Naman Shrestha
In March 2023, 59-year-old Timothy Smith was found dead inside an apartment in Ocala, Florida. The tragedy rocked the entire community, especially affecting his family and friends. The mysterious circumstances made the homicide case all the more complicated, but the detectives managed to follow the electronic trail left by the killer to get to the bottom of the case. All the intricate details about the investigation are covered in Investigation Discovery’s ‘People Magazine Investigates: Sex House Homicide,’ which also features exclusive and insightful interviews with the deceased man’s loved ones and the officials linked to the investigation.
Timothy Smith Led a Life Dedicated to the Service of Seniors
Born on August 1, 1963, in Dixie County, Florida, Timothy Floyd Smith was the beloved son of Romia Elaine Mathews and Marcus E. Smith. He was raised in a warm and loving household alongside his supportive sister, Sandy Riels. He was a free-spirited personality who lived life on his own terms. He was true to himself and never shied away from expressing his genuine feelings, a quality his loved ones admired. Affectionately referred to as Tim by his family and friends, he had built a stable life for himself. He aimed to leave a positive impact on the world and dedicated his life to serving seniors and individuals who needed care. Alongside a Master’s degree in Social Work, Tim also possessed a Core certification for Assisted Living.
To further refine his educational background and professional expertise, Tim took several courses focused on selfless leadership roles. Over the years, he had amassed immense experience in the field by serving as Executive Chair for the Ocala Walk to End Alzheimer’s, President and Board member of the Marion County Continuity of Care. Whenever he got the chance, he would assist in raising funds for diverse causes and local charities, such as the Annual Festival of Trees hosted at Brookdale Chambrel. By offering his services at various community organizations, the ambassador of Central Florida Entrepreneurial Partnership showcased his commitment to his passion. Since mid-2015, he had been serving as the Executive Director of Brookdale Chambrel Pinecastle Assisted Living and Memory Care Community.
Timothy Smith Was Found Dead Under Mysterious Circumstances in His Rented-Home
On the personal front, Tim led a fulfilling life with his husband, Herbert Swilley, in Ocala in Marion County, Florida. He also had a daughter, Jordan Swilley, whom the two cherished with all their heart. He always looked forward to embarking on adventures in his RV. He and Herbert particularly enjoyed riding their Can-Am Spyder. Apart from their residence, the pair had rented an apartment in the area, one wherein they reportedly held dates with other men. He spread joy and light through his art, particularly pouring his heart and soul into his graceful performance as “Augusta.” Things were fine in Tim’s world until March 25, 2023, when his loved ones couldn’t reach him. Herbert grew concerned and informed the authorities, and quickly headed over to their rented apartment.
As the authorities arrived, they asked the landlord for the key and opened the door. They found Tim dead on the floor of the bedroom, with just his T-shirt and shoes on his body. On closer inspection, they noticed evidence of blunt force trauma on his face and genitals. Aside from the ligature marks on his neck, the medical examiner also observed a strong stench that reportedly resembled chemical bleach. The authorities recovered several items from the apartment and sent them for further testing and DNA processing. Toxicology reports confirmed the presence of high levels of diphenhydramine, over 30 times the “normal therapeutic dose” in Tim’s system. An investigation into the death of the 59-year-old was swiftly launched by the authorities.
Timothy Smith Was Killed by Someone Close to Him
During the investigation, the authorities spoke with Timothy’s husband, Herbert Swilley, who said he last saw him a couple of nights earlier at their residence. He told the authorities that he woke up early and went to the gym the following morning. As per his accounts, Timothy was not home when he returned from the gym. Herbert claimed that he thought his husband had gone to work. Upon contacting his workplace, he learned that Timothy hadn’t shown up at work. According to him, he got concerned when he found the deceased man’s truck parked at another shared apartment, for which he didn’t have a key. The detectives noticed several inconsistencies in Herbert’s statements, eventually making him a person of interest in the case.
Upon reviewing surveillance footage and electronic data, the investigators concluded that Herbert left the house in the early hours of March 24 and drove down to the shared apartment, where he seemingly disposed of his husband’s remains. After returning to their primary residence, he drove Timothy’s truck to the apartment and walked back home. Soon, he stopped cooperating with the authorities and asked for immunity from prosecution for the murder. Upon digging deeper into their relationship, the investigators learned that Herbert allegedly abused Timothy on regular occasions. According to the detectives’ theory, Herbert drugged his husband with a sleeping medication and then proceeded to choke him to death with an unknown ligature in their house while his daughter slept in another room.
The accused then took the remains to another shared apartment and made it seem like the crime took place there by another individual. He also allegedly destroyed evidence using cleaning products and discarded a couple of carpets at a landfill. As for the motive, Timothy had landed a job in Deland, Florida, where he planned to move without Herbert. In addition, Herbert was also the beneficiary of his husband’s life insurance policies. Armed with enough evidence, the authorities arrested Herbert on November 3, 2023, and charged him with first-degree premeditated murder and tampering with evidence.
Herbert Swilley is Serving His Sentence at a Florida Prison Facility
Nearly two years after his arrest, Herbert Swilley’s murder trial got underway in September 2025. During the trial, the prosecution presented a series of evidence in front of the jury, including security footage of multiple locations between the couple’s two houses at the time of the murder. Their daughter, Jordan, also took the stand and testified that she had heard unusual noises on the fateful night and helped Herbert dispose of evidence. On the other hand, the defense tried to focus on the possible holes in the prosecution’s theories.
About a week later, the jury deliberated for several hours before reaching a decision. Finally, on September 19, 2025, Herbert was found guilty of premeditated first-degree murder. Ultimately, he was sentenced to life in prison, with credit for the time he had already served before the trial. One of Timothy’s friends, Candace Baker, took the stand and stated, “I feel a little bit of relief, but I want to call Tim. I want to tell Tim, ‘We did it! We did it!’ But Tim’s not there, you know, which is why I’m taking the flowers to his property, but I also feel that we didn’t give up on Tim and we saw things from beginning to end.” As of today, the killer is serving his sentence at the Northwest Florida Reception Center (NWFRC) Main Unit in Chipley, Florida.
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