The Role Of Pamela Long Wiggins In Billings Murder Case
July 17, 2009
An Escambia County Sheriff’s Department arrest report obtained by NorthEscambia.com says that Pamela Long Wiggins, 47, was an accomplice in the home invasion and murders that occurred on July 9. As suspects were interviewed by investigators, information was received concerning a red minivan that was left at a predetermined location near the crime scene to facilitate the escape of those involved in the crime. That van was later determined to be registered to Wiggins.
Other suspects in the crime told deputies that firearms — both handguns and long guns — used in the murders and the safe taken from the home were later transferred into Wiggins’ minivan. The van was later observed by witnesses at Magnolia Antique Mall in Gulf Breeze, a business owned by Wiggins. It was reported that Wiggins was the passenger in the red minivan which still contained the victims’ safe and the firearms used in the crimes.
On Monday, the ECSO executed a search warrant at Wiggins’ residence at 1247 Ramblewoods Drive in Gulf Breeze. Authorities were unable to locate the Billings’ safe or the firearms. On Wednesday, her estranged husband, Hugh Wiggins, told investigators that the safe was hidden in the backyard of a home owned by Wiggins. The arrest report does not specify if the home was the one on Ramblewoods Drive or if it was one of five other pieces of property she owns in Santa Rosa County.
State Attorney Bill Eddins confirmed Thursday that the safe and firearms had been recovered. He declined to say what, if anything, was inside the safe.
Wiggins was charged with accessory after the fact to felony murder. She was released on $10,000 bond from the Escambia County Jail.
County Won’t Help Pay For New Library In Pensacola
July 17, 2009
The City of Pensacola is building a $6 million library downtown, and Escambia County Commissioners say they won’t contribute any funding to increase the size of the building.
“I move that we do not give the city money,” District 5 Commissioner Kevin White said. “They only need us when they need money from us.”
The other commissioners agreed at Thursday morning’s Committee of the Whole meeting.
“So let the deputy mayor know she got a resounding ‘no’,” White said. Pensacola Deputy Mayor Jewel Cannada-Wynn had recently encouraged the county commission to help fund the new library, which replaces the old downtown branch library (pictured).
Captains Beat The Pelicans In Five
July 17, 2009
The Captains swept the Pelicans with the aid of rain on Thursday night, winning the final game of the series 3-2 in five innings. An hour and two minute rain delay occurred after the end of the fifth inning, ultimately ending in the game being called due to weather. Antoin Gray hit a two-run bomb for the Pelicans’ runs in the top of the third inning, his ninth round-tripper of the year, but Shreveport-Bossier scored two to tie in the bottom of the fourth. The Captains’ lone run in the bottom of the fifth would end up deciding the contest, as the Captains have now won eight straight games.
The Pelicans tapped the scoreboard first in the third inning. Luis Guance led off with a double, and came home when Antoin Gray hit his ninth homerun of the year. The Pelicans took a two-run lead, but the Captains would tie it in the fourth.
With one out, Andres Rodriguez hit a triple off the centerfield wall in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jose Torres followed with a walk, and Rodriguez scored when Dwayne White hit a sacrifice fly. Jonathan Reynoso batted next and hit a single, scoring Torres to tie the game at two apiece.
Adam Brandenburg made his third start for the Pelicans, pitching two outs into the bottom of the fifth. He walked Dan Williams to start the bottom-half of the fifth, Brandenburg’s third base on balls. He allowed his sixth and final hit on the next batter, as Bryan Sabatella put down a bunt single. After catching a pop-up from Richard Paz and recording his only strikeout with Chris Garcia, Brandenburg left his third earned run up to Joey Wedner. Wedner gave up a RBI-single to Andres Rodriguez and the Captains took a 3-2 lead. Torres followed and struck out, ending the fifth inning with a 3-2 Captains lead.
An hour and a two-minute rain delay followed, ending in the game being called and the Captains claiming victory. Brandenburg took the loss, and Ronald Lowe earned his fifth win of the year.
The Pelicans drive to Pensacola overnight to host the St. Paul Saints Friday through Sunday. Friday’s game begins at 6:35 p.m. and will be followed by a Boy Scout Campout on the field of Pelican Park. Tickets are available now at Pensacola-area Circle K locations, online at www.pensacolapelicans.com, and at the park on the day of the game. Saturday’s game will be followed by fireworks, and Sunday will be a Kids Day, with all Kids Club members gaining free admission while wearing the Kids Club t-shirts. For more information, please call the Pelicans at (850) 934-8444.
Pictured above: The rains came during the Pensacola Pelicans game Thursday night. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
A July Cold Front? Lows Of 62?
July 17, 2009
A rare July cold front is moving toward the Gulf Coast, and forecasters believe the front will make it all the way into the Gulf of Mexico, bringing cooler weather to North Escambia and surrounding areas.
There is a 70 percent chance of rain for Friday, 50 percent for Friday night and 40 percent on Saturday as the cold front moves through the area.
But Saturday night, the winds will turn to the north, and the overnight low is forecast at 65. Sunday will be mostly sunny with a high of 88.
