ST. LOUIS– {Prosecutors|District attorneys} stunned {many|numerous|lots of} in St. Louis last month when they brought a murder-for-hire charge {against|versus} a star of a long-running St. Louis {reality|truth} {TV|TELEVISION} {show|program} about a wholesome {family|household} soul food {business|company|service|organization}.
21 September 2020
Now {police|authorities|cops} files {recently|just recently} {obtained|acquired|gotten} by the Post-Dispatch {reveal|expose} more about {a burglary|a break-in|a robbery|a theft} {involving|including} {cash|money} and {jewelry|fashion jewelry|precious jewelry} worth {at least|a minimum of} $220,000 that rocked the {famous|well-known|popular} {family|household} in the months leading up to what {prosecutors|district attorneys} {say|state} was a plot to {kill|eliminate} a 21-year-old {member of the family|family member}.
The {burglary|break-in|robbery|theft} was reported the {evening|night} of June 7, 2015, at the north St. Louis County {home|house} of Robbie Montgomery, {a former|a previous} backup {singer|vocalist} for acts such as Ike and Tina Turner. In 1996, she opened the {first|very first} of her {Sweetie|Sweetheart|Darling} Pie’s {restaurants|dining establishments} in Dellwood.
By 2015, Montgomery was 74 and {known as|referred to as|called} “Miss Robbie” on “{Welcome|Invite} to {Sweetie|Sweetheart|Darling} Pie’s,” {a reality|a truth} {show|reveal} about her {restaurants|dining establishments} that was {broadcast|transmitted|relayed} on OWN. Her {son|child|kid|boy}, James Timothy Norman, who {went by|passed} Tim, and her {grandson|grand son}, Andre Montgomery Jr., were {regularly|routinely|frequently} {featured|included} on the {show|program}.
On the night of the {burglary|break-in|robbery|theft}, Miss Robbie called {police|authorities|cops} when she returned {home|house} from {a vacation|a getaway|a holiday|a trip} to {discover|find} her {house|home} {had|had actually} been {ransacked|rummaged|raided}. Her life {savings|cost savings} and retirement funds she kept in {cash in|money in} {drawers and safes|safes and drawers} were gone.
The {police|authorities|cops} {documents|files} {reveal|expose} officers {initially|at first} {suspected|thought|presumed|believed} Andre Montgomery in the {burglary|break-in|robbery|theft}, and after {a few|a couple of} months out of town, he {agreed to|consented to|accepted} {return to|go back to} St. Louis to {speak with|talk with|talk to|speak to|consult with} {police|authorities|cops} and take a polygraph test on March 10, 2016. That day, Andre {denied|rejected} being {involved in|associated with} the theft and {told|informed} {police|authorities|cops} he {thought|believed} his uncle, Norman, {was behind|lagged} it.
St. Louis County {police|authorities|cops} {never|never ever} closed the {burglary|break-in|robbery|theft} case, {but|however} {four|4} days after Andre Montgomery was questioned, the 21-year-old was shot and {killed|eliminated} near Fairground Park.
Last month, Norman, 41, was charged in federal court and {accused|implicated} of conspiring with {at least|a minimum of} {two|2} others in a plot to {kill|eliminate} Andre Montgomery and {collect|gather} on a life {insurance|insurance coverage} policy {against|versus} his nephew.
