Two Charged With Beulah Murder; Sheriff Says Like Hollywood Movie Script

July 13, 2009

murdermugs1.jpg

(Updated 7 a.m.) Two people have been arrested and charged with open counts of murder  in connection with the murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings — a murder that the sheriff says compares to a Hollywood movie script.

Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. (pictured above right),  and Wayne Coldiron (above left) were arrested Sunday evening and charged with the murders of the Billings couple. Gonzelez, Jr. was arrested in Santa Rosa County and is being held in the Santa Rosa County Jail. Coldiron turned himself in to authorities in Escambia County.

“The investigation is ongoing; other counts may be added,” Sheriff David Morgan said of the open counts of murder at a 10 p.m. news conference Sunday. Coldiron was taken into custody without incident in Escambia County about 8:00 Sunday night. He had been in Gulf Breeze, but the sheriff said he contacted his department and arranged to surrender in Escambia County.

Morgan described Coldiron as a day laborer, known to work with car dealers. The Billings family owned a car dealership in Pensacola, but Morgan said that there was no known connection between Coldiron and the Billings. “We have no information that would lead us to believe that Mr. Coldiron had any previous contact with the Billings family,” he said.

Coldiron and Gonzalez, Jr. were being held on $1,000,000 bond each in the Escambia County Jail.

The sheriff said any possible motive for the murders was still being developed.

gonzalezleonardpatrick10.jpgGonzelez, Jr.’s father, Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Sr. (pictured left), 56, was arrested early Sunday afternoon for tampering with evidence — attempting to disguise the appearance of the red van seen in surveillance video from the couple’s Beulah home. He was being held on $250,000 bond.

Authorities said he tried to hide damage on the van by painting over it. The tampering charge is a third degree felony. Coldiron and the elder Gonzalez were reported to be friends.

The van was located Saturday behind a shed at Gonzalez, Sr.’s home at 318 Palm Court in the Brent community.

“We are very anxious to share this story with the citizens of Escambia County and the nation,” Morgan said in a Sunday afternoon news conference, comparing the the case to a Hollywood movie script. “It’s going to be a humdinger, I’ll tell you that.”

billings101.jpgThe Billings family lived in a sprawling, nearly 10,000 square foot home in the rural Beulah community. They had 16 children, a dozen of them adopted children. Many of the adopted children were considered special needs, some with autism and some with Downs Syndrome. A statement released by the family said there were nine children in the home at the time of the murders.

Morgan said that no member of the Billings family was a suspect in the murders.

“The people that were murdered they were good people performing very positive roles in the community,” State Attorney Bill Eddins said. “This is a very horrible tragedy.”

“This is certainly one of the most complex (cases),” Eddins said he had seen “I’ve seen others that rival this in other parts of the circuit, but as far as Escambia County is concerned, I believe this is the most complex I’ve seen in my four and a half years in office.”

The home had an extensive video surveillance system, giving investigators “hours” of tapes to review, Morgan said. The security footage reportedly shows the suspects dressed in black and entering the home through multiple doors and quickly carrying out the crime. The entire incident happened in only nine minutes, Morgan said. The Billings were found shot multiple times in the bedroom of their home.

Pictured top: Byrd and Melanie Billings were reportedly found shot to death in Beulah Thursday night. Pictured top inset: Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Sr.  who was arrested and charged with tampering with evidence in the case.  Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

18 Responses to “Two Charged With Beulah Murder; Sheriff Says Like Hollywood Movie Script”

  1. James Dalton on July 28th, 2009 11:19 am

    Be careful and check backgrounds of the instructor. ITA is located there and they do not do background checks on the people they let have karate schools. Everyone need to do it themselves.

