Timothy Gordon Hyder murdered his fiancée, Natalie "Dawn" Du'Mee, at their home in St. Cloud, Florida, on December 1, 2024, after she told him she no longer wanted to marry him and returned her engagement ring. Hyder retrieved a .357 Magnum revolver and shot Du'Mee in the back of the head before instructing her daughter to call 911. He admitted the shooting to investigators and said he had "snapped." Hyder was convicted of first-degree premeditated murder in May 2025 and sentenced to life imprisonment. He remains incarcerated in Florida.
Early Life
Timothy Gordon Hyder was 57 years old when he murdered Natalie "Dawn" Du'Mee in 2024 and was living in St. Cloud, Florida. Publicly available information about his childhood, education and early adult life is limited.
Hyder had previously been married and filed for divorce in 2022. He began a relationship with Du'Mee in October 2021, and the couple eventually became engaged. They lived together in St. Cloud with members of Du'Mee's family, including her adult daughter.
Killing Spree
On November 30, 2024, Hyder and Du'Mee attended a football watch party where they consumed alcohol. During the gathering, Du'Mee told Hyder that she no longer wanted to marry him and returned his engagement ring.
After they returned to their home on Western Sun Drive, the couple continued arguing about their relationship. Du'Mee's daughter, who was inside the house watching television, heard the argument. Hyder went into a bedroom closet and retrieved his .357 Magnum revolver before returning to the back patio where Du'Mee was located.
Hyder asked Du'Mee if she was certain that she did not want to marry him. When she confirmed her decision, he shot her in the back of the head. Du'Mee's daughter subsequently discovered her mother suffering from the fatal gunshot wound, and Hyder instructed her to call 911.
Modus Operandi
Hyder used a firearm to kill Du'Mee during an argument after she ended their engagement. He retrieved a .357 Magnum revolver from inside the home, returned to Du'Mee and deliberately shot her in the back of the head.
The killing occurred at the couple's home while Du'Mee's daughter was present. After the shooting, Hyder did not attempt to flee the scene. He placed the revolver back in its holster, instructed Du'Mee's daughter to call emergency services and waited for police to arrive.
Capture
St. Cloud police officers responded to the residence on Western Sun Drive shortly before 1 a.m. on December 1, 2024, following the 911 call. They found Du'Mee dead on the back patio and located a handgun inside the home.
Hyder remained at the residence and cooperated with investigators. During questioning, he admitted shooting Du'Mee and described the argument that preceded the killing. He told investigators that he had "snapped" and expressed regret for what had happened.
Hyder was arrested and initially charged with murder. He was held without bond in the Osceola County Jail while the case proceeded through the courts.
Trial & Sentence
Hyder's case proceeded in Osceola County, Florida, with prosecutors presenting evidence concerning the couple's argument, Du'Mee's decision to end the engagement, the firearm and Hyder's own statements to investigators.
The prosecution established that Hyder had retrieved his revolver after Du'Mee returned his engagement ring and then deliberately shot her after confirming that she still intended to end their relationship. His admission to police became an important part of the prosecution's evidence.
On May 29, 2025, Hyder was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of first-degree premeditated murder. Florida Department of Corrections records identify his offence as first-degree murder/premeditated or attempted and list his sentence as life imprisonment.
Notes
The murder attracted attention because Hyder killed Du'Mee immediately after she ended their engagement and returned his ring. Their relationship had reportedly been turbulent, with arguments occurring particularly when alcohol was involved. Du'Mee's daughter was inside the home when the fatal shooting occurred and was instructed by Hyder to call 911.
Hyder's statements to investigators provided a detailed account of the circumstances leading to the shooting. He acknowledged retrieving the revolver, returning to Du'Mee and shooting her after she confirmed that she would not marry him. He subsequently told police that he wished he could take back what had happened and that he had "snapped."
Hyder was ultimately convicted of first-degree premeditated murder and sentenced to life imprisonment on May 29, 2025. He remains in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections.
- St. Cloud Police Department
- Osceola County Sheriff's Office
- Osceola County State Attorney's Office
- Florida Department of Corrections
- Osceola County court records
- FOX 35 Orlando
- WESH 2
- WFTV
- Miami Herald
- People
Quotes
"I put one right in the back of her head."— Timothy Gordon Hyde
Media
📺 Documentaries / TV Series
World's Most Evil Killers
The case of Timothy Hyder has been covered in true-crime programming examining domestic homicide and the circumstances surrounding the killing of Natalie Du'Mee.
True Crime Television Coverage
News and true-crime programs have examined the shooting, Hyder's statements to police, the court proceedings and his life sentence.
🎥 Major Video Interviews
FOX 35 Orlando
Reported on Hyder's arrest, the circumstances surrounding Du'Mee's death and the subsequent criminal proceedings.
WESH 2
Covered the initial investigation, Hyder's arrest and developments in the murder case.
WFTV Channel 9
Reported on the shooting, arrest and court proceedings in Osceola County.
🎙️ Podcasts
True Crime Podcasts
The case has been covered by true-crime programs examining the relationship between Hyder and Du'Mee, the fatal argument and the resulting murder prosecution.
Florida Crime Coverage
Regional crime podcasts and programs have discussed the case and Hyder's life sentence.
📰 Written Media Coverage
The Timothy Gordon Hyder case received extensive media coverage from:
FOX 35 Orlando, WESH 2, WFTV, Miami Herald, People
Major themes included:
Timothy Gordon Hyder, Natalie "Dawn" Du'Mee, St. Cloud Florida, Osceola County, broken engagement, domestic homicide, .357 Magnum, first-degree premeditated murder, confession, daughter witness, and life imprisonment.