Andre’s {final|last} months
2012. Andre Montgomery Jr., {grandson|grand son} of {Sweetie|Sweetheart|Darling} Pie’s owner, Robbie Montgomery, is {pictured|imagined|visualized|envisioned}. {photo|picture|image} by George Burns, Harpo Productions George Burns Andre Montgomery {joined|signed up with} the “{Welcome|Invite} to {Sweetie|Sweetheart|Darling} Pie’s”cast around 2011 after he {came to|concerned|pertained to} {live with|deal with|cope with} his {grandmother|grandma|granny}, Miss Robbie
. The {show|program} {depicted|portrayed|illustrated} Miss Robbie and her {grandson|grand son} {visiting|going to|checking out} the {grave|tomb} of his {father|dad|daddy}, Miss Robbie’s {son|child|kid|boy} Andre Montgomery Sr., who was stabbed and {killed|eliminated} {during|throughout} {a fight|a battle} in Los Angeles in 1995 when his {son|child|kid|boy} was {an infant|a baby}. The {younger|more youthful} Montgomery {grew up|matured} in Lubbock, Texas, with his {mother|mom} {but|however} would {spend|invest} {summers|summertimes|summer seasons} in St. Louis with Miss Robbie. He moved into her basement {full time|full-time} around 2010 after he had behavioral {problems|issues} in Texas. The {teenager|teen} was a paid cast member
of”{Welcome|Invite} to {Sweetie|Sweetheart|Darling} Pie’s, “appearing in a chicken {costume|outfit} in scenes promoting the {family|household} {restaurant|dining establishment}, pursuing a rap {career|profession} and {graduating|finishing} from McCluer North High School in 2013. {{But|However} Miss Robbie’s
{grandson|grand son} got {kicked off|begun|started}”{Welcome|Invite} to {Sweetie|Sweetheart|Darling} Pie’s “by 2015 {because|since|due to the fact that} he {posted|published} images with {guns|weapons} and what {appeared to be|seemed} {marijuana|cannabis} on his {social media|social networks} accounts and {refused|declined} to take them down, according to {a police|an authorities|a cops} interview with Miss Robbie, who {declined|decreased} to be {interviewed|spoken with|talked to} for this story.
| Miss Robbie’s
grandson got {kicked|grand son} off”Welcome to {Sweetie|Invite} Pie{‘s|Sweetheart|Darling} “by 2015 because he {posted|since|due to the fact that} images {with|published} guns and {what|weapons} appeared to be marijuana on {his|cannabis} social media accounts and refused to {take|declined} them down, according to a police interview {with|authorities|cops} Miss Robbie, who declined to {be|decreased} interviewed for {this|spoken with|talked to} story.
}
Andre Montgomery Jr. in an image from” {Welcome|Invite} to {Sweetie|Sweetheart|Darling} Pie’s. “She {told|informed} {police|authorities|cops} her {grandson|grand son} moved for {a few|a couple of} months back to Lubbock after his high school graduation, {but|however} was {encouraged|motivated} to {return to|go back to}
St. Louis in September 2014 by his uncle, Norman, according to {police|authorities|cops} records. When he returned, Miss Robbie {paid for|spent for} {an apartment|a house|an apartment or condo|a home} for her {grandson|grand son} in the Central West End and his tuition for {a community|a neighborhood} college music program, according to the records. {Eventually|Ultimately}, {however|nevertheless}, Andre Montgomery stopped going to class and was asked to
leave the {apartment building|apartment} {because|since|due to the fact that} his {landlord|property owner|property manager|proprietor} {accused|implicated} him of {using|utilizing} {marijuana|cannabis}, {police|authorities|cops} {said|stated}. After that, he was {renting|leasing} {a room|a space} in a boarding {house|home} for$120 a month and continued to {work at|operate at} {Sweetie|Sweetheart|Darling} Pie’s up {until|till} {May|Might} 2015, around the time of the {burglary|break-in|robbery|theft} at his {grandmother|grandma|granny}’s {home|house}.
That week, he {asked for|requested|requested for}
his {final|last} {paycheck|income} and left the city. He didn’t return for around {nine|9} months, {but|however} {later|later on} {explained|discussed|described} to {police|authorities|cops} he didn’t {come back|return} {because|since|due to the fact that} {family members|relative|member of the family} were {accusing|implicating} him of the {crime|criminal offense|criminal activity} that took his {grandmother|grandma|granny}’s life {savings|cost savings}. The {burglary|break-in|robbery|theft}”As I {walked|strolled} into {the house|your home|your house}, I {immediately|instantly|right away} {noticed|discovered|observed|saw} {the house|your home|your house} was {completely|totally|entirely} {ransacked|rummaged|raided}. Every closet and drawer was {rummaged|searched} through and {items|products} were all over {the house|your home|your house},”{reads|checks out} an account {written|composed} by the St. Louis
County {police officer|policeman|law enforcement officer} who {responded to|reacted to} the {burglary|break-in|robbery|theft} at Miss Robbie’s {home|house}. {Two|2} {handguns|pistols}, {at least|a minimum of} $200,000 in {cash|money}, bottles of alcohol and gold and diamond {jewelry|fashion jewelry|precious jewelry} were all {stolen|taken}. Mink coats and designer {clothes|clothing} were {thrown|tossed} around {the house|your home|your house}.
