Article By Daniel Mooney // EEW Magazine Online // News

The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:10 that the love of money is the root of all evil, and the truth of that is evidenced by a shocking story that just broke.

Fans of the OWN docuseries “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” that aired for five seasons from 2011-2018 were absolutely stunned to learn that authorities arrested one of its stars, James Timothy Norman, in Mississippi Tuesday for allegedly commissioning a murder-for-hire plot resulting in the killing of his teenage nephew, Andre Montgomery.

Norman, 41, is the son of reality star Robbie Montgomery, a former 1960s backup singer who shifted career paths and poured her talents into another creative venture—a soul food restaurant called Sweetie Pie's.

Andre Montgomery was Miss Robbie’s beloved grandson of whom she was so proud. He graduated from McCluer North High School in 2013 which was featured on the show. (Credit: OWN)

Norman was charged last week for having his nephew killed for the purpose of collecting almost half-a-million dollars in insurance money, according to a news release from the US Attorney's Office Eastern District of Missouri.

OWN's ‘Welcome to Sweetie Pie's’ stars Tim Norman and Miss Robbie Montgomery attend the Soul Train Awards 2011 (Credit: Rick Diamond/Getty)

The complaint alleges that Norman conspired with a stripper, Terica Ellies, of Memphis, Tennessee – and others – "to use a facility of interstate commerce, namely, a cellular telephone, to commit a murder-for-hire in exchange for United States currency." The exotic dancer has also been charged, according to the release.

In 2014, Norman took out a $450,000 life insurance policy on his 18-year-old nephew, where he was listed as the sole beneficiary. Just days before Montgomery's murder, Ellies communicated with Montgomery and told him she was planning to be in St. Louis.

The day before Montgomery's murder, March 13, 2016, Norman flew to St. Louis, Missouri, from his home in Los Angeles, California, according to the release.

The next day, Norman and Ellies communicated on burner phones they had activated that day, the release said. Ellies "also used the temporary phone to communicate with Montgomery and learn his physical location,” said the release.

Oprah Winfrey poses with the cast of ‘Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s’. On the far right is now deceased Andre Montgomery. (Credit: EBONY)

After finding out where Montgomery was located, Ellies immediately called Norman, according to the release. Then, on the same day at approximately 8:02 p.m., Montgomery was shot to death.

The woman's "phone location information places her in the vicinity of the murder at time of the homicide," the release said.

Following Montgomery's murder, Ellies called Norman again and traveled toward Memphis, Tennessee, according to the release. She also deposited more than $9,000 in cash into various bank accounts days after the murder. A week later, Norman reached out to the life insurance company and tried to collect on the policy he had previously taken out on his nephew, the release said.

In a 2018 “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” reunion special on OWN, Miss Robbie and the whole family discussed Montgomery’s death. During the emotional chat, Norman, who appeared stoic, blamed high rates of homicide in Black communities on absent fathers and gang violence.

“Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” was OWN’s first breakout hit that helped her network gain a foothold within the African American community.