Never Forget Little Timmy | Parts 3 & 4

The Murder Police Podcast  > Show Notes >  Never Forget Little Timmy | Parts 3 & 4
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With Sandy Sterner & Terrance Sterner

Part 3 | October 8, 2024

Part 4 | October 9, 2024

In the latest episode of our podcast, we delve into the haunting and heart-wrenching story of Timothy Sterner’s disappearance—a case that has left a profound impact on his family and community. This episode is not just about unraveling the mystery surrounding his fate but also about understanding the emotional turmoil and the quest for justice that continues to drive his loved ones.

Timothy, affectionately known as “Little Timmy,” vanished under suspicious circumstances, leaving behind a trail of rumors and unverified stories that have only compounded the grief of his family. We hear from Terrance Sterner, Timmy’s uncle, and Sandy Sterner, his grandmother, as they recount their experiences, the misinformation that has plagued the investigation, and their unwavering hope for closure.

The episode sheds light on the challenges faced by families of missing persons, as they navigate through a sea of rumors, misinformation, and the emotional burden of not knowing the fate of their loved one. Terrance and Sandy share their frustration with the armchair detectives and the barrage of conflicting stories that have only added to their pain. Yet, amidst the chaos, their love for Timmy shines through, as they recount cherished memories and the impact he had on their lives.

As listeners, we are reminded of the human stories behind the headlines and the statistics. Timmy was more than just a case number; he was a son, a grandson, and a friend. His story is a poignant reminder of the importance of empathy and community support in the face of tragedy.

This episode is a call to action for those who may hold the key to solving Timmy’s case. It urges listeners to come forward with any information that could bring closure to his family and ensure that justice is served. Join us as we explore this emotional journey and stand in solidarity with Timmy’s family in their pursuit of truth.

Listen to the full episode to hear the Sterner family’s story, their hopes for justice, and their plea for closure. Your engagement and support can make a difference in bringing peace to a family that has endured so much. Tune in now and be part of the conversation that seeks to honor Timmy’s memory and ensure that he is never forgotten.

True Crime, Missing Persons, Timothy Sterner, Murder Investigation, Family Interview, Crime Podcast, Justice For Victims, Law Enforcement, Community Impact, Crime Stories, Unsolved Mysteries, Family Closure, Crime Victims, Podcast Episodes, Crime Scene, Investigation Process, Crime Theories, Emotional Impact, Community Support, Crime Awareness

Part 3

Murder police podcast explores missing person case of Timothy Sterner

Terrance Sterner: They love little Timmy and they miss little Timmy and everybody. The whole family just wants his burial to be here and has peace of mind in that sort of way. We just want his body and just say we’re a big, forgiving family.

Wendy Lyons: The podcast you’re about to listen to may contain graphic descriptions of violent assaults, murder, and adult language. Listener discretion is advised. Welcome to the Murder police podcast. Thank you for joining us as we continue to look into the missing person case of Timothy Sterner in the episodes we call never forget little Timmy. In this episode, we are joined by Timmy’s uncle, Terence Sterner, and Timmy’s grandmother, Sandy Sterner. Let’s learn more about Timmy and his family.

Murder police podcast features Terrance and Sandy Sterner on missing son case

Welcome to the Murder police podcast. We have with us today, Terrance and Sandy. We are here today to talk about the missing case of Timmy Sterner, who we will refer to as little Timmy hereafter. And David, of course. So how are you, Terrance? And let me thank you for taking your time to come in and talk with us today.

Terrance Sterner: Thank you. I’m doing fine. I’m doing really good right now. I really appreciate y’all coming down and having this time with us.

Wendy Lyons: Thank you for talking with us, Miss M. Sandy. Thank you for coming. And how are you today?

Sandy Sterner: A bit apprehensive, because, no, he hasn’t been found. So sometimes I get leery of that because it’s very hard on parents and children. And I’m so happy that you all, want to share with us.

Wendy Lyons: Well, we’re happy as well.

Sandy Sterner: My grandson was a great guy, and that was one man that knew it. So did his dad. And he loved his father so deeply, and he always shared that with me. He had so much pride in his dad. His dad started working at 16 years old and is still working for Mister Corman. And that sang a lot. That’s saying a whole lot. And how little Timmy grew up, well.

Wendy Lyons: That’S what we’re hoping to do today, is to dig in and talk about Timmy, bring some light to who he is.

Terrance Sterner: That was great, mom. That was really good.

Sandy Sterner: Very, very sweet.

Terrance Sterner: That was really good. I mean, that’s right to the heart. I mean, I like that.

Sandy Sterner: That’s what it’s all about.

Terrance Sterner: I know it’s. And it’s true.

Sandy Sterner: It’s a soul that hurts.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah, I know.

Sandy Sterner: It’s like a rock. And if you don’t give it to God, and this is what I’ve told his dad, you don’t give it to God, you’ll go insane. And we’re not the only people in this world, even today, that are losing children with all the fighting and the gunfire. And I work in a hospital, and I see that pain. I see the miracles, and I see the pain. And you have to be there for other people also, because we’re not the only ones. And we need to share and love one another, because that’s all God wants, is unconditional love. that’s right. And I’m sorry that there are people out there that think they can take someone’s life, but I’ll pray for them, too. But that’s very hard sometimes. Sometimes you gotta forgive yourself before you can forgive other people. But this has been quite devastating. It’s harder at night, you know, and I can go to work and I can drop everything because I’ve got people to take care of. But the night times, it’s terrible. So you can’t do anything but know you’re dealing with your two sons that were so close to him and how much he loved them is just totally amazing. Cause I guarantee you, when Terrance went up there, and it was like, boom. I said, why did you do that? They could have harmed you. It doesn’t make any difference. He was up there. He was up there,

00:05:00

Sandy Sterner: and he was up there for his brother, too. So I’m proud of him. M but it’s hard to deal with their pain. And as a mother, you’re dealing with three, and God bless all of them. My grandchild was so great. I’ll never forget Tim and tammy coming over to the house. You could put that child down. Boom, he was gone. And that, arm a pumping like he was doing the water thing, you know? Tammy couldn’t catch him half the time. He had to end up at a fence or someplace where she could get him. Then one day, they both came over with him. He took off. She caught him, brought him back. She set him down again, and boom, he was off. But he was headed towards the road in a car. I’ve never seen anything, but I thought my son was a superman. His dad, he had him scooped up in a heartbeat. That’s when he went inside. But that’s. That’s the way it was with him. He was always. Even when we went bowling, he was running down the lanes. You know, we took the whole family member. Dan’s was you there at Dan’s birthday party?

Terrance Sterner: I think it might have been one or two, but, yeah, I mean, I for sure.

Sandy Sterner: Little Timmy. Yeah, he was on his way.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah, I taught him how to ride a motorcycle. He was a little fellow, he couldn’t even touch the forks, but he was willing. But to give him something to do. And he loved the speed, and it was a 100. I’ll never forget it. And I rode with him and rode with him, taught him the gas and everything, and second gear was fine for him. And I rode with him for two days solid, you know, to get him to ride that bike. And, never forget, it was a Honda 100. And, he went down. I just slid off the back of it, finally, because he was controlling it just fine. And then he went all the way down the field, and he turned around, and as soon as he seen me, he fell over.

