The man accused of killing a golfer has an extensive criminal history, records show

WPTV investigates the criminal history of Junior Boucher, 36, who is now is charged with first-degree murder for killing 65-year-old Brian Hiltebeitel Monday at Sandhill Crane Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens.

According to court records, Boucher’s family reported him as “missing” to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office the same day as the incident.

Also on Monday, Anna and Kevin Boucher requested that Junior be removed from a bedroom, citing erratic behavior of domestic violence, mental health, aggressive behavior and verbal abuse, according to their petition to the court.

Court records show Boucher pleaded guilty in 2023 to fleeing a marked police vehicle, resisting an officer without violence and committing an offense against a police dog. Officers said Boucher put one of the agency’s K9 units in a chokehold and tried to “keep an eye on” the dog after leading officers on a chase through Okeechobee Park to a shopping plaza in Wellington.

Boucher served approximately 230 days in the Palm Beach County Jail and completed 115 hours of community service after enrolling in a program within a nonprofit organization.

The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department (PBGPD) said Boucher also committed multiple drug-related crimes and was arrested for domestic battery.

Palm Beach Gardens police said at their news conference Tuesday that there does not appear to be a motive to attack Hiltebeitel, calling it a random attack. It is unknown at this time if he was under the influence.

WPTV reporter Ethan Stein reached out to the Bouchers for comment and did not hear back.

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