Billings Murder: Crime Scene Photos Public

Florida Murder Surveillance pictures and crime scene photos will be made public in the Billings murder investigation. All eight defendants were in the courtroom when the judge announced the ruling.

by Jessica Taloney

Published: Fri, August 21, 2009 - 3:59 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, August 21, 2009 - 4:35 pm CST

Eight suspects, their attorneys and dozens of law enforcement officers packed three rows inside a Pensacola courtroom.

The last time all eight suspects were together was the night investigators say seven of the men killed Byrd and Melanie Billings while the eighth suspect, the only woman charged in the case, waited at a nearby antique mall to help hide the evidence.

Friday's court hearing addressed whether surveillance photos and crime scene pictures should be made public.

"The only bone of contention was whether the public and the media have the right to view the video surveillance," said Dennis Larry, who represents the Associated Press and Pensacola News Journal.

Larry argued the images are public record, while family members, including the Billings' daughter, feared their release would bring more pain.

"Having to relive it everyday would be more traumatic to us," said Ashley Markham. "Just the visual aspect of it, having to see it replayed.

The judge decided to make the the photos available for the public and media to see, but not copy or publish. The pictures will be kept in the Florida State Attorney's office in Pensacola, a compromise both sides agreed was fair.

"We are very pleased with the order that the court has ruled," said Markham. "We believe that it will help us move forward that they did look into the interest of our privacy."

Leonard "Pat" Gonzalez, Jr., 35, Leonard Gonzalez, Sr., 56, Wayne Coldiron, 41, Gary Sumner, 30, Fredrick Thornton, 19, Donnie Stallworth, 28, and Rakeem Florence, 16 are charged with capital murder in the case. Pamela Long-Wiggins is charged as an accessory after the crime.

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minimay87 Says:

Sat, Aug 22, 2009 at 7:33 am

I agree. Sitting through the trial is going to be painful and heart wrenching enough. During a trial I had attended my family ask the courts to let us know when they were bringing out any photos of my aunt so that the kids could leave the courtroom. I know the details of what happened but seeing the actual photos is something I do not think I could handle.

carl Says:

Sat, Aug 22, 2009 at 7:15 am

This seems to be a good and wise ruling from the court and which you don’t see much of here lately.For the family and children to see the execution of their parents on TV or in a paper on a daily basis would be devastating to them I believe.The public’s right to know shouldn’t involve the public showing of the graphic execution of these two loving parents where it might be seen by the family,especially the children.

mustuknow Says:

Sat, Aug 22, 2009 at 1:49 am

So as I understand this, if Joe Public or Mr. Media wishes to view the crime scene photos or the video surveilance from the crime they will have to contact the State Attorney General and make an appointment to view these items??? Not that I don’t agree with the ruling, and I personally do agree that the children should not have to have these images splashed across every newspaper and television screen they see, that would simply be cruel beyond words. I just don’t understand how they plan for this to work. It seems to me that they are going to have to have dedicated staff to oversee those who are viewing this material to make sure that NO ONE VIOLATES THE COURT ORDER AND TRIES TO TAKE A QUICK PIX OR GET A 2ND RATE COPY OF THE SURVEILANCE TAPE WHILE IT IS BEING PLAYED.

My hats off to all those involved in coming to agreement and attempting to protect the children. This family has been through enough and they need as much sheltering from all of this horrid tale as they can get. As for Ashley and Blue, they have had to grow up VERY FAST, and I sincerely hope that they have a support group to be there to help them through all of this. I cannot imagine being such a young woman, losing my parents in such a horrible way, and then stepping up to the plate to care for my siblings in the way she has. Ashley is a very strong young woman. My hat is off to her and to her husband also.