Little Timmy always, he survived some of the weirdest things

Wendy Lyons: He realized you weren’t there no more.

Terrance Sterner: He didn’t know I was there. When he realized I wasn’t there, he fell over, and I was like, dag, you had this. He’s come running at me like he’s hurt or something. I’m like, what is wrong? Because he stepped right off the. He wasn’t going that fast. Cause he was in. Come around curb, and as soon as he seen me, fell over. And, he’s right. He’s just looking at me going, I hate you, Uncle Terrance. Would you do that to me for. Well, you can always. And when he was in trouble or something, I can hear his voice now. Uncle Terrance. Uncle Terrance, Uncle Terrance. Beating on my window. Uncle Terrance. Just hear it all. I hear it all day long. And it’s just, the memories of him. Just when he was a baby, I went to pick up his dad for work, and little Timmy’s sitting there in that apartment full of jolly ranchers. He’s two years old. He’s sitting there eating cereal. And I said, I’m gonna give him a jolly rancher. Timmy jumped back and said, don’t give him a jolly rancher. And I got four kids, my own. I give him jolly Rangers at two years old. he said. I said, well, I’m giving him one anyway. He said, well, you better watch him. He’d probably choke on it. Well, there’s me, you know, Uncle Terrance. And next thing, I’m doing something, I hear this. I turn around, little Timmy sitting there with a bowl of cereal going. So I go over and I just do a quick Heimlich on him, and he spits up all over the table. And, Timmy comes around the corner at the same time and says, I, told you not to give him a jolly rancher.

David Lyons: That hat I told you so written all over it, all the way up to that.

Terrance Sterner: Ah, for sure. And one day I went, he was always into something. Something. I went over to the house to get his dad. Wasn’t too long after that. And I look in and little Timmy’s got the, he wasn’t but two years old now. He had this tape or the chair pushed to the counter. He had a thing, a big old thing of coffee in his arms like this, and a spoon. And there was coffee everywhere. Nobody just, and I was, I got there a little early, nobody was up. And I’m beating on, I’m going, and I didn’t want Timmy to get down off the counter himself, so I did punch the wind out. Then Timmy comes in there and jumps my buddy’s dad, what’d you punch the window for? I didn’t want to come down off the counter, but he knew what he was doing. Little Timmy always, he survived some of the weirdest things, I tell you.

David Lyons: Was he pretty close to your kids?

Terrance Sterner: Yo, he was definitely. Oh, yeah.

Sandy Sterner: Especially Josh. Especially Josh right here. You can see him and Josh. I bought Josh cause it was Josh’s birthday and I, and that’s timmy behind him. And this is one of those chairs that’s got music and stuff. And pass

00:10:00

Sandy Sterner: it around.

Terrance Sterner: But like mom said, the conditional unconditional love that goes in the family is something that mom brought to the family. And yeah, you did. Believe me. You brought it to the family. You know it.

Sandy Sterner: I’ll never forget the time that him and Josh, I can’t remember where we was going, but we was on a little trip or trek going someplace. Those two were in the backseat telling me how they was going to run away from home, go to Florida, start their own life. I think they was like 13 years old. I got the biggest bang out of that. And I’m sitting and just, how are you going to get down there? Oh, we’re going to hitchhike. And I kept asking them m different questions. Well, what are you going to do when you. We’re going to get jobs. Don’t worry, we can get jobs. They had the fantasizing like you wouldn’t believe. And I’m going, oh, my goodness. I had the most fun listening to their little stories, how they was going to make it in life and be rich in Florida. Totally understood what they was talking about. I said, well, why don’t you put your pinkies together and just say your siamese twins? And then they’ll never separate you.

Terrance Sterner: I remember I got in a little trouble and I got home and mom, I come in and it was a couple days after that. She said, Terrance, I think Timmy’s on that stuff. And she said something about Heron heroin. She said something, but her, I don’t even know. I said, heroin. Heroin. Heroin.

Sandy Sterner: Heroin.

Terrance Sterner: Heroin. Heroin. Yeah. And, she said something about.

Timothy Sterner was a football star at Providence High School

I said, no. Cause I’ve seen little Timmy. I’ve been hanging around little Timmy and everything. And I said, She said, what’s wrong with him? Why aren’t he coming home and stuff? And I said, he come through the door or something. I run at him. I said, boy, you on that hair wrong. He just looked at me. He’s like, shut up.

Sandy Sterner: Really. That was if I found anything in the house. It was horrifying. And I’d call the police and have them come. One time, there was some black stuff in the little bag. I thought he was. I thought it was cigarette gunking that he burned. But policeman come over and he says, that’s called tar. I said, well, what is it? What is that?

Terrance Sterner: Thc?

Sandy Sterner: I don’t know what it was. Yeah. Anyway, the officer took it away. Timmy went to rehab, and that’s what it was all about. Yeah.

Terrance Sterner: mom was serious about that.

Sandy Sterner: Yeah, he went to rehab a lot with me. His whole demeanor in life. He loves and I don’t, you know, he just couldn’t seem to adjust to grown ups. When I put him in school and I walked in there, and those people were just loving him and smiling, and he just so mean. I said, why are you that way? He didn’t trust people. But then as he went through school, they was having a award, ceremony. And I said, I’m going to come to your award ceremony. He said, no, no, grandma, because he didn’t. I guess he didn’t think he was going to get anything. And I said, you don’t want me to come? And he said, no. So I didn’t go. But all of a sudden, he rushed in that door when he got off the bus, and he says, grandma, grandma, you just wouldn’t believe it. He says, you just don’t know what it’s like. I wished you had been there. And, he said, I’ve never felt that feeling before. I’ve never felt, grandma, look what I got. And he gave me that. And I’ve always treasured it. I’ve never let it go.

Wendy Lyons: 95% attendance during the school year.

Sandy Sterner: Yeah, he was. And he said, I just wish you had been there to see me. He says, I’ve never felt it. So he felt it in the soul and the pride.

Wendy Lyons: The pride of receiving it.

Sandy Sterner: Exactly. And when he came to visit right after he got out of jail, that’s the first thing I showed him. Just lift him up.

Wendy Lyons: Yeah.

David Lyons: Make him remember that feeling.

Sandy Sterner: Yes.

David Lyons: How old was he when he got that?

Sandy Sterner: He was. What grade was he in in Providence?

Terrance Sterner: He was like ten or nine or.

Sandy Sterner: Ten years old because he was a football star and I didn’t know that, really?

Terrance Sterner: Nine years? Yeah, he’s about ten years old.

David Lyons: So he was,

Sandy Sterner: He was in

00:15:00

Sandy Sterner: Providence. He was.

Terrance Sterner: Was it Providence?

Sandy Sterner: Yeah.

Terrance Sterner: 2012, 2013.

Sandy Sterner: He had left. He’d come back to me and I, and we had to. But then I was at West. West Jesmyn. He went to West Jesmyn independence down there and catnip his. He was,

Terrance Sterner: He loved football.

