Friends mourn loss of Healdsburg businessman

People who knew 29-year-old Tim Neuer say the Healdsburg businessman was kind and generous and happy to give back to the community.

Neuer, former owner and founder of Thrive Hydroponics, a indoor/outdoor garden supplies store on West North Street in Healdsburg, was shot and killed Tuesday night allegedly by Jarrod Miller, brother of Neuer's girlfriend Amanda "Mandy" Miller.

"This happened to the wrong person," said Scott Keneally, a close friend of Neuer's and a marketing consultant and freelance writer in Healdsburg. "Tim Neuer was one of the most genuine, happy and selfless guys I've ever known."

Neuer had lived with Mandy and Jarrod Miller together in a home in the 300 block of Alexander Valley Road north of Healdsburg.  Jarrod Miller later moved out and relocated in Cloverdale, according to Sonoma County Sheriff's Lt. Dennis O'Leary.

O'Leary said Jarrod Miller returned to the home Tuesday night.  After some discussion -- but no argument -- Neuer asked Jarrod Miller to leave, O'Leary said.  Jarrod Miller took out a handgun and shot Neuer multiple times, O'Leary said.

"We do not have a motive at this time," O'Leary said.

Miller, 29, was arrested later Tuesday night by Windsor police. He is charged with murder. His arraignment is set for this afternoon in Sonoma County Superior Court.

"It's just a tragedy," said Healdsburg Unified School District board member Vince Dougherty, who said Neuer was very helpful to him and his son with a school science project about a year and a half ago. "It's a tragedy for all three people -- what a mess."

Keneally said Mandy Miller, 24, was with the U.S. Army in Iraq, and is now studying early childhood development at Santa Rosa Junior College. She is from Rio Nido; Neuer grew up in the Cazadero area, Keneally said.

"They were madly in love, and have been together for several years," he added. "Tim adored Mandy, and he was the love of her life."

Dougherty said he met Neuer when he and his son, then a student at Healdsburg Junior High School, went to Thrive Hydroponics to buy supplies for a Healdsburg Science Fair  project involving ways to grow tomatoes.

"We needed tomato starts, potting supplies and three types of lights," Dougherty said. "We bought some things, and then, when [Neuer] found out it was for school, he just gave us more.

"He said, 'Is this for a school project? I would like to donate to that'," Dougherty recalled. "He was just awesome."

Keneally agreed.

"If he wasn't laughing, he was always on the verge of it," Keneally said Thursday. "He was a ray of light and, given the circumstances, the world feels a whole lot darker."

Neuer's family members could not be reached for comment.

Sonoma County Sheriff's Sgt. Carlos Basurto said an autopsy was done Thursday on Neuer's body. A report on the autopsy will be released when the investigation into the case is completed, Basurto said.

NOTE: Earlier news reports that described Neuer as the current owner of Thrive Hydroponics were incorrect. Neuer is no longer an owner or employee at the company and has not worked there for at least six months. The information was corrected on Healdsburg Patch as of March 15, 2011.