() crime & courts (/crime) timothy scott hendricks of st. paul pleaded guilty to killing...
TRANSCRIPT
HOT TOPICS: Ebola: 5 things to know (http://www.twincities.com/nation/ci_26655596?source=hottopics)
Best bloody Marys (http://www.twincities.com/restaurants/ci_26641603/best-bloody-marys-twin-cities?source=hottopics)
Twin Cities Marathon (http://www.twincities.com/twincitiesmarathon?source=hottopics)
Snow in October?!?! (http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_26657008/twin-cities-weather-cold-start-marathon-sunday-but?source=hottopics)
Win Mellencamp tickets (http://www.twincities.com/winstuff?source=hottopics)
Photos: Fall colors (http://photos.twincities.com/2014/10/01/fall-in-the-boundary-waters/?source=hottopics)
Gardenhire through the years (http://photos.twincities.com/2014/09/29/minnesota-twins-fire-manager-ron-gardenhire?source=hottopics)
Oldest MN murder defendant (http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_26629687/minnesotas-oldest-murder-defendant-dies-days-before-sentencing?source=hottopics)
Crime map (http://stpaulcrime.twincities.com/?source=hottopics) Get travel deals (http://www.dailydealstwincities.com/category/travel)
(/portlet/article/html/imageDisplay.jsp?
contentItemRelationshipId=6284532)
Timothy Scott
Hendricks.(Courtesy of theRamsey County
Sheriff's Office)
RELATED STORIES
Aug 13:
Apr 23:
Apr 18:
Apr 17:
(/portlet/article/html/imageDisplay.jsp?
contentItemRelationshipId=6284382)
Michelle Ploetz
St. Paul man gets 48 years in ex-girlfriend's killingBy Emily Gurnon
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected]?
subject=TwinCities.com: )
POSTED: 10/03/2014 12:01:00 AM CDT | UPDATED: ABOUT 17 HOURS AGO
He took away a couple's only child, a young mother from her 8-
month-old son. And he doesn't remember how or why.
But Timothy Scott Hendricks of St. Paul pleaded guilty to killing
girlfriend Michelle Marie Ploetz and trying to kill her father. For
that, the 19-year-old was sentenced Friday in Ramsey County
District Court to nearly 48 years in prison.
Ploetz was 20 and a student at St. Catherine University when
Hendricks shot her to death April 16.
She, her baby and her father, John Ploetz, had gone to dinner with
Hendricks at the Little Oven restaurant on White Bear Avenue in
St. Paul. Hendricks wanted to see the son he and Ploetz had
together.
Days earlier, he had been released from jail on a charge of felony
assault for allegedly pointing a rifle at his 13-year-old nephew.
As they left the
restaurant, John
Ploetz drove, with
the other three in
the back seat of
the SUV.
John Ploetz later
told police he
heard a "pop"
from the back
seat, about four
blocks from the
restaurant. It was the sound of Hendricks shooting his daughter in
the head as their baby sat between them.
John Ploetz stopped "and heard another pop as something flew
past his head, breaking the car's windshield," the criminal
complaint said.
He thought Hendricks was trying to kill him, got out of the vehicle
and went to the rear door to try to get the gun.
Hendricks shot at John Ploetz twice more. John Ploetz ran, and
Hendricks chased him with the gun.
Hendricks told police after his arrest that "they" wanted full
custody of the baby and that he wouldn't be able to see the boy.
