Statements, Evidence Released In Billings Murder Case

Florida Murder Prosecutors released nearly 800 pages of discovery documents in the Billings murder investigation including dozens of statements from people close to the suspects.

by Jessica Taloney

Published: Mon, August 17, 2009 - 5:22 pm CST Last Updated: Mon, August 17, 2009 - 7:14 pm CST

Nearly 800 pages of statements, interviews and evidence in the Billings murder investigation became public record Monday.

Florida State Attorney Bill Eddins released the documents in compliance with the discovery phase of the judicial process.

The documents included a statement from an investigator who interviewed Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr., the alleged mastermind behind the July 9 home invasion and double homicide that left Byrd and Melanie Billings dead.

The investigator said Gonzalez, Jr. told him that his involvement was "very deep" and said he needed to "talk to the Feds about this."

According to the written statement, Gonzalez, Jr., denied killing the Billings but said he had been used in the past by several car dealers in Pensacola to "whack" folks because of his past record. Gonzalez, Jr. told the detective a group of car dealers, including Henry Cab Tice, solicited him to "whack" Byrd Billings, but he refused the job.

Later in the same statement, Gonzalez, Jr., told the investigator he believed MS-13, a violent gang with roots in Central America, was involved in the murder. Gonzalez, Jr. said another car dealer, "Sanchez," was also involved and that "we (investigators) needed to be looking at MS13's involvement," the detective wrote.

In another statement released in the documents, investigators interviewed Justin Billings, Byrd and Melanie Billings' 20 year old son. The day after his parents were killed, Justin Billings told investigators he believed his parents' murders were contract killings, and he pointed his finger at a gang from Colorado.

"One of my friends from Colorado. He has, he has a rat that's part of a gang," Justin told investigators. "He said there was a hit in Florida that fit the description that I gave him."

The mother of Justin Billings' ex-girlfriend told detectives the 20 year old told her he paid someone $3,000 to protect her daughter, which Justin denied.

"I didn't pay anyone," he said.

"Then why would you say something like that," the detective asked. "To give her closure," Justin replied.

During the interview, investigators clearly became frustrated at one point saying "Bulls*** Justin. Justin, that's not gonna fly."

Justin Billings told investigators he believed the one person who would want his dad dead was Cab Tice. Tice, who Justin described as a former business partner who sold cars with his dad "down to Mexico", was arrested August 6 and charged with stealing thousands of dollars from one of Byrd Billings' businesses. Tice was named a person of interest, but he has not been charged in the murders.

Seven men, including Gonzalez, Jr., are charged with the Billings' murders. All seven are in jail with no bond. An eighth suspect, Pamela Long Wiggins, is charged as an accessory after the crime. Monday Wiggins was re-arrested after a judge raised her bond to $500,000.

News Five is reading every page of the discovery documents released Monday, and we will continue to report the latest details.

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bornnbama Says:

Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 8:32 pm

With this man’s background that is now coming out, and it seems that his past dealings could have very well his dimise. Wasn’t his background checked before he adopted all of these children. I found this article “http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=8110569&page=1”