Sandy Sterner: Football. And that coach, all of a sudden, actually, I had Josh in there and I thought I’d try to put Josh in, football. And he says, what’s your last name? And I said, sterner. And he said, tim Sterner. Oh, man, that coach went nuts. He said, that boy would have been in the leagues. He said, he’s that good. I would take him in a heartbeat. And, I was just shocked because Timmy was good at what he excelled at, and he loved that coach, so.

David Lyons: So if he put his heart into something, he could.

Sandy Sterner: Oh, really? Yeah. His dad had him.

His dad had him in football. So they always rode four wheels and motorcycles

His dad had him in football.

Terrance Sterner: Ride a motorcycle.

Sandy Sterner: His dad had, him in football.

Terrance Sterner: So they always rode four wheels, three wheelers and motorcycles. And then his dad put him in football, and, I’d go up and watch him and whistle him on and carry on. I’d be on the fence, me and his dad would be just pushing him, pushing him. And then he’d be so proud when he’d do something, you know, and he’d get off her and he’d say, uncle Terrance, did you see that? And I’d be like, yeah, I sure did. You got him good. Did you see how I grabbed. Threw him down the ground? I sure did. And I’m sitting there going, I didn’t see it. Dang. Dang. Y’all was all just all crumbled together.

David Lyons: Big, massive.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah, exactly. Yeah. But, yeah, it was something else. I think one day he went out and was playing with matches or something and come back in and his fingers were burnt. And I said, what have you done? What are you? And I just freaked out, just wondering what he’s burnt down. And all he did was, like, he was behind the shed and trying to make a fire, and he couldn’t make it. I, thought to be the right thing to do. Instead of him burning himself up, go teach him how to make a fire. Yeah, I wish I hadn’t done that.

Sandy Sterner: Exactly.

David Lyons: No reason anymore.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah. So. But, yeah, it’s just little things. And mom would get on to me because I would want them to learn the right way to do things. And she would say, they’re too young. They’re too young. Just like when you learned ride a motorcycle. I went up in the house, she’d say, where’s little Timmy? Oh, he’s back around motorcycle. He better be with somebody. No, he’s not. That is what it is. Jasmine come and told me I’d get me for wanting endangerment, for letting him ride it. I was like, oh, okay.

David Lyons: But, you know, he’d go ride it himself, right, if you didn’t teach him?

Terrance Sterner: Oh, he would.

Sandy Sterner: I bought him a scooter.

Terrance Sterner: Scooter? A bump head.

Sandy Sterner: But, you know, he would go out on a scooter and guess what I told him? Don’t let anyone drive it. It’s insurance. You know, you got to think about these things you get, grandma. He always. There was that peer pressure on him. He just wanted to be liked.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah.

Sandy Sterner: And that. And, you know, you try to teach them, no, you have to be your own person. And he just wanted to be liked so he’d let somebody else drive it.

Terrance Sterner: I’m sure I didn’t drive the wagon all that well with him, but, you know, there was rough ways to go. There’s easy ways to go. But, that peer pressure that you get, you know, that’s. He had that,

Sandy Sterner: Oh, yeah, such a big heart.

Terrance Sterner: And he hated, he didn’t like to see people being told no. You know, having something took away from or something like that.

Sandy Sterner: You know, he was a child that loved children. He would babysit.

Terrance Sterner: Oh, my gosh.

Sandy Sterner: And babysit and take care of some of his girlfriend’s children and that he thought was girlfriends, but they weren’t. But he would. He would. When he gave love, he gave love and animals. Oh, you could not hurt an animal.

Terrance Sterner: I would say, because it didn’t work out with little Timmy and his girlfriends. But I tell you what, every one of them could come in.

Sandy Sterner: Oh, yes, they were.

Terrance Sterner: And I’ll tell you, Timmy was such a lovable person that he loved too much. And, you know, he wasn’t out. He wasn’t home 24 hours before he had a girl calling him up. So, yeah, yeah, you know, it’s crazy.

Sandy Sterner: And he’d be there. He was a protector I think the youngest memory that I’ve ever had, though. Washington. Well, when he was his, we, his grandpa and I took

00:20:00

Sandy Sterner: Tim and little Timmy. He was just a baby. We took him to the bull, rodeo in Georgetown. Well, it was so funny. He was too young to even notice. But then later on, I knew all the bulls, all the cowboys, everything else that we’d watched on tv. I’d put him on my leg and bounce him when that bull was bouncing the other one, and he would laugh and laugh, and then I’d give him to grandpa when my legs got tired and he would do it. And so rodeo was his big deal. And he loved rodeo. So we had taken him once.

The whole family wants Tim’s body to be here for burial

Where’s that picture?

David Lyons: Did he ever try to ride?

Terrance Sterner: No, just horses.

David Lyons: Just horses.

Sandy Sterner: Yeah, I took them all horseback riding. I used to be from contract.

Terrance Sterner: Or anything, me or.

Sandy Sterner: There it is. I used to be from Colorado and I’d bring the, ah, horses down from the high country. Oh, wow. Every year. And it was, you know, he’d hear that and he wanted to know all about it. So I took the whole family horseback riding. Yeah.

Terrance Sterner: Oh, yeah, he’s a nuthen.

Sandy Sterner: We had our. We’d go to the zoo. It was a family thing, you know. I mean, we were all there.

David Lyons: I was putting together that the cousins are probably close.

Terrance Sterner: They are, they are really close. They’ve gotten in so much trouble. They’ve come close to having all their butts whipped at the same time. But they, I mean, it’s that close. The summer Jordan and Josh and little timmy, they are so. They were like brothers and sisters more than cousins. And then it’s really even the in laws, you know, it’s married into the family. They’ve gotten to know little Timmy and they love little Timmy and they miss little timmy and they, you know, everybody, the whole family just wants his burial to be here and has peace of mind, you know, in that sort of way. We just want his body and just say, you know, we’re a big forgiving family. And I couldn’t say I was growing up so much as I am now. You know, we all grow up, but that’s all, that’s all. We all just wish for his body.

Sandy Sterner: You know, we need the closure is what we need. And we may not get it, but as a family, we will do what we have to do. And on the 4 July of this year, we had a balloon and the family got together and Ellen came and keith came and we wrote on the balloons what we wanted to say to him and then set him up nice with the firecrackers and the fireworks. And then everybody in the family, we had a prayer and anybody that wanted to speak out of after that, I was starting to get emotional. But summer, Ellen’s daughter, was just wonderful with her words. Everyone was so wonderful with their words. And it was a very, very wonderful memorial for him. But we still don’t have.

Timmy had just gotten out of jail a week before he went missing

Wendy Lyons: So why don’t you, Terrance and Cindy, why don’t you all lead us into. Obviously, we’re here because little Timmy’s missing. Why don’t we talk about when he first went missing and what has been going on since that time?

Sandy Sterner: Well, Timmy had just gotten out of jail. Remember the week before? and I felt that everything went out of my body. And I came home and I thought it was one of my sons. And I said, oh, my God. Well, it’s not them. I said, somebody. I said, I felt somebody die. And that breath just went out of him. And I said, it was like a roller coaster. And that was a week before. But Tammy was still in jail then, so nobody ever thought about him. And then that next Monday, after he got out of jail, his mother brought him straight to me. And I was doing wash in the laundromat, and I heard the doorbell and I looked out, and there he was. Well, it was a rush. It was such a rush to hug that boy and have him tell me, I love you, grandma. And then him and his mom came in and we talked for a while.

