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The Anniversary of the Billings' Death

ESCAMBIA COUNTY - "Escambia County's sheriff says more arrests could still be coming.

(snip)

Still, Morgan feels strongly... there are more people out there who were involved in the crime.

We have four individuals... that we continue to tweak... on occasion... information comes in from other sources, other witnesses...

We have those folks still on the radar, and we hope to at some point affect two additional arrests... possibly three...

But simply arresting these suspects and having the charges stand up in court... are two very different things.

There are no other persons of interest at this time that we have sufficient evidence that we feel like we can obtain a conviction.

(snip)
Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Junior will be the first of the remaining five to face a jury.
His trial is scheduled to begin October 25th."
 
They stand as perhaps the most unusual and horrific murders in the Pensacola area's history.

A year ago this evening, Byrd and Melanie Billings, who were adoptive parents to nine special-needs children, were gunned down in their Beulah home by men dressed in what the sheriff described as "ninja garb."

Within five days, six men and a 16-year-old boy were arrested on charges of first-degree murder and home invasion. A day later, a woman was charged as an accessory.

(snip)

http://www.pnj.com/article/20100709/NEWS01/7090314/For-family-horror-of-murders-lives-on
 
snip** I believe the murders of this Beulah couple who had adopted nine children with special needs is more than a robbery that got out of hand. And those close to the couple and to the investigation believe so, too.

http://ricksblog.biz/?p=11583
 
snip** One Year Anniversary of Billings Murders, Sheriff Says Case Still Open
Morgan says a year later, the case is still open and there are four other suspects, identified by authorities, who have not been arrested.
"I believe as a law enforcement officer that we will probably, most definitely, effect at least two arrests out of those four. I would like to see three and there's one fourth that I don't think we'll ever have enough information on," Morgan said.

http://www.local15tv.com/news/local...s-Murders-Sheriff/NFs-F1CRoUm1g8hqi4TnyA.cspx
 
Prosecutors will be allowed to introduce evidence of a scuttled attempt to rob the home of Byrd and Melanie Billings several days before the couple were murdered inside their Beulah residence, a judge ruled Thursday.

Circuit Judge Nick Geeker made the ruling during a hearing for Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr., 36, who is accused of shooting the couple to death during what several of his co-defendants said was a robbery.

Gonzalez, guarded by more than a dozen officers Thursday, faces two counts of first-degree murder at the trial scheduled to begin Oct. 25. The state is seeking the death penalty.

(snip)

http://www.pnj.com/article/20100903...1/Robbery-attempt-admissible-in-Billings-case
 
http://www.pnj.com/article/20100904/NEWS01/9040315/Charges-mount-in-Billings-murders

Charges mount in Billings murdersHugh Wiggins, wife, friend indicted for trying to ditch guns
Kris Wernowsky • kwernowsky@pnj.com • September 4, 2010


snip
"Hugh Wiggins, Pamela Long Wiggins and an acquaintance of theirs were indicted Friday in Mississippi on charges that they tried to ditch guns used in last summer's robbery and murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings.

A grand jury in Pascagoula handed up accessory-after-the-fact charges against the couple and Eddie Denson of Moss Point, Miss. The charge carries a potential five-year prison sentence."
 
I don't have a link, but just heard on local news that jury selection will begin 9/20 for Jr.'s trial.
 
Three indicted on charges related to murder case
snip**
She’s also accused of allowing Gonzalez to use a van that the suspects later used to transport a safe containing $200,000 from the Billings home.
Denson, reports said, also thought that his friend was possibly planning to leave his wife after returning from work offshore, where he said Wiggins had indicated he was headed.

http://www.sunherald.com/2010/09/07/2458430/three-indicted-on-charges-related.html
 
Trial set for Billings' murder suspect
Leonard Gonzalez, Jr. believed to be mastermind
Updated: Monday, 13 Sep 2010, 6:48 PM CDT

snip** Each of the suspects in the murders will be tried separately. The next two on the list are Wayne Thomas Coldiron and Donald Ray Stallworth. Those trial dates are set for January and March 2011.

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/trial-set-for-billings-murder-suspect
 
Trial move sought for Leonard Gonzalez Jr.
Motion filed for suspected gunman in Billings slayings
Kris Wernowsky • kwernowsky@pnj.com • October 8, 2010

http://www.pnj.com/article/20101008/NEWS01/10080333/Trial-move-sought-for-Leonard-Gonzalez-Jr-

"The motion filed Thursday by attorneys for Leonard Gonzalez Jr. notes the extensive media interest that followed the July 9, 2009, murders at the couple's home in Beulah. That interest, the motion says, would make it difficult to find jurors who haven't seen or heard something about the high-profile murders."

<snip>

"Also at today's hearing, defense attorneys are expected to seek permission to introduce evidence that two defendants who entered into deals to testify against Gonzalez were involved in drug sales before their arrests in connection with the murders."
 
Trial for Jr. set to begin Oct. 25 or at least jury selection. I don't have the link right now but it is in court records.
 
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