Eight Is Not Enough: Another Arrest In Murder Case; ‘Gaping Hole’ Found

July 16, 2009

An eighth person was arrested Wednesday in connection with the murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings, and Escambia Sheriff David Morgan said their was one “gaping hole” in their investigation. And the sheriff said they are looking to find at least one more person.

long2.jpgPamela Long Wiggins, 47,  was arrested Wednesday night in connection with the murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings. She was charged with accessory after the fact to felony murder. Morgan had previously identified Wiggins as Pamela Laverne Long, but court records indicate that she was married on December 21 of last year to Hugh Gregory Wiggins.

Wiggins has been released from the Escambia County Jail on $10,000 bond.

Her arrest came after hours of questioning at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department. Wiggins was located in Orange Beach, Alabama, after her picture was released to the media. She was seen being escorted by from a yacht by Escambia County deputies and Orange Beach police. She was not arrested at the time; instead, she drove with her lawyer back to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department in Pensacola for questioning.

She was the landlord of  Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr.

“She’s been observed transporting his wife and children at times,” Morgan said. “We know that she was associated with Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr. until the day of the murders.”

Morgan would not elaborate on exactly how Wiggins was involved with the case. He said more information would come during a 10 a.m. press conference Thursday morning  from State Attorney Bill Eddins.

Also Wednesday, Morgan said the failure to disable the video survelliance system at the Billings home was a “gaping hole” on the part of those involved in the crime.

A second person of interest is being sought because of their involvement with the security system at the Billings home. The person was exterior to the home and not in the house. Morgan said authorities believed they know that person’s identity, but he would not release a name.

Morgan also said it was someone’s job to disable the security system at the Billings’ compound, but that did not happen.

“Why was this system left on in an otherwise perfectly executed murder?” he said. “”There may have been someone in this case who’s very duty was to disable the security system.” There were two possibilities in shutting down the security system at the Billings home — either access from within the home or remotely via the Internet, the sheriff said.

Video of the now infamous red van and other security system footage from the Billings home was the big break that allowed the sheriff’s department to quickly make arrests in the case.

Comments

18 Responses to “Eight Is Not Enough: Another Arrest In Murder Case; ‘Gaping Hole’ Found”

  1. Tara on July 16th, 2009 10:45 pm

    I apologize, I needed to say … Any states laws not just Alabama. And sometimes even Federal.

  2. Tara on July 16th, 2009 10:40 pm

    The sheriff has nothing to do with a person getting out on bond ~~ Blame the Alabama laws and the judge. That is why so many people get arrested over and over again and let out over and over again. Nothing will be solved by attacking the police, it is not their control. Most are as fed up as we are.

  3. Tess on July 16th, 2009 10:10 pm

    This woman being released for $10,000 bond is a travesty.( $10,000 which means $1000.00 posted – 10% – probably put it on her Visa)

    Looks completely corrupt.

    The sheriff was making the South look like a reasonable place. Now it looks like the good old boys (friends of hers? – friends of her family?) are just as stupid or corrupt as they have always been. (Is she one of “those Longs”?) How can releasing this woman be jusified in any other way?

    Disgusting.

    The sheriff was making this look like a real investigation where people wanted the truth and he was talking to the press in a respectful, informative way – then this “ole boy” gets behind the mic and gives us the Southern drawl double-talk (which we have come to expect from the South). He must think the press is full of idiots.

    I’ll bet the sheriff doesn’t stay around when this is over – he shouldn’t have to put up with that Southern drawling ole boy – what a pompous…

    Yeech.

    Disgusting.

  4. lots of loops on July 16th, 2009 8:40 pm

    I say let police do the work and forget about letting the weakest link. Too often people commit a crime with someone and they get a slap on the wrist just because they talk first forget that punish them all the same just as they too took someones life

  5. tinker on July 16th, 2009 1:34 pm

    And Teri, what store would that be??

  6. Terri Sanders on July 16th, 2009 12:32 pm

    yikes!!!! I yhink thisl ady was in my store pericdically always putting things on lay away and coming back months later to get it…always acted kinda spacey though!!

  7. Tara on July 16th, 2009 10:58 am

    Just telling Mother what I saw tthis morning, this woman was on tv as they were walking her in handcuffs….AND the ignorant thing was SMILING!!! She acted as if she was proud of what she is in. So she probably did smile in her mug shot. I as you can’t wait til they release it.

  8. William on July 16th, 2009 10:43 am

    mother — this is not her mug. They have not released that one yet. This is probably a driver’s license photo. She’s gained a lot of weight since this photo.

  9. mother on July 16th, 2009 10:42 am

    I wonder if this lady has children and is this her mug shot? She seems very happy. I can not believe she would be smiling if she was just arrested for murder. All the animals that was in on this should recieve the same amount of time because someone could have talked to cops this would not have happen.

  10. AC on July 16th, 2009 9:28 am

    When you have this many people involved then at least one will squeal. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Police just need to find that link (I suspect they already have, the way this is so quickly unravelling). At least one of these will make a deal to testify against the others and save their own rear ends, which would be the smartest thing one could do at this point.

  11. Kudos on July 16th, 2009 8:51 am

    Thanks NorthEscambia.com!
    You’ve made us proud! William, your coverage of this & other news stories has been exceptional.
    Kudos to law enforcement & investigators also. Great job!

  12. bumpkin on July 16th, 2009 8:40 am

    While our new sheriff is cetainly holding up to some of his campaign promisies,there is a great chance that the investigations amd the investigators in this case could screw things up so bad the crooks could walk. We need more training for people who investigate thses crimes.

  13. Molino on July 16th, 2009 8:29 am

    Good job North escambia.

  14. Bonnie on July 16th, 2009 7:53 am

    This is just getting worse and worse with DEA FBI and ATF also involved. I only hope to God that this couple was not involved in anything illicit. That would break my heart. DK pay attention. Everyone has been talking and that’s how the arrests are being made so quickly.

  15. Tara on July 16th, 2009 7:15 am

    I certainly don’t think they deserve to get three free meals, a/c, tv, medical, and a cot. I think they should be on a chain gang. With no days off. During the hottest and coldest days of the year. They shouldn’t live without knowing the hardship they’ve put on all those children.

  16. Georgene on July 16th, 2009 5:15 am

    This is the most perfect example of a case worthy of the death penalty. Every single one of these dogs should get death. This case is so sad and these bums need to be punished to the fullest extent of the law. And I don’t really believe in the death penalty as I think being dropped into prison and left there to rot and not knowing when you might be executed by your fellow prisoners is a worse punishment than death. Life without parole…but in this case death is really the answer. Rid the planet of this scum and that should include a life sentence for the real estate agent as well if she is found guilty of anything.

  17. John on July 16th, 2009 1:11 am

    Wow. Just Wow.
    This case keeps getting more odd at every turn.

    I’ll be locked on to this great website everyday until the truth comes to light. I hope these animals who did this get the death penalty. They are the worst of human kind. Parasites.

    Great reporting NorthEscambia.com
    Keep it up.
    None of the other news agencies can hold a candle to you guys. None of them.
    Fact is, you make the big guys look like amateurs.

  18. DK on July 16th, 2009 12:58 am

    where is the water board? make them talk!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News