state in 2012. I had never heard of it. It shows what evil people can do in pursuit of their desires.

[Kathleen Barrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Filled with typos and other errors, but still well worth reading. I learned quite a lot I hadn't known about illegal drug trafficking and motorcycle gangs.

[Frank Plunkett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely awesome. Annie wrote a fact-filled true-crime thriller that reads like fiction. I had to complete it in one day. This was unique for me as I am reading multiple books at a time along with research studies, student papers and more. I had to use part of my Saturday. The book is relatively short but packs a whopper. There are a very few annoying typos that I hope will be fixed if the book goes to a second printing. Let us all hope that it does. The story of the murder of April Kaufman and the intrigue behind it has been told in local newspapers and even made it on ABC news 20/20 but this book tops them all with the full story loaded with detail that most have never heard before from any other source. I congratulate Annie McCormick, a hard-working, hard-hitting 6ABC reporter and Moorestown native for a job well done. She hit this one out of the park

Sincerely,
Frank Plunkett