Advertisement
Weather:
(http://www.twincities.com/weather)
Saint Paul, MN | Now: 43°
(http://www.twincities.com/weather) | High: 49°
(http://www.twincities.com/weather) | Low: 33°
(http://www.twincities.com/weather) | 5-Day ForecastCRIME & COURTS (/CRIME) (http://www.twincities.com)
Click to get top daily news
St. Paul man who shot hischild's mom pleads guiltyto murder(http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_26332606/st-paul-man-who-shot-his-childs-mother?source=pkg)
St. Paul kids' boutiqueseeks donations for infantof murdered mom(http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_25616050/st-paul-kids-boutique-seeks-donations-infant-murdered?source=pkg)
St. Paul 8-month-old'smother dead, father jailedon murder charge(http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_25593813/st-paul-man-fatally-shot-his-babys-mother?source=pkg)
St. Paul shooting suspectalso had pointed rifle atboy, charges say(http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_25586336/st-paul-shooting-suspect-also-had-pointed-rifle?source=pkg)
St. Paul woman shot inSUV; suspect taken intocustody at hospital(http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_25581565/police-seek-suspect-shooting-woman-suv?source=pkg)
He said Michelle Ploetz yelled at him.
"I just snapped. I was hearing voices in my head, and I just snapped, and I couldn't tell you really
what happened," he told police, according to the complaint.
He told police in January that he was addicted to "pot, benzos and opiates," with a "bottle-a-day"
habit.
John Ploetz told investigators he had tried to get Hendricks committed on three occasions because
he feared Hendricks would kill him, his wife, his daughter or the baby. He "expressed fear that
Hendricks would kill the rest of his family if not apprehended or if he ever gets out of custody," the
complaint said.
That was the reason he went along on the dinner date -- because both he and his daughter were
concerned about meeting with Hendricks, he told police.
Hendricks submitted a Norgaard plea Aug. 13 to charges of second-degree murder and second-
degree attempted murder, saying he was too high on drugs to remember what happened but
agreeing that he was guilty.
A Norgaard plea is used in circumstances where the defendant cannot remember because of
intoxication or amnesia.
Hendricks apologized in court Friday for his crimes.
"I'm very sorry for everything that happened," he said. "I don't really remember anything, but I
got enough from the police reports. Please forgive me."
Michelle Ploetz's mother tearfully read a statement to the court about the loss of her and her
husband's only child.
Michelle was small in stature but gave enormous hugs, her mother said. She was an excellent
mother to her baby and looked forward to completing her college degree.
On the day of the murder, Dianne Kocoerek Ploetz expected her husband, daughter and grandson
to pick her up from work, she said.
Instead, John Ploetz called her and frantically told her, "Tim shot Michelle! Tim shot Michelle!"
"She was unconscious when I got to the hospital, and I never got a chance to tell my baby
goodbye," Dianne Ploetz said.
Michelle Ploetz was removed from life-support two days later.
The worst part of each day, her mother said, is waking up and thinking, "Oh, what an awful
nightmare -- I dreamed that Michelle was killed."
Then she realizes once again that the nightmare is true.
She said Hendricks would find forgiveness only by letting God into his life.
"Something went horribly wrong, and Tim knows that," his sister Jennifer Hendricks said after the
hearing.
She said that he is "ready to start serving his time for the life he has regretfully taken."
She and the rest of Hendricks' family loved Michelle, she said.
Judge Salvador Rosas on Friday dismissed the assault charge involving Hendricks' nephew as part
of the plea agreement.
Emily Gurnon can be reached at 651-228-5522. Follow her at twitter.com/emilygurnon
(http://twitter.com/emilygurnon).
Enter email to know what happens next with this story [email protected]
This article is the:
10th most-clicked of the hour (/popular#popularhour)
8th most-clicked of the day (/popular)
⇧ Return to top
Video that may interest you
TOP STORIES
Trending Articles and Offers ADVERTISEMENT
Shopping expert reportshow UK customers getup to 80% discount using'crazy' online trick
UK public Snaps UpBargains Using 'Bizarre'Online Trick
UK public Snaps UpBargains Using 'Bizarre'Online Trick
Doctors Are Shocked:'Skinny' Pill TakesCountry by Storm
Advertorial
Dundee Residents Alarmed
[Oct 2014] New controversial websiteexposes Dundee’s Arrest Records for anyonewith a computer to view. Read More » Advertorial
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
The best bloody Marys in the Twin Cities
Career con man who stiffed posh St. Paul Hotel...
Vikings: Cordarrelle Patterson joins ranks of...
Pine County hunter's ordeal: 'I knew the bear...
