A Plano man has been condemned to 50 years in prison for the brutal murder of his mother, according to a release from Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis. Robert Lee Timmons Jr., 34, was found guilty of savagely beating and strangulating his mother, Rene Timmons, in an event that has caused waves through the local community.
Officers discovered the body of Rene Timmons on May 16, 2024, after they were called to perform a welfare check when she did not arrive at her workplace. She was found wrapped in a blanket with severe injuries, indicating a violent attack. Concurrently, the Richardson Police were investigating a break-in nearby, where they encountered Timmons, who confessed to the crime by stating, “I just killed my mother.” This information, first disclosed by Collin County DA's office, led to his immediate arrest at the scene.
In a following interview conducted by Plano Detective Bryan Patten, Timmons admitted to using a metal pipe and a piece of wood to attack his mother after a heated argument, followed by strangulation. He reportedly told Patten, per the DA's office, “I know I am an evil person and it looks like I don’t regret what I did, but I’m too high to cry.” His confession also included details about his habitual methamphetamine use. An investigation revealed that the day before the murder, Timmons had falsely accused his mother of assault and self-inflicted wounds in an attempt to claim self-defense.
Before this gruesome act, Timmons was living with his mother, who, according to those close to her, had expressed a desire to have him move out due to his violent and erratic behavior fueled by drug use. His criminal history includes previous assaultive arrests, one being Assault Family Violence Impeding Breath against his sister in Dallas County, and another being Assault Bodily Injury against a male roommate in Collin County. Both cases were brought to prosecution, which is indicative of a pattern of violence.
