Three More Arrested In Billings Murder Case

Florida Murder  Three more people were arrested Tuesday in the slayings of a wealthy Florida Panhandle couple during a break-in executed with swift precision.
by The Associated Press
Published: Tue, July 14, 2009 - 9:29 am CST Last Updated: Tue, July 14, 2009 - 7:24 pm CST
8:24 p.m.
Click here to read the arrest warrant for Leonard Gonzalez, Jr.

1:49 p.m.
The last three suspects arrested are:


28-year-old Donald Stallworth


19-year-old Fredrick Thornton


Rakeem Florence

10:29 a.m.
Three more people, including a 16-year-old, have been arrested in the murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings. The wealthy couple known for adopting special needs children was shot to death Thursday in their Beulah, Florida home.

Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan says 6 to 8 people were involved in the murders. As of Monday night, the Sheriff's Office had arrested four people; Leonard Gonzalez Sr., Leonard Gonzalez Jr, Wayne Coldiron, and Gary Sumner.

Monday afternoon, a judge set bond at $500,000 for Leonard Gonzalez Sr. So far, he's only charged with tampering with evidence.

Leonard Gonzalez Jr, Wayne Coldiron, and Gary Sumner are all charged with two counts of murder. Gonzalez Jr and Coldiron will be in court this afternoon for a bond hearing.

Like Sumner, two of the latest suspects were arrested in Okaloosa County.

Florida State Attorney Bill Eddins says the motive for the crime was home invasion/robbery. He says a safe was taken from the home, along with other items you typically see taken during a robbery. Sheriff Morgan says practice and planning went into the home invasion.

Sheriff Morgan says Leonard Gonzalez Jr was the ring leader and that some of the suspects have confessed.

The last four suspects arrested all worked at an auto detailing shop in Okaloosa County. Some of the other murder suspects had been hired at one time or another to do work around the Billings' home.

Eddins says charges against Leonard Gonzalez Sr will be upgraded from tampering with evidence to murder. He also says he will seek first-degree murder charges against all seven suspects.

News 5 first reported this story as BREAKING NEWS on wkrg.com.
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I wonder what these guys were going to do after the robbery- split the loot 18 different ways?? What did the family have that was so valuable that it was worth enlisting all these men?

I am so glad LE are bringing these guys in one after the other and getting them off the streets!

Always be careful of who you hire for help in or around your house!

very sad

What did they do? Advertise for help in this robbery-murder.  How did they get so many dopes to participate in this foolish venture?  Who is the idiot that planned this tomfoolery?  Too many questions.  I believe something besides robbery and murder was involved.

Looks like Senior Gonzales should serve the rest of his life behind bars for tampering with evidence in a murder case.  Bye-bye.

lol a crackhead A-Team!  I pitty da fool who don’t give Mr.T $5 for a rock!

working ok for me. try and reset your puter by dumping temp files and reboot. registry checker and anti-viris check…

Is anyone else having problems with the pages loading???? I can only get part of the page. Cannot access forums, etc. HELP DAVID!!!!!

looks like it was the crackhead A-team

A robbery that went from bad to worse.  This is horrible.  I wonder if all had immigration ID or if they were here illegaly.

This is so sad, Thank heavens these people had cameras or they may have never caught them. Motive? I still think there is more than just robbery? A car deal gone bad? Repo? Loan?

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