Travell Hill, the man accused in the death of Andre Montgomery Jr., a reality television star of “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s,” pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday, June 3. Hill, one of four defendants, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and another count of murder-for-hire in the March 2016 killing.
According to local news outlet KSDK, per his plea agreement, the 30-year-old admitted to killing the 21-year-old television star outside a home in the 3900 block of Natural Bridge Avenue in exchange for $5,000. Hill claimed that on the day of the incident, he met with the victim’s uncle, James Timothy Norman, near the Clinton-Peabody Housing Complex south of downtown St. Louis for a “discussion.”
After the men spoke, “it was Hill’s understanding that Norman wanted Hill to kill Montgomery,” legal documents stated. On the same day, Norman and his girlfriend, Terica Ellis, who also is a suspect, purchased and activated prepaid cell phones from a Walgreen’s in the Central West End neighborhood. Ellis instructed the accused co-conspirator to “initiate all further communication with her” using the devices they had just gotten.
Norman told Hill that he would be receiving a call from Ellis with Montgomery’s location. Hill acquired a .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun from an unidentified individual who lived near his residence because it “was small and could be easily concealed inside his sweatshirt.”
Court documents stated that around 7 p.m., Montgomery texted his location “3964 natural bridge” to Ellis, who then relayed the message to Hill and Norman, and proceeded to make five more attempts to communicate with the men.
Montgomery walked out of his home around 8 p.m. that night before being asked by Hill if he had any marijuana. After walking to a car to speak to the passenger, the young man began walking toward Hill, who shot him multiple times.
A fourth suspect, Waiel Rebhi Yaghnam, Norman’s insurance agent, is also charged with mail and wire fraud and several counts of aggravated identity theft.
Norman wanted Montgomery killed to “obtain a $250,000 life insurance policy on his 20-year-old nephew,” for which he “was the sole beneficiary, through Americo Financial Life and Annuity Insurance Company,” but the application was later withdrawn.
It was also reported that Norman tried to obtain a second life insurance policy on the victim “in the amount of $200,000, in addition to an accidental death rider in the amount of $200,000, and a ten-year-term rider in the amount of $50,000 through The Independent Order of Foresters.” Two more policy applications were submitted, $249,999 and $300,000, according to court documents, with both being denied.
Hill’s sentencing is scheduled for September, but both counts carry a mandatory life sentence in prison. Norman and Ellis will also appear in court that month.
Montgomery was a former star on “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s,” an OWN reality show about a soul food business founded by his grandmother, Robbie Montgomery, in the St. Louis area.
