Golf Club Murder Rocks Palm Beach Gardens Community
A senseless act of violence unfolded at the Sandhill Crane Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on Monday afternoon, leaving a 65-year-old man dead and a community in shock. Junior Boucher, a 36-year-old West Palm Beach resident, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the brutal attack.
According to eyewitness accounts, Boucher allegedly used the victim’s own golf clubs as deadly weapons, striking him repeatedly and with force, ultimately leading to his demise. The victim, identified as Brian Hiltebeitel, was pronounced dead at the scene, with multiple deep lacerations on his body, including severe head wounds.
"It appears to be a completely random act of violence, with no apparent motive or connection between the suspect and the victim," Palm Beach Gardens Police Chief Dominick Pape said in a statement. "This is a truly heinous crime that has left our community reeling."
The disturbing events unfolded at approximately 1:22 p.m. on Monday, when multiple 911 calls flooded in, reporting a violent altercation on the first hole of the golf course. Responding officers arrived to find Hiltebeitel’s lifeless body near a body of water, while Boucher fled the scene. He was eventually apprehended after a brief pursuit, during which he was subdued using an electronic control device, commonly known as a Taser.
A key witness, who was playing golf on the same hole, provided a chilling account of the attack. The witness reported hearing a man yelling and then witnessing the suspect, later identified as Boucher, wielding a golf club and chasing Hiltebeitel. The victim reportedly pleaded for his life, shouting "he’s trying to kill me" multiple times as Boucher continued his relentless assault.
The attack was described as extremely violent, with Boucher allegedly striking Hiltebeitel numerous times with the golf club, even after they both fell to the ground. The suspect then retrieved another club and continued the assault, eventually dragging Hiltebeitel into the nearby pond, where he choked him and continued to strike him in the head.
After the attack, Boucher was seen stripping off his clothes and walking away from the scene, according to the witness. The suspect was later identified by multiple eyewitnesses and taken into custody.
Boucher, who claimed he was a "victim of witchcraft" during his initial court appearance, is being held without bond at the Palm Beach County Jail. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to establish a motive for the senseless killing.
