Shooter of "Sweetie Pie's" Star, Andre Montgomery Jr., Pleads Guilty and Names Uncle as Cohort!
A man who had formerly been accused of killing "Welcome to Sweetie Pie's" reality star Andre Montgomery Jr. has now plead guilty.
According to reports, Travell Hill, 30, plead guilty yesterday to the 2016 murder of Montgomery. Hill was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and another count of murder-for-hire. Hill holds to his claim that he was hired by Montgomery's uncle.
On the day of the murder, Hill met James Timothy Norman, who is Andre Montgomery Jr.'s uncle and Robbie Montgomery's son, near the Clinton-Peabody Housing Complex south of downtown St. Louis for a "discussion." After the meeting, "it was Hill's understanding that Norman wanted Hill to kill Montgomery."
Also on that day, Norman, 43, and Terica Ellis, who are both also charged with conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and murder-for-hire, bought and activated prepaid cellphones from a Walgreens in the Central West End neighborhood. Ellis told Norman to “initiate all further communication with her” using the newly purchased cellphone, according to the indictment.
During the meeting near the housing complex, where Hill lived, Norman told Hill that Ellis would call him later that day with Montgomery's location. Hill then obtained a .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun from someone who lived near his apartment.
He chose that type of gun because it "was small and could be easily concealed inside his sweatshirt." The person who gave the gun to Hill is not named in court documents.
At about 7:07 p.m., Montgomery (right) texted his location—“3964 natural bridge”—to Ellis, who then relayed the address to Hill and Norman. Additionally, Ellis “called, attempted to call or sent text messages” to Hill at least five times, according to court documents.
Ellis, 33, an exotic dancer from Memphis who was in a relationship with Norman, told Hill that she would lure Montgomery outside the home in the city’s Greater Ville neighborhood so Hill could shoot him.
At about 8 p.m., Hill arrived at the home, and Montgomery came outside a short time later, an account supported by witnesses.
Initially, Hill wasn't sure if the man who came outside the home was Montgomery. In order to confirm his identity, Hill asked Montgomery if he had any marijuana.
At that point, Montgomery walked toward a vehicle and talked with someone inside, whom Hill assumed was Ellis.
Shortly after 8 p.m., as Montgomery was walking back toward the home, Hill called out to him. Montgomery walked toward Hill, who then shot him multiple times.
Minutes after the murder, Ellis called Norman and began driving home to Memphis. Norman, who had flown to St. Louis from Los Angeles earlier in the day, returned to California in the early morning hours of March 15, 2016.
On March 16, 2016, Norman (right) told Hill to meet with someone “known to both Hill and Norman” near the intersection of Chouteau Avenue and Dillon Court, which is close to Hill’s apartment in the housing complex.
The person gave Hill a bag containing about $5,000 and told Hill to “keep your mouth quiet.”
Prosecutors said Hill discussed Montgomery’s murder and subsequent payment in recorded calls with his brother, who was in jail.
Also in the days following Montgomery’s murder, Ellis deposited more than $9,000 in cash—part of $10,000 Norman allegedly paid her—into multiple bank accounts in Memphis.
A fourth person, Waiel Rebhi Yaghnam, Norman's insurance agent, is charged with mail and wire fraud, and several counts of aggravated identity theft.
Prosecutors said that Yaghnam, 44, helped Norman submit five separate applications for life insurance policies on Montgomery, all of which contained falsified information.
After Montgomery's death, Norman, who is also charged with wire and mail fraud, tried to collect a $450,000 policy that was ultimately issued—a base policy of $200,000, as well as a $200,000 accidental death rider that would pay out in the event that Montgomery died of something other than natural causes and a $50,000 rider that would pay out if Montgomery died within 10 years of the policy's issuance in 2014.
The cast of "Welcome to Sweetie Pie's" aired on OWN for five seasons from October 2011–June 2018. They filmed a reunion show where Miss Robbie Montgomery, Norman's mother and Montgomery's grandmother, tearfully recounted memories of her grandson. Norman was seated with the group, expressionless.
Miss Robbie has been pretty quiet about the situation but we can only imagine how she must feel. No mother wants to think of her child as a killer, let alone the person responsible for the death of your grandson. The living legacy of your eldest deceased son.
We're praying for Miss Robbie and the Montgomery family. We will report more on this story as details become available.
