Billings’ Attorney: “The Entire Story Will Be Told”

Florida Murder An attorney representing the Billings family says speculation is harmful to the investigation and to the grieving family.

by Jessica Taloney

Published: Wed, July 22, 2009 - 5:37 pm CST Last Updated: Wed, July 22, 2009 - 6:05 pm CST

During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, an attorney representing the Billings family told reporters the truth about the murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings will eventually be told.

"The entire story will be told," said Crystal Spencer. "There will be a time. It's just not right now."

Refusing to comment on a recent report that a second safe containing $100,000 was the intended target of the home invasion and double murder, Spencer said the Billings' children, who will return to the Beulah home where their parents were killed, are concerned about their safety.

CNN, citing a source close to the investigation, reported the thieves could not open the safe or carry it out of the house.

"That is a detail or part of the investigation that can not be released at this time," said Spencer. "There are a couple of issues here. We're talking about the privacy of the Billings-Markham family, and we're also talking about the safety of the Billings-Markham family."

Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan also refused to comment on the report, saying he would only discuss items that were actually stolen from the Billings' home.

As we first reported last week, a safe that was taken during the home invasion contained passports, birth certificates, adoption papers, heirloom jewelery and medicines prescribed to the family.

During the same press conference, Spencer also rejected reports that Byrd Billings tried to cash in on his adopted children.

Byrd and Melanie Billings together raised 17 kids, 13 of which were adopted and have been described as having special needs or coming from at-risk situations.

In letters made public this week, Byrd Billings, who reportedly copyrighted the children's names, demanded $10,000,000 from several employees of the Florida Department of Children and Families for allegedly violating the copyright.

"One can look at it and try to read something very negatively," said Spencer when asked about the copyrights. "I believe got he got some bad advice. Someone told him if you copyright these names and capitalize them then you've created a right of privacy."

The Billings were murdered during a home invasion July 9. Seven people, including Leonard Gonzalez Junior, the alleged mastermind behind the crime, have been charged with murder. An eighth suspect, Pamela Long-Wiggins, is charged as an accessory after the crime.

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