‘Person Of Interest’ In the Billings Murder Case

Florida Escambia County The Escambia County Sheriff's Office says 47-year-old Pamela Long was found "near a marina" in Orange Beach.

by Jamie Burch

Published: Wed, July 15, 2009 - 1:03 pm CST Last Updated: Wed, July 15, 2009 - 2:50 pm CST

3:45 p.m.
- Sheriff David Morgan says police in Orange Beach found Pamela Long in or near a marina.
- She is going back to Pensacola voluntarily where she will be questioned by investigators.
- Orange Beach Assistant Police Chief Greg Duck told News 5's Pat Peterson that Leonard Gonzalez Jr. owned a boat and was docking it at The Wharf.

2:03 p.m.
The Escambia County Sheriff's Office is looking for 47-year-old Pamela Long who they call a 'person of interest' in the murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings.

Sheriff David Morgan says Long has "significant and substantial information" his investigators need to close the case. He says it's imperative they speak with her.

If you recognize Long, please call the Escambia County Sheriff's Office at 850.436.9620 or Crime Stoppers at 850.433.7561.

Sheriff Morgan says Long, who has five aliases (Pamela Long Wiggins, Pamela L Malden, Pamela Long Link, Pamela Laverne Long Coco, Pam Long), is a realtor and that she rented property to Leonard Gonzalez Jr.

Gonzalez Jr. his dad, Wayne Coldiron, Gary Sumner, Fredrick Thornton, Donald Stallworth and Rakeem Florence are all charged with murder in the deaths of Byrd and Melanie Billings. The couple, who was well known for adopting special needs children, were shot to death Thursday during the robbery of their home in Beulah.

Other than finding Long, Sheriff Morgan says the investigation is focused on why the Billings' elaborate security system was not disabled. He says every aspect of this brutal crime was well planned and executed, except for the security system. Sheriff Morgan says his investigators believe the person who was supposed to disable it before the break-in never showed up. Investigators are looking for that person.

Tuesday, a judge denied bond for Gonzalez Jr. and Wayne Coldiron. This afternoon, three more suspects, Leonard Gonzalez Sr., Gary Sumner and Fredrick Thornton are in court for a bond hearing.

Bond for Gonzalez Sr. was initially set at $500,000 on a tampering with evidence charge. But he has since been charged with murder.

News 5's Jessica Taloney will have the latest on this case in live reports from Pensacola tonight on News 5 at 5:00 and 6:00.

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Night Owl Says:

Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 7:34 pm

Youthinkest probably correctly.

BamaBob Says:

Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 5:42 pm

Her neighbor said that red van was parked at her place around the clock. Little more than a landlord, me thinkest….

Night Owl Says:

Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 5:39 pm

I think Pamela Laverne Long is her maiden name and the rest are married last names and the rest are married last names.

She may be a person of interest as a realtor, also.

Maybe she showed that house or one nearby to one of the suspects.

She may have had dealings with the Billings and accidentally/casualy said something to the suspect she knew.

Lots of facts we won’t know until trial.

BamaBob Says:

Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 5:15 pm

I think they entered that house with the intention of killing the couple. It all happened so quickly there was no time to even think about it.

One or two of them must have had reasons to think there would be something of extreme value in that house to go to such great lengths to plan and carry out the crime.

But even with all the planning they are still a bunch of fools!

rolltider Says:

Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 5:06 pm

Well, this will definitely be bad for her business. Oh well.

I am thinking that this couple may have hired some of these guys to work on their home and they saw something or many things of value (safe, jewelry, etc.) then planned an elaborate home invasion that resulted in the deaths of these two individuals. I don’t know though. It is definitely very thick.

rmseek1234 Says:

Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 4:59 pm

That’s possible Nightowl. I know that when you fill out a credit application you have to put every name you may be known by, so it wouldn’t be too far-fetched for a woman, at least to be “known” under several different names.(as far as credit wise)

Night Owl Says:

Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 4:25 pm

Maybe she was married that many times?

FLOWERCHILD Says:

Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 3:54 pm

Why did she need so many aliases. The plot thickens.

cmb1 Says:

Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 2:52 pm

Getting ready to get on a boat and run?!!LOL

cmb1 Says:

Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 2:41 pm

I bet the realtors association would like to speak to her too! Anyone with that many names is flighty. I bet she is more than a person of interest. She is probably long gone and didn’t hang around like the other idiots.

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