'Welcome To Sweetie Pie's' Star Tim Norman Arrested In Connection With Nephew’s Murder

James Timothy "Tim" Norman, star of OWN reality series "Welcome to Sweetie Pie's," was arrested on Tuesday for his involvement in the murder of his 18-year-old nephew in 2016.

Norman, the son of Robbie Montgomery, owner and proprietor soul food restaurant Sweetie Pie’s, was accused of conspiring with an exotic dancer named Terica Ellis to murder his nephew, Andre Montgomery, for money, WAPT reported.

The 41-year-old was charged with conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in commission of murder-for-hire, resulting in death, in a federal complaint on Aug. 11. He is currently being held in the Madison County Detention Center.

Ellis has also been arrested and charged with the same crime, KSDK reported.

The complaint said that Norman had taken out multiple life insurance policies on Montgomery in 2014, listing himself as the sole beneficiary. These included a life insurance policy for $250,000 through Americo Insurance Company, as well as two different policies through Foresters Insurance for $200,000 and $250,000.

Norman flew to St. Louis, Missouri, from his home in Los Angeles, California, on March 13, 2016, the day before Montgomery’s murder. Days prior, Ellis told Norman that she would be heading to St. Louis.

Norman and Ellis talked on March 14, 2016, using temporary phones activated that day, which the exotic dancer also used to reach out to Montgomery and find out where he was.

"Immediately after learning Montgomery’s location, Ellis placed a call to Norman," the complaint stated.

"On March 14, 2016, at approximately 8:02 p.m., Montgomery was killed by gunfire at 3964 Natural Bridge Avenue in the City of St. Louis," it continued. "Ellis’s phone location information places her in the vicinity of the murder at time of the homicide."

Norman attempted to collect on the insurance policies a week after Montgomery was killed. In the days following the murder, Ellis also deposited more than $9,000 in cash into various bank accounts.

"Prior to the homicide, Ellis' checking account had a negative balance," the complaint said.

The current charges are being investigated by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department homicide section and the FBI.

Norman appeared on his family’s reality show, “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s,” which aired on OWN for five seasons from 2011 to 2018. The reality show focused on a St. Louis soul food restaurant run by Robbie Montgomery and her family. The show won two NAACP Image Awards for best reality show.

This is not the first time Norman had a brush with the law. At 17, he was arrested for armed robbery and sentenced to serve 10 years in prison, Norman's profile on Oprah.com revealed. He joined the family business after his release.