Wendy Lyons: And this was in April of this year, 2024.

Sandy Sterner: Yes. It was the day before he went missing, because the next day, somebody put it on that he was missing up at Tammy’s.

00:25:00

Sandy Sterner: And we were just all trying to figure it out. And then I think Tammy came and talked to you and said, go up to the place where he was really missing from.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah.

Sandy Sterner: And he was up there in a heartbeat, and he put himself in danger. Those are cliffs and there’s water down there, and he could have killed himself. I said, why would you do that? But I think Tammy came to you, didn’t she? And said, please go help me find him.

Terrance Sterner: That night after he come to the house and he waited for me to get there before he left, I drove from the 68 down the river all the way back to Nicholasville to see little Timmy. I was excited. I gotta go. Gotta go. I dropped everything.

Sandy Sterner: Yeah, it’s for Terrance.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah. And I come by the door. We hugged. I said, well, get ready. We’re gonna go fishing. And, for some reason I kept getting phone calls that night, but I didn’t answer my phone. But that morning I got up and I was like, well, you’re gonna go fishing. I text him, no answer. And it was, I believe it was right at 1010. Somewhere around there. Quarter after ten, Tammy, his mom, come barreling through my driveway, said, little Timmy’s missing, he’s had a wreck and we can’t find him. I said, I threw my boots on, got my truck, rushed, take me to the wreck site. Went to wreck site was supposed to be. And you can see where the car went over in the hillside of rocks and stuff. But the car didn’t go all the way into over. Just went like 15 foot off the road really, and stopped. And, so I was like, well, maybe he thought he get in trouble. So he, you know, because I don’t think he had a license. So.

Sandy Sterner: No, he didn’t. Because when he was at the house.

Terrance Sterner: Well, I’ll go search the countryside for him, maybe down in this holler somewhere. And, just hiding out until he knows his uncle turns somebody find him. And, so I went down through there and it’s pouring rain and that creek down there was just gushing. And when you stepped in it, it would take my foot and try to yank. So I couldn’t get to the other side. So I had to jig Jack back and forth down through there. And I did about half a mile down that road up until I come up across the road down at the bottom river road and, the houses down there. I come up out of there and then I. I think it was Tammy picked me up. And then my girlfriend met us on up the hill again. We couldn’t find him. And, I was just like, well, he’s gone somewhere, to some friend, something, you know. Well, my girlfriend was out driving. Somebody said something about something and this and that. And I was like, well, that must have been them. Everything’s fine, okay, he’ll show up. And then next day, there was no show. And that’s when I got concerned. And I went down to the place where he was supposedly ben at that time and searched, the property, asked some questions, got my dog. I got a dog from there. That little dog represents a little Timmy. Name’s a baby. But, if I know and then what I know now, I probably would have handled things a little different. But I. It’s just. I don’t know. Then I, knew he was gone. That’s when I knew he was gone. Because the people that was there. And the way it went down, nothing added up. There was no adding a. Ah. Didn’t go to b and b didn’t go to c, you know, and it was like one person. So now it’s been since April. And I’m from this town. I know lots of people. I know the people where he was at. I know the people that live behind him. I know the people that live on each side of him, the people of that house that he was at. And I’ve heard so many horrific stories, and I’ve heard some of the things.

The murder police podcast is hosted by Wendy and David Lyons

I mean, I had people come to me and say, what do you want with me? I didn’t have nothing to do with. Nobody even said your name, you know, and I keep myself to, don’t you stay quiet about it. Really? Yeah.

David Lyons: So, without giving an address, what area, when we talk about where this happened with the creek and everything, what, area is this?

Terrance Sterner: So we down on, I would say it’d be the east side of Nicholasville. Is that east river road? Is the road that he come missing from. down there. It’s out. Suffer well. You just go to the end of suffer well there and forget the road number.

David Lyons: so when it ends up we have a place where he was last seen and people who were there.

Terrance Sterner: Ah, exactly. There’s plenty of people who see him there that said that he was there. The car that he was driving was picked up there from his mother. She went and got her car from there.

Sandy Sterner: why? Why people don’t drive to me?

Terrance Sterner: I asked the question. Why people? You know, you don’t. You think you have friends, you know, you got the social network and you think them are your friends. No, they’re not your friends. Just social, you know, somebody sitting there bored or, you know, wants to say something, you know,

00:30:00

Terrance Sterner: stuff like that. They’re not your friends. You don’t have friends. I have family. That’s my friends. And, I rely on that. But they. Little Timmy, I guess where he’s young, maybe, I don’t know. If I didn’t. His father, I don’t know, seems to like we failed him somewhere because he didn’t thought he had friends. But I heard so many different things and, it gets disturbing because I’m his uncle and I have to investigate this and find out what happened to my nephew for my brother. And I think it gets irritating because people think, well, the other day I. Somebody said, well, they tell me anything, why won’t they talk to me? I’m the most understanding person they can come to me, you know, and, you’d have. But they just tell me that I’ve caused some trouble in this town before, you know, but that’s not me no more. And I just want, you know, we just want closure, and that’s it. I’m not trying to go after nobody or trying to hurt nobody no more. You know, everybody. Everything causes ripple effect. No matter what I do. It’s kind of causes. It’s a ripple effect. And, so, I mean, I just don’t want no part of that ripple effect because I know it ain’t gonna be good. And, it’s a shame on all parties of what’s the consequences in that repercussions and everything of the whole situation that it could come down to from.

Sandy Sterner: My stories, you know?

Terrance Sterner: You know, and the people that loved him.

Sandy Sterner: You hear the story well, what’s his face said and through. I didn’t even know Timmy smoked.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah, mom was like, what?

Sandy Sterner: He never smoked. And somebody through this pack, somebody that murdered him threw this pack down when he walked in the door.

Wendy Lyons: Hey, you know, there’s more to the story, so go download the next episode. Like the true crime fan that you.

David Lyons: Are, the murder police podcast is hosted by Wendy and David Lyons and was created to honor the lives of crime victims so their names are never forgotten. It is produced, recorded, and edited by David Lyons. The Murder Police podcast can be found on your favorite Apple or Android podcast platform, as well as@murderpolicepodcast.com where you will find show notes, transcripts, information about our presenters, and a link to the official Murder Police podcast merch store where you can purchase a huge variety of murder police podcast swag. We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, which is closed caption for those that are hearing impaired. Just search for the Murder police podcast and you will find. Find us. If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe for more and give us five stars in a written review on Apple Podcast or wherever you download your podcast. Make sure you set your player to automatically download new episodes so you get the new ones as soon as they drop. And please tell your friends, lock it down Judy.

Sandy Sterner: Judy.

00:33:00


Part 4

Murder police podcast features interviews with Timothy Sterner’s family members

Terrance Sterner: It gets tough down there.

Sandy Sterner: I even live at one time. I guess I better not give any names, but took, them, and they butchered him like a deer and then threw the parts, my God, in a barrel and put holes in the barrel and dumped him over the side.

