More details emerge in pending murder case
Details continue to be released in the murder of Timothy Hovenac.
Three people have been charged with aggravated murder: Amanda Hovenac, 36; Anita Green, 61; and Anthony Theorodu, 33.
Affidavits point to a contentious divorce as motivation for the violence; background was provided in a federal affidavit filed on May 2.
The Hovanecs had lived in Germany for two years for Timothy’s job as a security engineering officer with the U.S. State Department; he was transferred in 2018 to South Africa. During the tour in South Africa, Amanda initiated
divorce proceedings in 2020 and became familiar with Theorodu.
Timothy was in Wapakoneta April 22-24 for a court-ordered visit with his children.
The affidavit states Best Western Hotel staff contacted police after cleaning out his hotel room
because Timothy never checked out.
The FBI became involved when Wapakoneta police officers discovered unattended items from Timothy’s hotel room. At the request of the Wapakoneta Police
Department, officials with the Northwestern Ohio Safe Streets Task Force responded and collected a cellphone, laptop, and charging device. The FBI took possession of the items.
Timothy’s family attorney, Shannon Hiller,
informed FBI agents Amanda had denied her
estranged husband court-ordered visitation
since about November. Judge Mark Spees had ordered visitation be given after a hearing April 22. Several contempt proceedings against Amanda were pending and continued for June.
Amanda had stated their children were dropped off at the Middle Pike residence at 7 p.m. on April 24; she told deputies Timothy was there long enough to drop off the children.
Cell phone location records confirmed Timothy was near the Middle Pike property at that time. Later agents would discover a dash cam in Timothy’s vehicle that showed what really happened. Footage showed not only the custody
exchange but Timothy’s murder, according to the affidavit.
“Amanda can be heard telling the children, ‘I have a surprise for you inside,’ with the children entering,” the affidavit reads.
Amanda admitted to investigators she then injected Timothy in the shoulder with a substance that Theorodu had shipped from South Africa via DHL. Theorodu later identified it as M-99 and said he obtained it from a veterinarian in South Africa. In the affidavit Timothy was
heard on camera saying, “What the heck are you doing? Did you just assault me? Get away from me…get off of me.”
The document reads: Timothy tries to use his cell phone when it is knocked from his hand by Amanda. She held him around the neck until
he went limp. She then moved him into the garage.
Theorodu followed Amanda to and from Dayton in a separate car as she discarded his watch, a syringe and vial containing the drug as well as Timothy’s vehicle.
At 7:56 p.m. location records for Timothy’s phone shifted south on State Route 65 to the Highland Park area in Dayton. Investigators believe this route was taken to avoid Interstate 75.
Dayton-area BCI agents located Tim’s 2021 Volkswagen Tiguan and processed fingerprints
from the vehicle.
When they returned, Green helped get rid of the body that had been lying in the garage.
“Prior to killing (Timothy), Amanda told her mother Green, that she was going to kill him,” the affidavit states.
According to Theodorou, Amanda had been talking about killing Timothy for around a year.
Due to the custody issues, Amanda felt that this was the only way to prevent the children from spending the summer with Timothy.
Green told investigators she didn’t think anything would happen. Ultimately, Green then assisted in transporting the body in a wooded area near Blank Pike and Wrestle Creek Road.
Theorodu eventually revealed the location to investigators.
Green initially claimed to have little knowledge of the event revealing more in a second interview.
She told investigators her role was to get the children into the house and admitted to transporting the body.
Green initially claimed that she had no knowledge the Timothy was dead. When asked why she didn’t contact law enforcement at any point she said that she was concerned that Amanda would be taken from her. Later in the interview, Gree added that during the drive to take Amanda and Theodorou to bury Timothy’s body she realized she was now involved. Green stated, “I knew at the time we are driving and we stopped…i’m in this now.”
They remain in federal custody.