A shocking and premeditated murder in Ohio has led to the conviction of Amanda Leigh Hovanec, a 38-year-old woman who fatally injected her ex-husband with an animal tranquilizer during a 2022 custody exchange. The case, described by federal prosecutors as selfish and calculated, has involved multiple co-conspirators and continues to unfold in both state and federal courts.
Amanda Hovanec Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Murder
Amanda Hovanec appeared in Auglaize County Court of Common Pleas last month and pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated murder in the death of 36-year-old Timothy Hovanec, her ex-husband. With this plea, she now faces life in prison without parole under Ohio law.
She is already serving a 40-year federal prison sentence for prior felony convictions, including distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death.
A Custody Dispute Turned Deadly
Amanda and Timothy Hovanec, who shared three daughters, were in the midst of a contentious custody battle. Timothy, a U.S. State Department researcher, had been awarded summer custody of the children beginning May 28, 2022.
Just two days after the court ruling, Amanda carried out a deadly plan. Prosecutors say she ambushed Timothy during a custody exchange at her home by injecting him with M-99, an extremely potent animal tranquilizer used for wildlife.
Attack Captured on Dashcam
As Timothy unloaded car seats from his vehicle, Amanda attacked him—an act that was captured by his dash camera. According to court documents, Timothy can be heard shouting:
“What the heck are you doing? Did you just assault me?”
“Get away from me… Get off of me.”
Footage shows Amanda wrestling him to the ground, forcibly grabbing his shirt and neck until he became unresponsive on the driveway. She then removed his smartwatch, turned off the car, and took his cellphone—causing the camera to shut off.
Murder Plot Involved Co-Conspirators
Investigators uncovered that Amanda had been in a relationship with Anthony Theodorou, a South African citizen she met while living abroad. One month before the murder, Theodorou had shipped the tranquilizer to Amanda.
Theodorou also allegedly dug the victim’s grave the day before the murder. Amanda’s mother, Anita Green, helped transport and conceal the body, driving Amanda and Theodorou to a burial site on land once owned by Amanda’s grandfather.
The Cover-Up Unravels
After the murder, Amanda tried to cover her tracks, initially claiming that Timothy left after dropping off the children. But when confronted with the dashcam footage, she admitted to the killing.
According to a federal affidavit:
“Amanda admitted she injected [Timothy] in the shoulder… Amanda was not able to name the substance but called it ‘poison’ or ‘drug.’ Amanda understood the drug would kill him within minutes.”
She later placed a plastic bag over his body to contain fluids before disposing of the remains with her co-defendants.
Ongoing Trials for Co-Defendants
Both Anita Green and Anthony Theodorou face state charges of complicity to aggravated murder and are awaiting trial. Their pretrial hearing is scheduled for March 13.
Amanda, meanwhile, awaits her state sentencing hearing, which is expected to result in life imprisonment without parole.