Miss Robbie {explained|discussed|described} to {police|authorities|cops} that she {picked up|got} the {habit|practice|routine} of keeping {savings|cost savings} in {cash|money} when she was a backup {singer|vocalist}, according to the {police|authorities|cops} report. She {told|informed} officers she would {place|put|position} {a portion|a part} of her night’s {earnings|profits|incomes|revenues} in her boot, and continued the {habit|practice|routine} through her life.
She {told|informed} {police|authorities|cops} she {thought|believed} whoever {broke into|got into|burglarized} {the house|your home|your house} {must|should|needs to} have {known|understood} her alarm code. {Only a few|Just a few|Just a couple of} close {family members|relative|member of the family} had {access|gain access to}, including her {son|child|kid|boy}, Norman, and {grandson|grand son}, Andre Montgomery, the report {said|stated}.
{{Police|Authorities|Cops} {began|started} to {investigate|examine} Andre Montgomery {because|since|due to the fact that} of his disappearance {shortly|soon|quickly} after the {burglary|break-in|robbery|theft}.|{Because|Since|Due to the fact that} of his disappearance {shortly|soon|quickly} after the {burglary|break-in|robbery|theft}, {police|authorities|cops} {began|started} to {investigate|examine} Andre Montgomery.} He {had|had actually} {told|informed} {family members|relative|member of the family} he had a gig for his rap group out of town, though {relatives|family members|loved ones} {had|had actually} {never|never ever} {heard of|become aware of} him {getting paid|making money|earning money} to {perform|carry out} {before|previously|in the past}, according to interviews {summarized|summed up} in the {police|authorities|cops} report.
{Police|Authorities|Cops} {also|likewise} tracked {photos|pictures|images} Andre Montgomery {posted|published} to {social media|social networks} of him {posing|positioning|presenting|posturing} with {large|big} {amounts|quantities} of {money|cash} and {new|brand-new} {clothes|clothing}.
{Police|Authorities|Cops} {listed|noted} him as a suspect in the {crime|criminal offense|criminal activity} {but|however} he did not {return to|go back to} St. Louis {until|up until|till} {nine|9} months after the {burglary|break-in|robbery|theft} {because|since|due to the fact that} he was {facing|dealing with} a misdemeanor {assault|attack} charge in Texas and not {allowed|enabled|permitted} to leave that state.
{Once|When|As soon as} the Texas charge was dropped, he {agreed to|consented to|accepted} {speak with|talk with|talk to|speak to|consult with} {police|authorities|cops} and {traveled|took a trip} to St. Louis.
He {told|informed} {police|authorities|cops} he left St. Louis to be with {a girl|a woman|a lady} who was {moving to|transferring to|relocating to} Florida, {but|however} lied to {family members|relative|member of the family} {because|since|due to the fact that} he didn’t {think|believe} they would let him {miss|miss out on} work for that {reason|factor}.
He {explained|discussed|described} the {cash|money} he {posed|positioned|presented|postured} with on {social media|social networks} was {given to|offered to|provided to} him by the {same|exact same|very same} {girl|woman|lady}, and she {confirmed|verified|validated} his account to {police|authorities|cops}. Andre Montgomery {told|informed} {police|authorities|cops} he {thought|believed} Norman {was behind|lagged} the {burglary|break-in|robbery|theft}.
Norman {was in|remained in} California at the time of the {break-in|burglary}, {but|however} Andre Montgomery {told|informed} officers he {believed|thought} Norman had the {influence|impact} to {orchestrate|manage} it.
Andre Montgomery {explained|discussed|described} to officers at the time that his {grandmother|grandma|granny} was {trying|attempting} to {remove|eliminate|get rid of} Norman from some {Sweetie|Sweetheart|Darling} Pie’s {business|company|service|organization} {ventures|endeavors}. Miss Robbie {eventually|ultimately} {sued|took legal action against} Norman in June 2016, {claiming|declaring} his operation of {three|3} out-of-state {Sweetie|Sweetheart|Darling} Pie’s {restaurants|dining establishments} {amounted to|totaled up to} copyright {infringement|violation}.
Andre Montgomery took a polygraph test at {police|authorities|cops} {headquarters|head office} on March 10, 2015, {but|however} the {results|outcomes} were {inconclusive|undetermined}. He {told|informed} {police|authorities|cops} he {had|had actually} {used|utilized} {marijuana|cannabis} the night {before|prior to} so officers asked him to return {later|later on} after {a period|a duration} of {refraining from|avoiding} the drug.
