The 2023 killing of Timothy Smith inside a secondary residence in central Florida left investigators grappling with a complex case involving a seemingly stable marriage, a private sexual lifestyle, and a brutal death.
Timothy Smith, 59, and his husband, Herbert Swilley, were well known in their Ocala, Florida, neighborhood for hosting large gatherings, including an annual New Year’s Eve party that drew friends and neighbors from across the area. The couple had been married for nearly eight years and were just five months away from celebrating another anniversary when Smith was killed.
On March 25, 2023, Smith was found dead inside an apartment the couple rented in Citrus City, a nearby community. The residence was used primarily as a private space for consensual sexual encounters with other adults. Smith’s body was discovered partially clothed, wearing only a T-shirt and shoes, with visible marks around his neck.
Growing Concern Before the Discovery
Concern for Smith began the day before his body was found. On Thursday, March 24, Swilley and others close to Smith became alarmed when he stopped responding to phone calls and text messages. The concern deepened when Smith failed to appear at work at the senior living facility where he served as executive director, an absence that coworkers described as highly unusual.
The following day, Swilley drove to the Citrus City apartment to check on his husband. Smith’s vehicle was parked outside, but repeated knocking went unanswered. Without a key to the apartment, Swilley contacted authorities and requested a welfare check.
Inside the Apartment
A deputy with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office entered the apartment while Swilley waited outside. At first glance, the living room and kitchen appeared undisturbed, showing no immediate signs of forced entry or a struggle.
However, upon entering one of the bedrooms, the deputy encountered equipment associated with sexual activity. The room contained a ceiling-mounted swing with chains, a standing toolbox holding various sexual devices, whips hanging on the walls, and a massage table.
The deputy then proceeded to the primary bedroom, where the investigation took a grim turn.
A Violent Death Scene
Smith’s body was found on the floor between the bed and a closet. Investigators observed a dark ligature mark around his neck, indicating strangulation. A subsequent autopsy determined that Smith died from multiple traumatic injuries.
According to the medical examiner, Smith suffered blunt force trauma to his face and genitals, as well as a fractured cervical spine. The injuries suggested a violent encounter rather than an accidental death.
An Investigation with Many Questions
Authorities were left with numerous unanswered questions as they began piecing together Smith’s final hours. Investigators examined whether the killing was the result of a consensual encounter that turned violent, a targeted act of revenge, or a hate-related crime.
The nature of the apartment — clearly set up for private sexual encounters — added complexity to the case, requiring detectives to carefully separate lifestyle choices from potential criminal motives.
As the investigation continued, law enforcement focused on identifying who had access to the apartment, who Smith may have met with that night, and whether anyone else was present when the fatal injuries were inflicted.
An Ongoing Search for Answers
Smith’s death shattered the image of a couple known for hospitality and community involvement. What initially appeared to be a loving marriage with a shared social life quickly became the center of a homicide investigation marked by secrecy, intimacy, and violence.
Authorities have continued to pursue leads in an effort to determine exactly what happened inside the Citrus City apartment and who is responsible for Smith’s death.
The case remains a stark reminder that even seemingly stable lives can conceal circumstances that complicate the search for truth when tragedy strikes.