Nor Ellerbrook

A man is stabbed to death in his home
In the late summer of 1993, the quiet community of Warrenton, Indiana, was disturbed by a brutal crime that would remain a mystery for over three decades. Norman Ellerbrook, a 63-year-old Caucasian male, was found dead in his residence on September 2, 1993. His roommate made the grim discovery, finding Ellerbrook's body at the bottom of the basement stairs.

An autopsy revealed a violent struggle had taken place. Ellerbrook had died from blunt force trauma to his head. He had also been stabbed multiple times, although these wounds were determined not to have been in vital areas. Investigators at the time described it as one of the most brutal crime scenes they had encountered. For years, detectives pursued leads, but the case grew cold, leaving the question of who was responsible for Ellerbrook's death unanswered.

Decades passed, but advancements in forensic technology would ultimately breathe new life into the dormant investigation. The Indiana State Police Cold Case Squad and the FBI revisited the homicide, and this time, they had a powerful tool at their disposal: DNA analysis. Evidence collected from the crime scene more than 30 years prior was re-examined. DNA belonging to an unknown individual was found on Ellerbrook's fingernails, a knife discovered in the sink, and a rag in the family room of his home.

This crucial DNA evidence led investigators to 61-year-old Timothy Farber of Evansville. On July 22, 2025, more than 31 years after the murder, a warrant was issued for Farber's arrest. Evansville police located him walking on the northwest side of the city and he was taken into custody without incident. Farber was no stranger to law enforcement; in 1995, he had admitted to killing another man, 44-year-old Brian Russell, during a robbery in Evansville and had served at least 20 years in prison for that crime. Now facing a murder charge for the death of Norman Ellerbrook, Farber is being held at the Gibson County Jail without bond.