infoSon of Sweetie Pie's owner charged in murder-for-hire plot that killed owner's grandson

Son of Sweetie Pie's owner charged in murder-for-hire plot that killed owner's grandson

James Timothy Norman, 41, of Jackson, Mississippi, was arrested Tuesday, one week after being charged with conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in the commission of a murder-for-hire, resulting in the death of his nephew.

Prosecutors say Norman obtained a $450,000 life insurance policy on his 18-year-old nephew, Andre Montgomery, on which Norman was the sole beneficiary.

The nephew, Andre Montgomery, was Robbie Montgomery's grandson. Her show, \"Welcome to Sweetie Pie's,\" aired for five seasons starting in 2011 on OWN. She is a former backup singer for Ike and Tina Turner.

In the days leading up to Montgomery\u00e2\u0080\u0099s murder, Ellis, an exotic dancer residing in Memphis, Tennessee, communicated with Montgomery and informed him that she was planning to be in St. Louis.

Ellis\u00e2\u0080\u0099s phone location information places her in the vicinity of the murder at time of the homicide. Immediately following Montgomery\u00e2\u0080\u0099s murder, Ellis placed a call to Norman, and then began travelling to Memphis, Tennessee.

In the days after the murder, Ellis deposited over $9,000 in cash into various bank accounts.

On March 21, 2016, Norman contacted the life insurance company in an attempt to collect on the life insurance policy he had obtained on his nephew.

Terica Ellis was also charged by complaint with conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, resulting in death.

The criminal case is part of Operation LeGend, which has brought 50 federal agents to St. Louis to combat violent crime. The initiative was named for a 4-year-old boy who was shot and killed in June in Kansas City.