Sunday night, forecasters say the low will deep to an unseasonable 62, with a high Monday of just 82.
County Passes Anti-Tether Animal Law To Committee
July 17, 2009
The Escambia County Commission decided Thursday morning to pass the possibility of an anti-tether ordinance off to a committee for study.
Such an ordinance would make it illegal to leave your dog tied up when you are not around in Escambia County.
Thursday morning, the commission’s Committee of the Whole directed staff to take the ordinance to the Animal Services Oversight Committee.
A similar ordinance in Miami-Dade that commissioners will look at makes it illegal for pet owners to leave their pets chained up outside when they are not around.
The anti-tether law in Miami-Dade says it is illegal to tie a dog to anything with an item, including a rope, chain or leash. Under that ordinance, it is still legal to walk a dog on a leash, or tether a dog when a responsible party is outside with the dog. Puppies six months or younger cannot be tethered.
Miami-Dade enacted the ordinance to prevent animal abuse, and because a tethered dog is 2.8 times more likely to bite, according to animal control experts in that metro area. A violation of the Miami-Date ordinance carries a $500 fine for each offense.
The county attorney’s office researched possible ordinance at the request of Commissioner Grover Robinson.
Wiggins Free On Bond
July 16, 2009
Pamela Long Wiggins has been released from the Escambia County Jail on $10,000 bond.
Wednesday, she was charged with accessory after the fact to murder in connection with the murders of Melanie and Byrd Billings last Thursday in Beulah.
Wiggins, 47, was the eighth person arrested in the case. More details her arrest are expected to emerge later today.
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.
Pamela 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.
Murder Weapons, Missing Safe Found
July 16, 2009
State Attorney Bill Eddins says “valuable evidence” has been recovered including the missing safe from Billings home.
“We believe we have the murder weapon or weapons,” he said.
Eddins will not offer any other additional information on the evidence located.
“We believe, that as the case progresses, that additional motives will be found,” Morgan said. “We have some people were are continuing to look at.”
Sheriff said probably 20 to 30 persons of interest, most knew nothing significant and were released.
Pamela Long Wiggins, 47, could face a grand jury indictment for accessory after the fact to felony murder. She could face up to 30 years in prison.
“We believe this concludes the matter, in our opinion,” Eddins said. “This was a home invasion robbery,” he said, where a safe was stolen. But he said the investigation will continue.
The DEA has provided investigative assistance, according to the DEA. Sheriff Morgan says they were called in to provide assistance.
“The Billings family, to the best of my knowledge, is not the focus of any investigation of the DEA”, Morgan said.
Morgan said the DEA was called as a courtesy. “Then my part was done.”
“I will not answer any questions about any investigation that the DEA may or may not have,” he said.
Morgan said that he did not know of any federal investigation of the Billings family, but he said he would not have information on federal investigations.
Morgan’s press conference concluded at 11:28 this morning.
Pamela Long Wiggins, 47, was arrested Wednesday night in connection with the murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings. She was the landlord of murder suspect Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr. Morgan said that Wiggins has several aliases, including Pamela Wiggins, Pamela Malden, Pamela Long and Pamela Laverne Long Coco.
Marriage License Provides Link Between Murder Suspects
July 16, 2009
More information is coming to light in the relationship between on of the Gonzalez murder suspects and the eighth person arrested Wednesday in connection with the Billings murders.
Pamela Long Wiggins. 47, was arrested Wednesday night and charged with accessory after the fact to felony murder in connection with the deaths of Melanie and Byrd Billings. Morgan had previously identified Wiggins as Pamela Laverne Long, but a marriage license obtained by NorthEscambia.com indicates that she was married on December 31 of last year to Hugh Gregory Wiggins.
That marriage license is signed by witnesses L. Patrick Gonzalez and Tabitha C. Gonzalez. Tabitha Gonzalez is the wife of Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr.
“She’s been observed transporting his wife and children at times,” Morgan said of Pamela Long Wiggins. “We know that she was associated with Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr. until the day of the murders.”
Click here to see the marriage license.
But court records in Escambia County indicate that her divorce from her previous husband is not complete.
Under the name Pamela Long Malden, she filed for divorce from James Colburn Malden, 68, on January 29, 2008. Escambia County court records indicate that the case is still open.
Pictured top: The signatures of L. Patrick Gonzalez and Tabitha C. Gonzalez on the December 31, 2008, marriage license of Pamela Long Wiggins and Pamela Laverne Long. NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
Is The DEA Involved In The Billings Case?
July 16, 2009
There are conflicting reports this morning as to whether or not the DEA has become involved in the Billings murder investigation.
“As Escambia County Sheriff, I have no knowledge of any DEA involvement in this case,” David Morgan said Wednesday night. “I have not spoken to any representative of the Drug Enforcement Agency today.”
But CNN was reporting early Thursday morning that the DEA was on the case. CNN quotes a DEA spokesman in Miami, David Melenkevitz, as saying that the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department did call for the DEA’s assistance.