Wendy Lyons: Morning. The podcast you’re about to listen to may contain graphic descriptions of violent assaults, murder, and adult language. Listener discretion is advised. Welcome to the Murder police podcast. Thank you for joining us. As we continue to look into the missing person case of Timothy Sterner in the episodes we call it never forget little Timmy. In this episode, we continue our talk with Timmy’s uncle, Terrance Sterner, and Timmy’s grandmother, Sandy Sterner. The more you listen, the more you’ll learn.

Terrance Sterner: And, it’s a shame on all parties of what’s the consequences and that repercussions and everything of the whole situation that it could come down to from.

Sandy Sterner: My, stories, you know, and the.

Terrance Sterner: People that loved him.

Sandy Sterner: You hear the story well, what’s his face said and through. I didn’t even know Timmy smoked.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah, mom, was like, what?

Sandy Sterner: No, he never smoked. And somebody through this pack, somebody that murdered him threw this pack down when he walked in the door to this girl and said, there, he won’t be using these anymore. And then you hear a lot about the devil worship, and you hear this and you hear innuendos, and you see these Facebook things that are just sent to me because I don’t do Facebook. And you’re going, you know what? You better just let the officers do their job, that. Because they can sort this out. When Ellen stepped in, she got, She was like a hero.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah.

David Lyons: There’s so much.

Sandy Sterner: And God bless her, she’s so. I mean, family’s family, no matter what. And, you know, she’s worried about her own son.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah.

Sandy Sterner: And because these people, once they get by with something, and I don’t know how many more they will hurt or how many they’ve hurt before that nobody knows about.

David Lyons: You go back to that misinformation that makes it ten times tough on a family is all the garbage out there, and the armchair quarterbacks and the people who have theories, and then they pose them out as being facts. And when you’re in the position that you’re already in, where you want answers, that’s just got to hurt even more.

Terrance Sterner: And being me. Yeah. Ah, it’s just, Yeah, it hurts. It really does. Because it’s like, you know, the people that come to me and tell me something about the story or what happened to him? They come to me with fear and a cry in their eye, and they’re so sorry. And I’m like, you didn’t do nothing, you know? Well, this is what happened. And I’m like, okay, here’s the fourth story, or fifth or 6th or 7th. I think I’m down to about eight stories now. All of them are just some of them at the most part. I’ve heard a lot of the, body mutilating the body part of mutilating body. Try to get rid of the body. I’ve heard lots of stories of that. And, you know, it started off that he was in the river, and then it went that he was on the property, and you got the seven acres there, and you got to think that they know everybody around them, and there’s a lot of woods right there. You’re down at the river, I mean, and, just. It gets tough down there.

Sandy Sterner: I even live at one time. I guess I better not give any names, but, took, him, and they butchered him like a deer, and then through the parts. My God, in a barrel, and put holes in the barrel and dumped him over the side. When you hear stuff like that, you’re going, don’t. Why are you coming and telling me this? What, what do you think detectives are for? why do you think we have our officers, and God bless them, they’re trying to do their job, and they’re trying so hard, and everybody just

00:05:00

Sandy Sterner: keeps knocking them. And instead of saying, thank you for.

David Lyons: Your service, sir, when people make stuff up, the cops have to go through all of that, and that just makes it harder, and it adds time, and, it complicates everything. If you get close on it, is that, that’s the cruel part of it. And I’ve always wondered, because a lot of people just make that up. They think, and then they. I guess it makes them feel like they’re somebody. But it, Man, it complicates this whole process.

Sandy Sterner: Exactly.

David Lyons: Complicates it. Not to mention the first problem is the pain it causes to be a grandmother or an uncle or a father, to hear stories that graphic. And, again, you kind of want to meet the people that make that up.

Sandy Sterner: And people were going, tearing everybody. He could be at my house, mo, on my lawn, and 15 people just keep showing up, wanting to know what was going on, wanting to know what he knew. And Terrance say, I don’t know anything.

David Lyons: Yeah.

Sandy Sterner: Which I would stick asking questions because.

Terrance Sterner: I do want to know. So I just sit back and listen.

David Lyons: And who knows why they’re asking. I mean, somebody might be running their.

Wendy Lyons: Way, you know, if you know the truth.

Sandy Sterner: Yeah, well, you know, Tim was a big boy. It would have taken a lot of people, and I’ve even heard up to six of them.

Terrance Sterner: He’s pretty hefty boy. I mean. Yeah, but,

Sandy Sterner: And Tim would have you take the.

Terrance Sterner: Air from somebody’s breath.

Sandy Sterner: Oh, yeah. And that was another story. They got him into the car when he was trying to get away and they had a bag over his head and smothered him. I said, even that’s the last story we heard.

Terrance Sterner: That’s the story. I’ve heard that story in it. They burn him and then they buried him because they couldn’t burn the body because it stung.

You talked about having a feeling that Timmy was missing

Sandy Sterner: But then there was the other stories. Well, which one? They buried him in the house.

Terrance Sterner: Under the house?

Sandy Sterner: Yeah, under the house, under that porch. And then they put on a new floor. But then he got to stinking, so they couldn’t stand the smell. So they unburied him and put cement on him and then replaced the floor. And that’s what’s so hard to hear.

Terrance Sterner: And you hear them things and I’m thinking, well, who went to Home Depot or Lowe’s and got this stuff to do this? And that’s not true because that’s not what happened.

David Lyons: Yeah, it’s just hard to hear. It’s hard to say, isn’t it? It’s hard to say.

Wendy Lyons: So you think little Timmy went down there under the pretenses that these are his friends, right? He just.

Terrance Sterner: No, he was going to reconnect with somebody.

Sandy Sterner: No, no, that girl had him, she was the one that was the one to bring to these guys.

Wendy Lyons: So she informed him.

Sandy Sterner: First they said, yeah, first they said he was nothing but a rat. But then there was this one girl that liked Timmy, that the other boy was jealous of, but they kept saying, he’s a rat. And then it was jealousy. So it’s hard telling. Cause Timmy, I mean, he was the one that was in jail for what, eight years? Cause he was 27 down there.

Wendy Lyons: He was.

Sandy Sterner: Oh, he was.

Wendy Lyons: Didn’t show up.

Sandy Sterner: He was con to get down there. That girl got him down there for these guys. And that is relatives too, because I’d even text him on that day and I said, you know, we’ll have a talk, you know, this week sometime. And he said, as soon as I get all this stuff done, grandma, because he was supposed to go see his probation officer and all that. That day, and that’s why they were trying to get you to hurry up to get. To get down there to see him.

David Lyons: You talked about having that feeling a week before, and, when so he goes missing and whatnot. was there a point where y’all had a feeling like that, that he was no longer alive? Because I think that’s where we’re looking, is that you are looking at this things.

Terrance Sterner: When I come out that first day, it was raining real hard, and it was just dreary day, and I was soaking wet. And I come out of that holler, and he wasn’t down there, and nobody was giving me the right. Like I said earlier, abc did nothing. Didn’t, you know, nothing went. Everybody’s saying different stuff. And something gave me that feeling that he was gone. I didn’t know where, what or how. Yeah, but then that, you know, and I. Yeah, and then I go out here in town and stuff like that. I don’t know if I might be in Kroger. Somebody wants to stick me with a daggone knife in the back because I go hunting for whoever did that. Timmy, it ain’t like that. I just want the closure with his body, you know, and stuff like that. But, you know, everybody has a price to pay for their own.