Shot in the wilds of Anoka County ... an...
Burnsville man charged after missing girls, 13...
-- SPONSORED LINK --
Harbaugh: RB Bernard Pierce ready to
roll in Week 5 : Fantasy News(From Daily Me.com)
Article commenting rules of the road (http://www.twincities.com/ci_25707683)
2 Comments TwinCities.com Login
Sort by Best Share ⤤
Join the discussion…
• Reply •
rich11ACR • 16 hours ago
No death penalty, no justice.
4△ ▽
• Reply •
david • 13 hours ago
he apologizes in one breath and says he cant remember in the next? really? what a p.o.s.
3△ ▽
Subscribe✉ Add Disqus to your sited Privacy
Favorite ★
Share ›
Share ›
St. Paul man gets 48
years in ex-
girlfriend's killing
(http://www.twincities.com/crime/ci_26657156/st-
New Hastings
restaurant in old
building may have
ghosts on the menu
West St. Paul: South
Robert Street
makeover in limbo as
bids overshoot
St. Paul selling off
public works vehicles
at weekend auction
(http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_26650369/st-
‹ ›
(/POPULAR) NEWS (/POPULAR)
(/POPULAR) A&E (/POPULAR)
(/POPULAR)
Southern Minnesota man accused of killing, dismembering
(http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_26657742/minnesota-man-arrested-death-woman-found-burning-car?
New Hastings restaurant in old building may have ghosts on
(http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_26657013/new-hastings-restaurant-old-building-may-have-ghosts?
Gophers basketball team likes centers' depth, versatility
(http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_26659113/gophers-basketball-team-likes-centers-depth-versatility?
See the full most-popular-of-the-hour list (/popular#pop-day)
MOST POPULAR
Atheist Churches Gain in Popularity
St. Paul Local Guide(http://mylocal.twincities.com/)
Emerald Greens Golf Course
(http://mylocal.twincities.com/hastings-
MN/recreation/golf-courses/Emerald-
Greens-Golf-Course-651-480-8558)
(http://mylocal.twincities.com/lake-elmo-
MN/recreation/golf-courses/Tartan-Park-
Golf-Course-651-733-3480)
(http://mylocal.twincities.com/saint-paul-
MN/medical/health-care-facilities/Ecumen-
Home-Care-Inc-651-766-4300)
(http://mylocal.twincities.com/lake-elmo-
MN/travel/hotels-and-motels/Lake-Elmo-Inn-
Swedin Chiropractic Clinic
(http://mylocal.twincities.com/farmington-
MN/medical/chiropractor/Swedin-
Chiropractic-Clinic-651-460-6868)
(http://fra1.ib.adnxs.com/click?
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPA_AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKGsGJUXex4woZkJ71WPuQo4GjBUAAAAANI2NAA_AQAAPwEAAAIAAACidJEA1HwHAAAAAQAAAAAAVVNEACwB-
gBOnQAAAAAAAgIAAQIAAJQADxF7HgAAAAA./referrer=twincities.com/clickenc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.adoptuskids.org)
Happening Around the Twin Cities
Copyright © 2014 St. Paul Pioneer Press
Copyright (http://www.twincities.com/portlet/layout/html/copyright/copyright.jsp?siteId=569)
Privacy Policy (http://www.twincities.com/portlet/layout/html/privacypolicy/privacypolicy.jsp?siteId=569)
Site Map (http://www.twincities.com/sitemap)
MNG Corporate Site Map (http://www.medianewsgroup.com/consumers/Pages/OurBrands.aspx)
Add your business here +(http://mylocal.twincities.com/#add_business)
THE BOTTOM LINE
(http://www.twincities.com)
Find St. Paul Attractions
Discover Death Recordsmyheritage.com
Find Death, Cemetery, Obituary and Burial Records Dating Back To
Daily 10 Secondswith Dana Carvey
After you watch our featuredvideo above, you can enjoycartoon-shorts starring:David Spade, JulianneMoore, Chris Rock and more!
Sponsored by