2 arrested in connection with 2009 Cleveland County murder

CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. — The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two people in connection with the murder of a man in 2009.

Timothy Thomas was shot and killed on Mary’s Grove Church Road while leaving his home to go to work, according to investigators. The investigation spanned two states and authorities followed several leads that turned up nothing.

“We decided a couple of months ago to start fresh with this case and start at the beginning,” Sheriff Alan Norman said.

The investigation led authorities to Samantha Zander, who was Thomas’ girlfriend at the time, and a friend and co-worker of Zander’s, Ralph Hiebert.

“We know at this time that Mr. Hiebert and Mrs. Zander worked together at TACC in 2009 and had a close relationship. The evidence shows that Mr. Hiebert shot Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Zander aided in the planning of the shooting,” Norman said.

Hiebert and Zander are in jail under no bond.

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