David Lyons: True.

First rumor I heard about little Timmy going in the river was a conspiracy

This, this is not a big town. And then when you get down to the holler and you get by the.

Terrance Sterner: River, it gets small. It’s very small.

Sandy Sterner: I live on, personally,

00:10:00

Sandy Sterner: I thought as soon as I knew that they was, they all were saying that he was missing from another place, and we knew where he was at at the time, so there was light. I thought, this is a big conspiracy. I don’t know who’s telling who what or what, or who’s listening, because it’s all with them. they’re big drug dealers, too. And so it seems everybody that gets their drugs from them, we’re protecting them, and then they would do all that stuff. And so I’m going, wow, just let the officers do.

David Lyons: Yeah. There’s so many possibilities as to why, right? I mean, that’s. I’m just sitting there listening to you. All that there’s.

Sandy Sterner: Well, he was in jail for eight years. He wasn’t a rat. And, there were people brought up, and I’m saying, oh, my goodness.

Terrance Sterner: and I live on earth.

Sandy Sterner: And that week when I felt that air go out, that’s what my mother told me when we were. When they were rafting down the Colorado river and the raft tipped over, she said, oh, what an easy, easy death. I could have. You know, she said it was so peaceful. It was. And yet she got pulled out of it. Thank gosh. But, that’s what it reminded me of, was what my mother taught me. How easy it is to all of a sudden the water comes in and that’s what it was. It was like a roller coaster. It goes and it comes out and you’re gone.

Terrance Sterner: First rumor I heard about little Timmy going in the river, that was the first rumor I heard. I mean, I don’t know if. But then it. I mean, I had people coming to me. I had some people want to stay close to me, people that don’t stay close to me. And I let them get close to me so I could try to find something out. They’re just as smart as I am. And, it makes you just. You really gotta watch yourself out here because the people that don’t, they have nothing to do with you for 20 years. Then all of a sudden, they’re popping in your life. And then, you know, you put them down on the dartboard and see what comes about it. Then the next day, you spin the wheel, see what happens that day. You know, if I put myself in some pretty dangerous positions, I warned him, too. I just want to find him. I want him brought home. And, I don’t care about the justice or anything. I just want him brought home for the family. I want that closure for the family because the family is really hurting. And, Yeah, it took us, turner. Okay, sure. It ain’t the first one, won’t be the last one, but it’s the first one for us.

David Lyons: Horrible place to be.

Terrance Sterner: It is. and you don’t think about it when you see it on tv as much as. Until it happens to you and you’re having such a good day, and somebody comes along and says, oh, you know, and then just your whole day’s like, eh.

David Lyons: I think that’s the thing, too, is that, people see it on tv. And one reason we wanted to sit down with you all is that, when you see it on the news, if it makes the news, is, eventually people just feel like numbers and statistics and Timmy’s more than a number and a statistic.

Terrance Sterner: Exactly. And that’s the way I’ve kind of felt here in the last few weeks. He’s just another statistics, Now, I’m sorry, but, he isn’t. And I, ah, see that with the bumper stickers and things like that. Somebody told me they’ve seen him in Versailles they’ve seen him in Georgetown, you know, and so we’ve had them bumper stickers. Don’t forget little Timmy made. And, well, Ellen, she did that for us. And, we’ve got them out there. I see them on vehicles almost every day.

David Lyons: I saw it on hers yesterday.

Terrance Sterner: And if you look around hard enough for the bumper stickers, they’re out there on the sides of their trucks. My buddies put them on the side of their trucks and stuff. And, I know a lot of people. And you know them bumper stickers, we gotta get some more made.

David Lyons: Yeah, for sure. And what do they say again? Don’t forget about little Timmy.

Terrance Sterner: Don’t forget little Timmy.

David Lyons: Don’t forget little Timmy. Gotcha.

This is our third missing person that we’ve recorded

Wendy Lyons: You know, and we’ve recorded, this is our third now missing person that we’ve recorded. And those two other families, they want that same thing. I mean, obviously, they want justice, but they want their loved one back so they can have that closure. And these two mothers that we have recorded, they struggle with that. They just want answers. And it’s really sad hearing the story, because you’re right, David. It’s on the news. And you just think, really? You just hear it, and you kind

00:15:00

Wendy Lyons: of go on about your business and life as usual. And I’ve often said that when we recorded domestic violence deaths, yes, they’re sad. But it wasn’t until I was sitting in the seat being interviewed by you on the domestic violence murder of my best friend that you think you’re in that hot seat, and you realize that that’s real emotion that people have. And so our hope by doing this and interviewing people is that not only you all get little Timmy back, but that someone pays for what they’ve done. And somebody out there, probably more than one person, knows the story. And it’s almost like you want to say you were big enough and bad enough to do it. So where’s the big and bad to come forward and tell what you did? Nobody’s ever big enough for that.

Terrance Sterner: I get that, too. I get that into public people because I’m like, why won’t they come to me? Why won’t they? People know me. And, I mean, I could have probably run for jailer here and been jailer. that’s how many people I know. And they like me. We live on the corner. And mama tell you, if I pull up out front, 15 people pull up with me. You know, there’s Terrance room. There’s Terrance, you know, just pull up. Hey. Hi, Terrance. How you doing? You know, it’s just on a given. And, Just that the whole thing is crazy to me that.

Sandy Sterner: Yeah, if you go to a store, you might as well figure out another 15 to half an hour. Cause he’s gonna be talking plus, plus.

David Lyons: But he comes down again. This is a pretty tight knit community, which I’m attracted to. I love working here.

Terrance Sterner: She said something about justice and, you know, I grow. My mom’s raised me well to believe that you will get your justice when you die. how you die and everything. That’s, you know, how it goes. But you will get justice in it. Ain’t me that’s gonna give you justice. The judges ain’t gonna give you justice. It’s the ain’t upstairs gonna give you justice. And the biggest thing is you’re gonna give your own justice. Because you gotta live with that every day. That’s gonna be your hell right there.

David Lyons: Right. And, you know, we can add too, that, And I’ve said it before, I’ll keep saying it. That if somebody has firsthand knowledge of what happened, even if they weren’t immediately involved, they carry that weight of that justice as well for not coming forward. And that’s, that’s what bothers me is. But I’ve met people who can do it. But if. If they’re holding that in their heart and are carrying it on their shoulders, is you can walk into church every Sunday and Wednesday night and think you’re. You’re grazed and everything. But that justice will fall on you for holding that and causing the pain that it does inside of a family.

Terrance Sterner: It falls on your family too, when you do. Yes, it does. Like I said earlier, the ripple effect. I really believe what I do falls and it, you know, I’m 51 years old. It took me 51 years to realize it. Kind of something like that. Get mature or something. Is that what you call it, mom? Grow up. but it’s took me a while to understand that ripple effect. And then when I go to do something now, I think of the ripple effect, you know, okay, who’s it gonna affect? Me. Oh, no. When I cut that tree down, it’s gonna affect all the neighborhood.

