Timothy Norman Patch, a 59-year-old white male from Paisley, Florida, died on December 27, 2021. Timothy, known for his strong, honorable, and prideful nature, was deeply loved by his family and friends. He was an experienced freshwater angler, master carpenter, and antique collector. He also ran a popular food truck business, Tim’s Lunchbox BBQ and Catering. Timothy's death has left a significant void in the lives of his wife, Rhonda Patch, his three sons, and his beloved grandchildren.
The circumstances surrounding Timothy Norman Patch's death were tragic and involved a violent altercation with his neighbor, Eric Hilderbrand, a 61-year-old white male. The two neighbors had an ongoing feud over a security light that had been shining into Hilderbrand's bedroom since October. On the afternoon of December 27, 2021, this dispute escalated into a deadly confrontation. The Lake County Sheriff's Office responded to a call at 12:50 p.m. and found Timothy Patch dead from an apparent gunshot wound in his driveway. The investigation revealed that Eric Hilderbrand had shot Timothy before retreating to his backyard and taking his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The murder of Timothy Norman Patch was captured on video, providing crucial evidence for the investigation. The Lake County Sheriff's Office confirmed that there had been no prior calls to law enforcement regarding the feud, although code enforcement had received at least one complaint about the security light. The tragic incident has been classified as a murder-suicide, with no further arrests or suspects involved. The community of Paisley, Florida, was deeply affected by the loss of both men and the violent nature of their deaths.
