CNN Breaking: Murder of Billings Couple will have massive implications

[grantcart]

Source: CNN Broadcast

The Sheriff in Pensacola gave a press conference where he outlined that the home invasion murder of the Billings is going to expand to a much much larger and more complex story. He wouldn't give specifics but used words like, "humdinger", "very complex".

He indicated that they were expecting many more arrests in other jurisdictions.

Apparently the home had numerous video recorders that helped the couple stay on top of their many special needs children.



Here is the latest from CNN.com, the above summary was from their broadcast channel.





PENSACOLA, Florida (CNN) -- Authorities have made an arrest in the killings of a Gulf Coast couple known for adopting special-needs children, a sheriff's spokesman said Sunday.


Byrd and Melanie Billings were found shot to death Thursday night in their home near Pensacola, Florida.

1 of 2 Investigators announced Saturday night that two people were being questioned in the killings of Byrd and Melanie Billings, who were found dead in their Beulah, Florida, home Thursday night. Sgt. Ted Roy, a spokesman for the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, told CNN that one person had been arrested Sunday afternoon.

Eight children found in the Billings home were unharmed and were being cared for by relatives at "an undisclosed location," Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said Saturday night. They range in age from infancy to 11 years, police said.

Emergency personnel and police went to the home after receiving a call just before 8 p.m. Thursday about shots being fired, Roy said. An employee of the couple found their bodies, Roy said.


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/07/12/florida.couple.slain/index.html

[bluestateguy]

1. The Lifetime Movie Channel should start taking notes for a possible script

if they haven't already started casting, that is.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

16. Wow, that's classy.

[Javaman]

29. Yes, because we know the media exercises only highest sense of

ethics and morals.

:eyes:

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

30. I guess that gives us an excuse to share in their depravity.

:eyes: :puke:

[LanternWaste]

31. Or recognize it...

Or recognize their depravity, and engage in an obvious satire against it...

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

32. That seems to be the common excuse when called on things.

[Javaman]

34. yes and?

:shrug:

I just like pointing out the obvious.

[LanternWaste]

35. And when applied in context, a valid reason...

And when applied in context 9as in this case), a valid reason...

(Next pithy, bumper sticker ready comment to follow...)

[mitchum]

37. Dave, I always think that actions, not observations, are cynical

Who is the real cynic?
The emperor's tailor?
The adoring crowd?
Or the boy who pointed out the farce?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

44. Apparently I am.

You make a good point.

David

[Vinnie From Indy]

2. Especially for the murdered couple

It will be interesting to note as this unfolds the "massiveness of the implications". One thing is as certain as death and taxes - the cable news vampires will be all over this non-stop.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. What do you suppose is the "humdinger"? n/t

[Bolo Boffin]

4. It looks like child pornography is being implied here.

And from the setup being described, the Billings may not be guilty of it, just that their home network may have been compromised in some way.

This seems like a really sad story, no matter how it comes down.

[kirby]

18. No it doesnt. n/t

[Bolo Boffin]

20. It looked like it to me at the time.

So, yes, it did.

However, there's more information out now and that's not what it looks like to me anymore.

So thanks for playing.

[kirby]

33. Not sure what you read...

But why you would even think because someone has video surveillance in their home to help monitor their special needs children, it somehow relates to child pornography. The spreading of such an unfounded rumor boggles me mind.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

6. I have no idea but they've arrested someone now. From what I've read it's possible it was relatives

6:04 p.m.
According to the Escambia County, Florida Sheriff's Office, Leonard Gonzalez was taken into custody. He is being charged with tampering with evidence related to a murder investigation. Sheriff David Morgan says Gonzalez changed the appearance of the van confiscated Saturday. Sheriff Morgan did not release any information involving Gonzalez's motive. Morgan says the investigation into the Billings' murder is getting more complex and is "reading a lot like a movie script."
http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article/arrest-made-in-beulah-double-murder/180809/Jul-12-2009_6-18-pm/


Here's a snip from an article regarding the murders which leads me to believe it links family members:

The sheriff said, “Interviews with associated neighbors, friends and family” led authorities to a relative of the owner of the van and another person, who are both being questioned.

According to the sheriff, investigators can tie the two people “to enough significant events and instances in this case that would lead a reasonable person to believe that they have an association with these murders.”

A third person believed to be involved in the crime has not been found.

http://www.examiner.com/x-1168-Crime-Examiner~y2009m7d11-Two-people-questioned-in-murder-of-Florida-couple

[LisaL]

23. No the suspects aren't related to the victims.

[PNutt]

13. This Has The National Dick.......

Written all over it. Sounds like some sort of ultra-secretive plot to discredit liberals.:kick:

[Kerrytravelers]

14. What has this got to do with liberal or conservative?

:shrug:

[boppers]

5. "Many more" arrests?

I shudder to wonder.

[MissDeeds]

12. Same here

I just hope the children were not being victimized by anyone outside, or, God forbid, inside the home. The comments made certainly fuel ample speculation. Perhaps they should not have been made until more info could be provided.

:scared:

[shraby]

7. Where did this part come from..gotta link?

The Sheriff in Pensacola gave a press conference where he outlined that the home invasion murder of the Billings is going to expand to a much much larger and more complex story. He wouldn't give specifics but used words like, "humdinger", "very complex".

