A Florida man who raised thousands on GoFundMe after his partner’s slaying also stands to receive $333,000 in life insurance payouts, according to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, which arrested him in connection with the killing over the weekend.
Authorities allege that Herbert Swilley, a 55-year-old handyman, allegedly gave Timothy Smith, 59, 30 times the recommended amount of diphenhydramine, an active ingredient in allergy medications such as Benadryl as well as sleep aids such as ZzzQuil.
Later, he allegedly strangled her so hard that she broke her neck.
Authorities identified Swilley as a suspect in August and spent months building a case against him. Since then, they have uncovered evidence of a history of domestic violence prior to the murder, an alleged cover-up and a financial motive.
Now, they claim that he rigged the crime scene, hid evidence and had “pretended to cooperate” early in the investigation.
The killing occurred after Swilley allegedly learned the victim planned to leave him overnight between March 23 and 24, according to authorities.
An image provided by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office shows Herbert Swilley, a 55-year-old handyman, arriving at the county jail on Nov. 3. Marion County Sheriff’s Office
While under the influence of drugs, Swilley is accused of choking Smith so hard that he broke his neck, according to the sheriff’s office.
After the crime, Swilley allegedly went to great lengths to cover it up, the sheriff said.
He allegedly drove Smith from their home to another apartment and committed a crime scene, then cleaned it up.
Police say Herbert Swilley, left, is a suspect in the death of her husband, Tim Smith, right. Tim Smith / Facebook
Authorities say he returned home, took Smith’s car and drove to the scene before walking home and deleting the data from their Ring camera system.
“Then, several hours later, Swilley drove to a landfill where he dropped off what appeared to be two rugs from their residence before going about his day,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
In a March interview with investigators, Swilley allegedly provided misleading, false and contradictory information, authorities said.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office alleges that Herbert Swilley, left, medicated Timothy Smith, right, with 30 times the recommended dose of diphenhydramine.Herbert Swilley / Facebook
They asked to interview him again, and his attorney told them that would only happen if he was granted immunity from prosecution for Smith’s murder.
Swilley has written publicly about Smith’s death several times on Facebook, first announcing that “my dear friend and partner Tim Smith passed away unexpectedly” and writing that “[It’s] it’s hard not having you to talk to. But I’m still talking to you.”
In April, Swilley asked for more than $2,200 in donations through GoFundMe to cover expenses for a “celebration of life.”
Authorities Herbert Swilley returned home, took Smith’s car and drove to the scene before walking home and deleting the data from their Ring camera system. Tim Smith / Facebook
Also, when the sheriff’s office officially labeled him a “suspect” in August, he wrote that “You will always be in my heart and mind,” and that he was going out to dinner with his daughter to mark their anniversary.
On Saturday, deputies booked him into the Marion County Jail – where he is currently being held without bond on charges of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
