Latest Headlines

Third Person Arrested In Billings Murder; Several More Suspects

July 14, 2009

A third person was arrested Monday and charged with an open count of murder in the killing of a Beulah couple that had adopted dozen children.

Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan announced Monday night that Gary Lamont Sumner, 30, was arrested following a traffic stop in Okaloosa County. Sheriff David Morgan said he was one of the people seen in a Walmart surveillance video with Leonard Gonzalez, Jr. (Story here.) Morgan said Sumner is believed to be one of the suspects that entered the Billings home. He was described by law enforcement as a day laborer and a friend of other suspects in the case.

Three persons of interest, two black males and one white male, are still being sought by authorities. One of the persons of interest’s identity is currently known to investigators and an arrest is expected in the near future, the sheriff’s department said. Monday night, the sheriff said the arrest in “imminent”.

“We hope to bring all the suspects we have identified to justice very shortly,” he said.

Morgan confirmed Monday that surveillance video from the home of Byrd and Melanie Billings showed a total of five men entering and leaving the Beulah home. He said Wayne Coldiron and Leonard Gonzalez, Jr. — both of which have been arrested and charged with open counts of murder — entered the home from a red van while one person, Leonard Gonzalez, Sr. (pictured left) remained in the van as the getaway driver. Gonzalez, Sr. has been charged with tampering with evidence for trying to alter the appearance of the van, but he has not been directly charged with the murders. A third person that has not been arrested is also believed to have entered the home from the van.

At least two more people, one of them Sumner, entered the home from another side, Morgan said, from a metallic blue flake or gold flake Cadillac Escalade parked close to Mobile Highway. It was not clear, he said, if a getaway driver remained with that vehicle. Some of the suspects, the sheriff said, were dressed in black ninja garb and masks.

One of the persons in custody was the “mastermind” of the crime, Morgan said, but he would not identify that person.

Tuesday morning, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department was search for as many as four additional suspects.

There were nine developmentally disabled children in the home at the time the Billingses were shot in their bedroom. Three of the children, Morgan said, witnessed the intruders in the home. One ran to a neighbor’s to get help. He declined to say if cameras caught the actual murder on video.

The total time from the van entering the property to when it left was about 10 minutes. The total time in the house was about four minutes. “It leads me to believe that this was a very well planned and methodical operation,” the sheriff said.

One motive for the crime was robbery, but Morgan refused to speculate on any additional motives. “We have a motive of robbery … that is a motive,” Morgan said. “We believe there are other motives.”

Coldiron and Gonzalez, Jr. are due to appear in court today. Gonzalez. Sr. appeared in court Monday with Escambia Circuit Judge Thomas Johnson ordering his bond doubled to $500,000 to a long criminal history that includes a long list of traffic infractions, worthless checks, marijuana possession and providing a false name to law enforcement.

NorthEscambia.com will continue to provide the latest updates on this developing story.

Comments

8 Responses to “Third Person Arrested In Billings Murder; Several More Suspects”

tamara on July 24th, 2009 8:18 pm

We are not puppets, we have free will. These people chose to do this and God will make what good he can out of it, over time. But, it is worked in and not immediate. It also does not undo what has been done. They are resting in peace now, but how they got there is disgusting! I to have free will and would love to inflict it on these individues! When I served in the Army as a chaplains asst, I was the one that shot for the chaplains as they are consiencouse observers. We need them, they have there place, but we need people like me to cover them so they can do there job as well. Some will pray for the souls of those who did this and some would like to help them get where I believe they are going sooner than later.
DAN on July 24th, 2009 8:09 pm

WHAT HAS THIS WORLD COME TO??????????PEOPLE THAT TAKE CARE OF “SPECIAL NEED CHILDREN” LIKE THE BILLINGS ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN……………..
SURE MAKES ME WANT TO GO OUT AND VOULNTEER FOR SOME OF THAT ………..HOW ABOUT YOU??????????

DAN
rebecca jameson on July 14th, 2009 5:06 pm

this is unbelieveable these people abdopted childeren that other people dont wnat because they have special needs and this is how you repay them that is sick and i hope these people responsable for it is long gone and never returned… you took some innocent lifes over something that was not worth taken… i will pray that the lord has mercy on there souls my prayers go out for those kids
Pilate on July 14th, 2009 4:53 pm

Sound like it’s time for a hillbilly culling in the panhandle. Cleanse the earth of this undermen threat. Burn their broken bodies to ash and salt the wombs of their wretched females.
Beegee on July 14th, 2009 2:06 pm

Helene….I’m sorry you do not agree with my comment about a just GOD…..but HE is just and sometimes allows bad things to happen to good people ……I really feel that as a Christian,we need to realize this and accept these things…..of course,if a person does not know JESUS CHRIST as their SAVIOUR….that would be harder to believe….thank you….by the way,the god you spelled is but an idol….the GOD I serve is not!!!!
Helene on July 14th, 2009 1:17 pm

Withhold comments about a just god. Such an entity would not have allowed this couple to die in the first place.
lawyer on July 14th, 2009 1:17 pm

you never know what mr. billings had his hands tied in…the truth will all come out very soon…..
Beegee on July 14th, 2009 8:58 am

You can run……but you cannot hide from a just GOD…..HE will seek justice in this horrific crime……….people that loved and gave of themselves as these two did….oh yeah,justice will be served..whether on earth or in eternity! I’d like to ask all of the folks involved in this,one question: Why did it seem to you that it would take so many to do this horrific crime?Did you think these precious children would rise up and be a great threat to you? You have shown such cowardice…now stand up and take what is coming to you,like a man…for you surely deserve it!!!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News