David Lyons: That is part of growing up. And, you know, the other cases that wendy’s mentioning that I think that what compounds the frustration is that, And this is not uncommon. You have, last locations and last person seen with. Which is a strong solve ability thing. But it doesn’t mean you’re there. It’s like, what’s it take to get people to just talk and I think that’s the frustrating part, because people know, and they’re. They’re walking among us, and it’s that whole thing of, why are you holding on to that? And they’ve, again, if they didn’t witness it, they’ve been told by people that are. That are reliable and not these rumors you’ve heard, either. It’ll be a real thing.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah. Well, I’ve had some people that has come to me about little Timmy, and they can see it in their eyes. They really want to tell me something. They’re afraid. They’re afraid to tell me something, or they’re afraid that what I’ll do or what the justice department will do, it’s not what I’m gonna. Not gonna do nothing. But, I’ve been in place in there, looking at me like they could do to me what they did, little Timmy. And, It gets hairy. It is.

David Lyons: Yeah.

David Frum says people need to show empathy for those struggling with addiction

But they could, you know, they can. They can tip anonymously to get the ball rolling. But even then, at some point, I think what people need to do is to show some empathy and put themselves in your shoes on what they would want. God forbid they were in that position.

Terrance Sterner: That’s a big word, David.

David Lyons: It is, it is. But the thing is that, at some point, when you live this life and you walk among other people, you have an obligation to get courage and to come forward and participate.

Terrance Sterner: Absolutely. And help the other. That’s it. Yeah. To help the other person out. And, I’m a firm believer in that. As moms, I’m always like, the neighbors need their yard mode. Well, it

00:20:00

Terrance Sterner: might not be my mower. Might be on mom’s tractor. I’m on the old neighborhood, and she’s like, will you quit mowing the neighborhood with my mower? Empathy, mom. Empathy.

Sandy Sterner: I think that there’s my gas.

Terrance Sterner: Exactly.

David Lyons: Here we go. Exactly.

Sandy Sterner: Common sense, people.

David Lyons: I’ve always said, I get that it’s scary, and sometimes it is, but most of the time, I found when I would hear that it really wasn’t valid. It was the excuse. but then again, let’s think about it. If we’re human beings and we walk amongst each other, sometimes you have to do scary things, and sometimes you. That. What people don’t understand in a case like Timmy’s is if people would just come forward with a deep breath and go, woof. And get it out there, the scary people would be away. And, I mean, it would be that quick. It wouldn’t take long.

Sandy Sterner: But drugs do so much.

David Lyons: Oh, sure, sure.

Sandy Sterner: Drugs do so much. And the way it is, that’s the biggest, baddest thing of all, is all these drugs that they’re on.

Terrance Sterner: The love of money, m and drugs.

Sandy Sterner: It’s just like, I don’t understand why this suboxone clinic is. I remember taking Tim, little Timmy, to counseling, and I got to go that time. And he wasn’t on any drug medication he was on for Adah, Adhd. Yeah. And, she said, well, we could put you in a suboxone. He said, why would I be taking one drug? And then you all want to give me another drug and make it just as bad. And I’m going, wow, I heard that out, of my grandson’s mouth. I was never so proud of him. I said, boy, we got in that car and we had another long talk. And I said, I’m so proud of you for saying that. because my twin told me one time, I said, I don’t think I’m reaching him. And she said, just keep talking. She said, you’ll never know when something’s going to snap in that little boy’s head. And he’ll hear you, and it’ll be.

Terrance Sterner: The right thing anytime. Yeah. He would run to grandma’s house, no matter what. He knew he was safe there.

Sandy Sterner: Yeah. And I always talked about, do unto others as you would please. Don’t listen to, the ones that are doing you bad.

Terrance Sterner: Ooh. Excuse me.

Sandy Sterner: Anyway, this is the last letter he wrote me.

Terrance Sterner: Oh, you make me cry.

Sandy Sterner: This is the tough. But this will show you what he was thinking in mindset before.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah.

Wendy Lyons: And when was this written?

Sandy Sterner: was it October?

Terrance Sterner: around dad’s birthday, wasn’t it? Or his dad’s birthday.

Sandy Sterner: But anyway, this was the last one I got, so he said, well, and it’s hard to understand his writing, but, well, I haven’t wrote you in a while. Thought I would.

I miss you, grandma. I sit uh, and think about you all the time

Well, all is good. I m was getting real dirt out in. Oh, she’s getting out in one month. Dang. I’ve been doing time since I was twelve years old. All together, I’ve done about 14 years, 950 for in prison. That is real sad. In almost 30. And I’m almost 30 years old. Got none to show for it. Crazy. Been doing the wrong shit. But everyone can change. You just get to have, got to want to. It hurts me. We, are not as close as we used to be. But I know. I know. Every now and then, your smile and think about old times and the stuff we used to talk about. I sit and think about you all the time. But I can’t change the past, which I wish I could. But, grandma, I’m not ashamed of who I am, just what I’ve done. Grandma. I’ve been a hell of a man. You it. You it right by me. Prison, that made me. But prison has helped me.

00:25:00

It helped me develop a sense in calmness and needed where I was in the street. I will. I was hell on wheels, but I got it all out. I’m good. But I love you, grandma. Really, really. Do you know it true. I miss you so I wrote, so needed it to. But just know I’m present. Ever visit in mourning? Oh, let my roots and all my Sterner’s family know I love them. Write me back. Love you.

Terrance says little Timmy was growing up too fast in prison

Love Timmy junior.

David Lyons: And somebody robbed him of the opportunity to keep growing his life and changing, didn’t they? I think that’s what kills me about that, is that, you know, it sounds like he was. He was maybe, like you said, Terrance, we grow up. Yeah, he was growing up.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah.

David Lyons: And, it was.

Sandy Sterner: And then his dad feels so bad because he could have taken Timmy in, but him. And we knew that he had to get acclimated from prison to the outside.

David Lyons: Sure.

Sandy Sterner: And that was very important.

Terrance Sterner: You gotta take your time and really look at the whole situation before you go jumping into it.

Sandy Sterner: And basically what he, little Timmy’s saying, there’s no blame on anybody. He takes that blame on himself and said he’s, you know, he’s gonna be all right. But when you come out of prison that long, you have to have help from.

David Lyons: Seven or eight years is a long time to be.

Sandy Sterner: Yes. And you have to get acclimated to the outside.

Terrance Sterner: Jordan, his cousin, yeah, that’s where.

Sandy Sterner: We wanted him to go.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah. We wanted to go down to e town and be with him and let him acclimate him back into a halfway house and stuff like that. I know. Things were. Just went too fast for him. I guess it’s like getting on a bicycle and going so fast your first ride and getting the wobbles wrecking, you know?

David Lyons: That’s a good analogy.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Things were going so fast for him, he just didn’t have time to keep up on him. Thanks. I really do feel there’d be justice from this. I do. Something, tells me there will be. But like I say, we just want closure. I would love just somebody say, his body’s right there. You can go dig it up. All right. See you later. I’ll dig the body up just to have him. Just to have the clothing.

David Lyons: That’s what we’re praying for with y’all.

