Shivangi Sinha
Tim Todd was a well-respected and beloved figure in his Festus, Missouri community, which made the discovery of his body all the more shocking for responding officers. When police arrived at the scene of a shooting in a garage, they found Tim with two gunshot wounds and pronounced him dead on site. His sudden and violent death unraveled a web of lies and deception involving several individuals close to him. ID’s ‘Killer Bods’ explores the case in the episode titled ‘Fit for Murder,’ offering an in-depth look at the people involved and the profound impact Tim’s death had on those around him.
Tim Todd Seemed to be Leading an Idyllic Life When He Passed Away
Mark “Tim” Timothy Todd was born on April 13, 1956, in St. Louis City, Missouri, as the youngest of five siblings—David, Rhonda, Gary, and Terry. Their parents, Mark and Nora Todd, did their best to provide a loving and supportive home and nurtured each of their children in their own unique way. Tim, in particular, had a natural brightness and warmth that made him stand out. However, when he was just 15 years old, his father passed away. Tim had shared a deep bond with his father, and the grief hit him especially hard. In an effort to cope and find focus, he began channeling his energy into physical fitness. It became a powerful outlet for him, and he soon developed a remarkably strong and impressive physique.
During this time, Tim also found love with his high school sweetheart, Patricia Winfrey. When they discovered they were expecting a child, they decided to build a life together. They married on April 12, 1974, and soon after welcomed their son, Mark Adam Todd. Though still very young and facing financial challenges, Tim was determined to provide for his growing family. When the opportunity to join the police department came along, he seized it and relocated to Festus, Missouri, to start fresh. There, he and Patricia continued building their life together and later welcomed their daughter, Angie Todd. With a steady job and a growing family, it seemed like things were finally falling into place for the couple. Tim had always maintained a strong professional relationship with his superior, Festus Police Chief William “Bill” Nick Pagano.
When Bill decided to launch his own private security firm, Scientific Security Incorporated, he brought Tim on board, and the latter eagerly accepted the opportunity. Then, in 1988, while still working for the company, he fulfilled another dream by opening his own fitness center, the Mid-America Health and Racquetball Club. By all appearances, he had built the perfect life. He had a career he enjoyed, a passion project in the form of his gym, and a loving, supportive family. But that picture of stability and happiness was shattered on March 26, 1990, when Tim was found dead in Festus. He had been shot once in the back of the head and once in the face. These injuries were determined to be the cause of his death.
Tim Todd’s Killer Alleged He Had Acted in Self-Defense
What shocked everyone the most was that Tim Todd’s body was discovered in the garage of none other than Bill Pagano. When authorities arrived, Bill provided a detailed account of the events. He said that Tim had been involved in an affair with his daughter, Stephanie Todd, and had expressed a desire to marry her. According to Bill, he had allegedly been plotting to murder his wife, Patricia Todd, and had been discussing the plan with him over the course of several days. The former police chief even presented phone recordings of their conversations as evidence. He explained that he hadn’t reported Tim to the police because he felt sympathetic and had hoped to encourage him to seek help at a mental health facility.
He further alleged that Tim had been using steroids in preparation for a bodybuilding competition and that he feared what he might be capable of. Bill claimed that on the day of the incident, Tim had come over to hand him photographs of his wife, supposedly for hired hitmen. He stated that the entire setup had been a ruse he devised to confront him about the alleged murder plot. However, Bill said that the conversation quickly escalated, and Tim became aggressive and was forced to shoot in self-defense. However, investigators quickly noticed major inconsistencies in his version of events.
The Inconsistencies in Tim Todd’s Killer’s Accounts Made the Police Suspicious
First, the autopsy revealed that Tim Todd had been shot once in the back of the head and then again in the face—details that cast serious doubt on any self-defense claim. Second, while Bill alleged that Tim had been armed and a revolver was indeed found at the scene, forensic tests showed there were no fingerprints on the weapon, raising further suspicion about whether the murder victim had actually held the gun at all. The police also questioned why, if Bill had recorded previous conversations, he hadn’t recorded the one on the day Tim supposedly confronted. Their suspicions deepened when a 12-year-old girl came forward and alleged she had seen the two men arguing the day before the shooting.
Further accounts from the community suggested that Bill had been aware of the affair between Tim and his daughter Stephanie for quite some time. Several people claimed that he had been pressuring the married man to marry her. Additionally, investigators uncovered that he had taken out a $1.5 million insurance policy on Tim as his employee, which made him the direct beneficiary. These findings painted a picture that contradicted Bill’s claims of self-defense. Instead, it appeared that he may have orchestrated the entire scenario. As a result, he was charged with first-degree murder and criminal action.
Bill Pagano Killed Himself When the Police Showed Up to Arrest Him
Bill Pagano was arrested in April 1990, which marked a dramatic fall from grace for a man once respected in his community. The murder trial concluded in October 1991, with him being found guilty of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison—a verdict that left many, including Tim Todd’s family, deeply dissatisfied. They felt that the punishment did not match the severity of the crime. Despite the conviction, Bill was granted bail while he pursued an appeal. However, in 1994, the appeals court upheld the original verdict. On August 23, 1994, law enforcement arrived at his home to take him into custody. He asked if he could go inside to change clothes. Once inside, he took his own life and left behind his wife and a daughter.
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