Hoag’s Criminal Past Revealed

ABC 17 News is finding out Timothy Hoag, the man accused of murdering University of Missouri professor Jeong Im in 2005, had troubling legal problems in his past.Cops say Hoag killed Im eight years ago by stabbing him, stuffing him in the trunk of his car and setting it on fire. Hoag then committed suicide by jumping off another parking garage last August.On Wednesday, ABC 17 News learned two witnesses were too afraid to come forward with information about the crime until after Hoag’s death. Court documents show they were not the only people Hoag may have tried to intimidate.Even before Hoag committed murder in 2005, court documents state he was known to be violent. In 2001, a local chiropractor filed a restraining order against him. It accused Hoag of assaulting the man and threatening his family in an attempt to extort $1,200 from the man’s business.The documents also say Hoag threatened to break the man’s hands and arms so he couldn’t practice. It also says Hoag would get sick, twisted pleasure from going to the man’s house, hurting his wife and making the children watch.Hoag allegedly told the victim if he contacted police, he would bond out and come back as many times as it took.In a report, an officer said Hoag stood at 6’7″ and was about 235 pounds, saying he should be considered extremely dangerous.The following month, he was charged with third degree assault and victim tampering for the incident, and he received six months in jail.Then in 2005, about six months before murdering Dr. Im, Hoag’s own brother filed a restraining order over unfinished work. The brother claimed his girlfriend, employer, and he were all scared of Hoag.Hoag also had drug charges throughout the years and friends told ABC 17’s Janai Norman he would sometimes get into drunken fights with neighbors.One former roommate believes Hoag’s suicide in August was not his first attempt. Damon Jones says Hoag was hit by an SUV in 2008 and he doesn’t think it was an accident.”But I also think it was a part of a guilty conscience and part of me thinks the whole car accident thing was an intentional attempt at suicide,” said Jones.His former roommates say Hoag was a nice person when he was sober, but he also suffered mentally.”He did drink a lot, a lot,” said Cathryn Sappington. “He would get up and drink, and then he’d chase it with water and then go back to bed.””We know that he was taking medications for things,” added Jones. “I’ve seen him angry even while he’s sober, and the dude’s six foot seven, 250 pounds. You can’t not be just a little worried when somebody’s screaming at you when they’re that big.”One of his roommates recalls dropping Hoag off at a mental health doctor as recently as last summer. An autopsy report shows Lactimel, a drug used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder, was in Hoag’s system when he died.Hoag’s former roommates say they were both surprised and scared when they heard the news about Hoag’s involvement in Im’s murder on Wednesday.”I was scared like, I mean it was kind of like one of those things like when you get off the roller coaster and your keys are hanging out your pocket, it’s like, almost, like that was really close,” said Sappington.”I could kinda feel a little bit surprised by it, but at the same time I’d seen both sides of Tim to where he has his anger and everything like that,” said Jones. “It’s a pretty startling situation.”Police believe Hoag is the lone suspect in Dr. Im’s murder, but for now, the case remains open.