Ohio woman sentenced to 40 years for killing ex-husband with animal tranquilizer — Ambulance - File Photo

LIMA, Ohio — Amanda Hovanec, 37, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison on Tuesday for the 2022 murder of her ex-husband, Timothy Hovanec, amid a bitter custody dispute. Prosecutors said Hovanec ambushed and injected her ex-husband with animal tranquilizer during a custody exchange on April 24, 2022, killing him.

Hovanec, who had initiated a relationship with a South African man she met during a family move in 2018, admitted at her sentencing that “it comes down to me being selfish.” She had filed for divorce upon returning to the U.S. in 2020 and had been denying her ex-husband visitation rights despite a court order.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio detailed that the crime was planned in conjunction with Hovanec’s mother, Anita Green, and her boyfriend, Anthony Theodorou, who was involved in the plot from South Africa.

Court records indicate that tensions had escalated in the Hovanecs’ visitation dispute. Timothy Hovanec, 36, had traveled from Virginia to Ohio in April 2022 for court proceedings to see his three daughters. Although a hearing did not go as planned, a judge ordered on April 22 that he be given visitation rights for two days, and custody of the children during the summer.

Instead of the scheduled handoff, Amanda Hovanec poisoned her ex-husband, leading to his death. She was arrested shortly after, and both Green and Theodorou have also been charged in connection with the case.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.