He indicated that they were expecting many more arrests in other jurisdictions.

Apparently the home had numerous video recorders that helped the couple stay on top of their many special needs children.

[grantcart]

15. It was part of a CNN broadcast where they televised a press conference by the Sheriff

Here is the latest update


http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/07/12/florida.couple.slain/index.html

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[grantcart]

19. The Billings appeared to be wealthy and owned a number of businesses

[LisaL]

9. What is he trying to imply? What was the motive in the murders?

[Odin2005]

10. This isn't looking good.

Poor kids.
:cry:

[jwirr]

11. As a parent of a special needs person I am just checking in so I can

keep up on this story. Thank you for posting.

[boppers]

21. Cops were called, but an employee found the bodies?

Huh?

[LisaL]

22. Maybe that would be the same employee who made the 911 call?

[boppers]

24. I thought neighbors made the call.

I guess it makes sense that an employee was also living nearby, though.

[Sheltiemama]

36. I believe an employee lived on the grounds.

From what I heard earlier, when she went to work at the house, she discovered the bodies.

[grantcart]

25. Three arrested in Billings Murder

Source: WKRG


Video at link also


Escambia County Sheriff' David Morgan says they're holding two men on open murder charges in the murders of a
Beulah, Florida couple known for adopting special needs children.
Morgan says day laborer Wayne Coldiron turned himself in around 9:00 o'clock Sunday night and that Leonard Gonzalez Jr. was arrested later in Santa Rosa County.
Morgan says Coldiron was friends with 56-year-old Leonard Gonzalez Sr., who was charged earlier in the day with evidence tampering.
Authorities say the older Gonzalez tried to paint over and hide damage on a red van spotted on surveillance video leaving the home where Byrd and Melanie Billings were shot to death Thursday.
Eight children were inside the home at the time, but were not hurt.

Read more: http://www.wkrg.com/crime/article/one-man-arrested-in-billings-murder/180986/Jul-12-2009_11-16-pm/

---

Following up on earlier report that they were looking for additional suspects they now have 3 in custody.

The Sheriff indicated earlier that there were going to be additional shocking apsects to this case.

On an earlier thread some speculated that the Billings may have been involved in some type of foster care fraud and other reports including this from the AP indicate that the couple was in fact a wealthy couple committed to helping children in need:

Morgan said the investigation involves a complex web of relationships between suspects, though he declined to elaborate on them. He said it did not appear that the suspects knew the victims, though the companies the Billingses owned included a used car dealership.

"We are very anxious to share this story ... it's going to be a humdinger, I'll tell you that," he said earlier in the day.

[glowing]

26. Most things coming out of Escambia County are strange.

I'm sure there is some kind of religious scandal involved as well..

[ohio2007]

39. I think it would be less "religious" scandal and a more obvious county human services scandal

welfare fraud is big business

[Ex Lurker]

27. day laborers generally aren't involved in complex frauds

the relationships between the suspects may be complex, but I'll go out on a limb and say the crime itself was nothing more than a half baked robbery scheme cooked up by some violent, but not-very-bright low lifes.

[grantcart]

28. I think that in this case the term "day laborer" was very loosely applied

I think that he will turn out to be a career thief with no apparent means of support.

[ohio2007]

38. the couple had several other business interests

besides "foster care fraud " I heard about.

[LisaL]

40. I don't think this is about "foster care fraud."

How many people have been murdered over "foster care fraud?"

[merh]

41. ABC was fussing that it took so long to solve these murders.

I think the Pensacola Sheriff's Department solved it pretty quickly. Of course, the couples use of video plus the tip of concerned citizens helped. Less than a week to arrest suspects is pretty darned good in real life. I don't get what ABC is thinking, real life isn't a tv crime show.

[LisaL]

42. Are they for real?

This didn't take long at all.
Of course having a video helped.

[merh]

43. I promise, it was the Nightline coverage

The SO has done a great job and they anticipate making more arrests.

[PassingTimeHere]

45. Why would a group of eight invade a home; it's not like they had the crown jewels in there

Seriously, how much loot could be in one home for that many guys to split? It doesn't make sense.

I suspect this case is going to have a real twist to it, or be a real "humdinger" as the sheriff's office spokesperson has called it.

[bitchkitty]

46. Eight children, not invaders.

I believe there were 2, and the father of one was also charged with tampering with evidence.

[PassingTimeHere]

47. Not eight, but wasn't it reported yesterday that six people entered the home?

Yes, I wrote "eight," but now that I think about it, I think I heard "six" yesterday - three entered the front of the home, and three entered the back of the home. And this aricle says that eight may have been involved.

http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/grad/2008-09_GradBro.pdf

That's just odd.

[bitchkitty]

49. My mistake.

I had not been following this, the OP was the first I've heard of it.

[slampoet]

48. It is a double tragety that these children are put back into Florida Child Services again.

[AnnieBW]

50. I'll bet that it was someone trying to get their kids back

The Billingses had adopted all of those special-needs kids, right? I'll bet that the person or persons behind this was someone trying to get their child back from them.