Terrance Sterner: I gotta take myself out of situations because something. Golly, him and Josh Joshua, we pulled up to a house I was working on the other day. Timmy had done something there, and my son just started crying. And I was going to shut the door, and I seen. He was crying. Open the door. I said, you know me, I’m, his dad. what’s wrong with you? He said, little Timmy. And he started telling me a story. I said, buddy, you’re going to have to grow out of that. You better get thinking about working. Get that paintbrush and get your button out. And, he’s like, okay. So he’s drying his eyes. He pulls himself together. But it really. It takes a toll on him. It really does. It takes a toll on the whole family. And I feel sorry for my kids because little Timmy loved them. And, I mean, you should have seen them play mom’s got video. And, it’s just. Yeah, they were side by side all the time, and nobody messed with them. They never really messed with nobody else, either. They just had their own fun. And I think, you know, a lot of times there’s people jealous of them because they did have things they wanted. A motorcycle or the nice clothes, you know, the good shoes and the nice pants and stuff like that. Now, don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t raised that way. I had buddies and high waters on going to kindergarten with my pants pulled up around my boob.

David Lyons: Corduroy pictures.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah, I think my cousin in New York owned them. And, but they, But mom made sure little Timmy. Little Timmy wanted something because it was a fashion in school, she would go get that for him, and, you know, he’d come in from school and she’d be like, look what I got you. This shirt, you know? And it matched little Timmy. He liked it, and he loved. He loved that stuff. And you’ll learn from people. I’m going to have some other people get a hold. Some other people. But y’all learned to how wonderful little Timmy really was. He would. My ex wife, she screamed, little Timmy, would you please rub my feet? And she wouldn’t have to ask twice. He would be right in there. Bam m. That’s how lovable he was. I

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Terrance Sterner: asked him once, I forgot about this. I said, he was on three wheeler with me. We was going up down the creek behind mom’s house, and I seen something in the bank. The water has been rushing real hard the week before, so it washed some of the bank away. And, little Timmy was on. I think he was on the back with me, and, I seen it, and I stopped and I’m looking at it, and he’s like, what is it? I said, do you see that white thing in the bank right there?

Timmy found a mortar shell in the creek when he was five years old

I said, get it, little Timmy. Timmy says he probably wasn’t about five years old. He said, I’ll, get wet. I said, I don’t care. Get off and get it. So he gets. He thought he’s gonna get in trouble by grandma for getting wet. He gets off and gets it. He gets back on through. I take this mortar shell, the whole mortar, and strap it to the front of my. That’s what little Timmy’s walking through the creek with it like this, still the cap sticking out of it.

David Lyons: Oh.

Terrance Sterner: And, so we get it out of there, you know, strapped to the front three wheeler. And we ride up and down the creek. I take it in, take it hot water and soap and grow all the paint off of it, or the dirt, you know, so you can see clean paint. Set it up in my windowsill. And I got a trophy now. And, well, it was a little Timmy’s trophy, actually. But here comes grandma over one day, and it was sitting on the counter because I’d cleaned the windowsill off.

Sandy Sterner: She’s.

Terrance Sterner: What is that? That’s a mortar, mom. Ain’t you ever seen a mortar? You know, and, she’s like, you can’t have that in here. Next thing I know, here comes Franker with a bomb squad in my house. They’re clearing the whole corner. Here comes little Timmy. Where’s that mortar at? You talk to your grandma about that guy?

Sandy Sterner: The officer told us to leave the house to evacuate. My husband said, I’m not leaving.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah. Dad said, I’m sitting right here. If it goes off, he says, been over six months. I ain’t moving.

Sandy Sterner: In his car out there, far away.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah.

Sandy Sterner: And he wouldn’t even touch squad. And there, and I’m walking right up to it.

Terrance Sterner: Like, you gotta think by now I’ve got. It was five kids, plus little Timmy and all the neighborhood kids running around. And mom comes in, and she’s just like. And then here, clear the street. So dad wasn’t gonna leave. So I wasn’t gonna leave. And so here’s my ex wife standing down in the corner with all the kids around her. Y’all kids be good.

David Lyons: That’s an incredible story.

Terrance Sterner: So I asked him, I said, so when you’re done with that, can I have it back? He said, if you want to pick it up in little pieces.

David Lyons: Oh, yeah. Because it would be an eat survey.

Terrance Sterner: He said, I must have. He’s going to put c four on the side of it, blow it up. He said, do you know that thing’s more dangerous now than when they built it?

Sandy Sterner: Yeah.

David Lyons: How do you think it was? Was it World War two?

Terrance Sterner: World War two, it kind of dropped down in a slope.

Sandy Sterner: Yeah, well, they fast shoots up in.

Terrance Sterner: There, has a little cap on top of it, sticks about that far. Yeah, when that cap comes down, because it’s top heavy, like, if it fell off my counter, it would go boom. Yeah, that would be a problem. That’s what she said. But I ain’t seen no problem too good. Yeah. But, Yeah. Ah, he took that from me and little Timmy that I was looking. Little Timmy’s fine. Yeah. a mortar shell.

David Lyons: Yeah.

Terrance Sterner: Well, we could have done with that.

David Lyons: Y’all certainly brought the memories today.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah.

David Lyons: I think you’re painting a really good picture who Timmy is.

Terrance Sterner: Jimmy’s, we want to thank you.

Sandy Sterner: For allowing us to come. You’ve been a blessing.

David Lyons: Well, and thanks for sharing that.

Terrance Sterner: Timmy could have screamed my lane. Now, I don’t know if I’d have been there.

David Lyons: That. That letter, is. Is a gift. It’s his words, his hands. And in this modern age, how else can we not have that?

Sandy Sterner: It’ll always be.

Terrance Sterner: I see little Timmy. I’m sitting there writing that letter. I see his mind going. I see his posture. And that’s what hurts me the most.

Sandy Sterner: And I see him.

The Murder Police podcast is hosted by Wendy and David Lyons

I see the love that he put into. Cause that boy didn’t know how to love. He knew.

Terrance Sterner: Yeah, he did. He knew how to love.

Wendy Lyons: Well, thank you, Sandy, and thank you, Terrance, for coming in, sharing with us the memory of Timmy, who he is. again, I’ll repeat, somebody out there knows something, and our hope is that we can find you all answers. Hey, you know, there’s more to the story, so go download the next episode. Like the true crime fan that you.

David Lyons: Are, the Murder Police podcast is hosted by Wendy and David Lyons and was created to honor the lives of crime victims so their names are never forgotten. It is produced, recorded, and edited by David Lyons. The Murder Police podcast can be found on your favorite Apple or Android podcast platform, as well as@murderpolicepodcast.com where you will find show notes, transcripts, information about our presenters, and a link to the official Murder Police podcast merch store where you can purchase a huge

00:35:00

David Lyons: variety of merchandise. Police podcast Swag we are also on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, which is closed caption for those that are hearing impaired. Just search for the Murder Police podcast and you will find us. If you have enjoyed this podcast, please subscribe for more and give us five stars in a written review on Apple Podcast or wherever you download your podcasts. Make sure you set your player to automatically download new episodes so you get the new ones as soon as they drop. And please tell your friends lock it down. Judy.

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