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Florida Man Arrested for Husband's Murder after Raising Thousands on GoFundMe for Funeral; Allegedly Staged a Fake Crime Scene

Investigation reveals victim was planning to leave alleged murderer, who stood to gain $333,000 from life insurance and has history of domestic abuse; daughter remains person of interest.

  • Herbert Swilley, a Florida man, was arrested on charges of premeditated murder in the first degree and tampering with evidence, for allegedly murdering his husband, Timothy Floyd Smith, and staging a fake crime scene.
  • Investigations reveal that Swilley had provided false and self-serving evidence, even attempting to gain immunity from prosecution through his attorney.
  • Swilley allegedly overdosed Smith with diphenhydramine, a sedating antihistamine used in medications like Benadryl, before choking and transporting his body to their second apartment to stage the crime scene.
  • A month after Smith's death, Swilley raised over $2,200 through a GoFundMe page for his 'celebration of life', but the page has since been removed and all donors refunded.
  • Evidence pointed out that Swilley stood to gain financially from Smith's death as he was the beneficiary of Smith's life insurance policies, totaling $333,000, and Smith was planning to relocate for a new job without Swilley.
  • Swilley's daughter, Jordan Swilley, was initially named as a person of interest in the investigation, but there is currently no evidence leading to her arrest regarding the murder.
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