Two Suspects Arrested In 2009 Murder Case

CLEVELAND COUNTY, NC — Deputies have arrested two suspects for the 2009 murder of Timothy Thomas.

Deputies say Ralph Hiebert, 61, and Samantha Zander, 35, have both been charged with First Degree Murder. According to detectives, Timothy Thomas was shot and killed on August 18, 2009 while leaving his home on Mary’s Grove Church Road to go to work.

“We decided a couple of months ago to start fresh with this case and start at the beginning. I am extremely proud of the investigators who worked this case,” said Sheriff Norman.

Zander, who was Thomas’s girlfriend at the time of the murder, and Hiebert, a friend and co-worker of Zander, were both named as suspects in the case after an investigation which spanned two states and multiple leads, officials say.

“What we know at this time is that Mr. Hiebert and Mrs. Zander worked together at TACC in 2009 and had a close relationship,” according to the sheriff. “The evidence shows that Mr. Hiebert shot Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Zander aided in the planning of the shooting.”

Zander and Hiebert are both being held without bond.