Andre Montgomery was {killed|eliminated} {four|4} days {later|later on}, and St. Louis County {police|authorities|cops} {never|never ever} {applied for|requested|made an application for|obtained|got|looked for} charges {against|versus} {anyone|anybody} else in the {burglary|break-in|robbery|theft}.
{An alleged|A supposed} plot
Federal {prosecutors|district attorneys} {wrote|composed} in an indictment {announced|revealed} in August that Norman {took out|got|secured} $450,000 in life {insurance|insurance coverage} policies on his nephew a year {before|prior to} the {burglary|break-in|robbery|theft} in 2014, making himself the sole {beneficiary|recipient}.
By March 2016, {prosecutors|district attorneys} {allege|declare} Norman {hired|employed|worked with} Terica Ellis, 36, {an exotic dancer|a stripper} who was {working in|operating in} Memphis at the time, to {lure|entice|draw|tempt} his nephew to a St. Louis {location|place|area}.
Ellis {used|utilized} to {work at|operate at} the Bottoms Up club in {Metro|City} East and {had|had actually} {been intimate|made love} with Norman in the past, St. Louis {police|authorities|cops} {Detective|Investigator} Donald Thurmond {testified|affirmed} at a Tennessee court hearing {earlier|previously} this month.
{Police|Authorities|Cops} {believe|think} Norman {promised|guaranteed|assured} to pay her $10,000, Thurmond {testified|affirmed}.
He {testified|affirmed} that the night of the shooting, Andre Montgomery came out of {a building|a structure} on Natural Bridge {Avenue|Opportunity} to {meet|satisfy|fulfill} Ellis and a “{third party|3rd party}” shot him.
Federal charging {documents|files} {say|state} in the days after the shooting Ellis {deposited|transferred} more than $9,000 in {cash|money} into {several|a number of|numerous} {bank accounts|checking account|savings account}. Norman is {accused|implicated} of then {trying|attempting} to {collect|gather} on his nephew’s life {insurance|insurance coverage} policies, {but|however} was {never|never ever} able to get {the money|the cash}, according to court {documents|files}.
Thurmond {testified|affirmed} that Ellis {told|informed} {police|authorities|cops} that the {burglary|break-in|robbery|theft} at Miss Robbie’s {home|house} {had|had actually} made Norman’s “{boys|young boys|kids}” {want to|wish to} “get up on” his nephew.
Ellis and Norman were both {indicted|prosecuted|arraigned} by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy to {commit|dedicate|devote} murder for hire, or murder for hire {resulting in|leading to} death. Norman {also|likewise} {faces|deals with} {an additional charge|a surcharge|a service charge|an added fee} of conspiracy to {commit|dedicate|devote} wire and mail {fraud|scams}.
Norman’s life {insurance|insurance coverage} {agent|representative} Waiel “Wally” Yaghnam, 42, {also|likewise} was charged with one count of conspiracy to {commit|dedicate|devote} wire and mail {fraud|scams}. Yaghnam is {accused|implicated} of {providing|offering|supplying} {false|incorrect} {information|info|details} on the life {insurance|insurance coverage} policies, {including|consisting of} {information|info|details} about Andre Montgomery’s {income|earnings}. Yaghnam {worked in|operated in} life {insurance|insurance coverage} after {a career|a profession} in the music {industry|market} that {included|consisted of} producing {rapper|rap artist} Nelly’s hit 2002 album “Nellyville.”
After the charges, {TV|TELEVISION} clips from “{Welcome|Invite} to {Sweetie|Sweetheart|Darling} Pie’s” {circulated|distributed|flowed} {showing|revealing} Norman {mourning|grieving} the death he is now {accused|implicated} of {setting up|establishing}.
Norman {visited|went to|checked out} the scene of the killing with his {mother|mom} and {TV|TELEVISION} {cameras|video cameras|cams|electronic cameras} in a 2016 episode.
“{Since|Because|Considering that|Given that} Andre’s passing I {haven’t|have not} gone through this part of the city,” Norman {said|stated} on the {show|program}. “{Really|Truly|Actually}, I{‘ve| have actually} been {avoiding|preventing} it.”