  2. Justa Comment on July 13th, 2009 9:08 pm

    This is just sad. Everything about this crime is just sad. I suppose when all the information about how, why, and who, is revealed, I will still say that this whole thing is just sad. What really sickens me is what those children are going to have to go through as far as Dept. of Childrens and Families. I mean, really, who has the resources, time and desire to care for all those children the way the Billings did? Those childrens live will be changed forever because of those dispickable (sp?) lowlifes. It’s time to fill more deathrow cells, and then execute them.

  3. Al on July 13th, 2009 12:58 pm

    youknowwho – I KNEW I knew that guy from somewhere! Our martial arts studio used to compete in the Poff tourney every year……Pat was and remains an embarassment to his parents.

    Don’t get me wrong… I appreciate TOTALLY the ECSO and Morgan for the effort and speed they have put into this….
    As far as the sheriff putting a “professional” face for ECSO… ? That is a “humdinger” of a concept…. almost “Like a movie script”… probably “can’t wait to tell Escambia County and the nation” about this one!! Let’s make good and sure everyone remembers / glorifies the crime and the criminals instead of the victims and the family left behind.

  4. My 2 Cents on July 13th, 2009 12:09 pm

    TomD, you are correct! I did not know how to word what you said. I agree and think there are others involved as all of this seemed to be well planed and executed quickly. I fear the investigation will end with the killers and not uncover the conspirators behind the plan.

  5. Kylie on July 13th, 2009 12:09 pm

    I have a friend who is the mother of an adorable and charming Downs Syndrome Child. But believe me, it is a full time, challenging job for just ONE child – even while juggling all of that, she still finds time to volunteer and be part of Downs Syndrome organizations and groups One can only hope that there’s an especially warm place in hell to rot in for the sub-humans that murdered the parents of those special needs children.

  6. phil on July 13th, 2009 12:04 pm

    Most Security systems with a camera on long driveways have a motion sensor alarm to notify the homeowner of a visitor or intruder.

  7. TomD on July 13th, 2009 11:53 am

    This is why we have a justice system, instead of immediate killing of suspects.
    It’s pretty obvious that they were nothing more than hired killers, cheaply hired at that. If they were silenced early then their masters would have gone free.

    Billings was a wealthy man, and wealthy people, when they have enemies, they tend to be powerful and connected.

    Let the police follow this one as deep as it goes. Powerful people may be involved and they will push to have any further investigation stopped: “we already have the killers , why spend more time/money on this? “

  8. From Gulf Breeze on July 13th, 2009 11:38 am

    YouKnowWho – I grew up with Pat in Gulf Breeze as well and you pegged it! Your description of him as a child and teenager is dead-on. I have been trying to describe him to my co-workers today you did it perfectly. He was always vert odd…very unstable…he weirded me out big time. He lived in my neighborhood and I tried my best to avoid him at all times.

  9. youknowwho on July 13th, 2009 11:15 am

    I went to high school with the younger Pat; at the time his last name was Poff. His dad was the sensei at the local Tae Kwon Do studio, and Pat was a star – a third degree black belt and a member of the Junior Olympic Team, if memory serves. But he was an extraordinarily odd kid, and not odd in a funny or charming way. He was odd in a frightening and creepy way. He didn’t have friends, but he wasn’t picked on; everyone was sufficiently weirded out by his mannerisms that they just stayed out of his way.

  10. My 2 Cents on July 13th, 2009 10:00 am

    only nine short minutes, that is all it took to change the lives of these children. I can not even imagine how long it will take for those special needs children to recover from this. the types of conditions the children have, describe personality types and conditions that only thrive from regular and constant involvement from the same people. those children are creatures of habbit, they need their mom and dad. It is a great loss to the family and community that these two loving and compasionate people were taken from us. The life they provided and the love they gave was ordained by God. I hope justice is served. In a lifetime you might only meet a handful of people like Byrd and Melanie Billings. I try to find comfort telling myself that they are with the lord in the Kingdom of Heaven but their love, compassion and friendship will be missed greatly here on earth. I don’t understand why this happened. I can’t describe how deep the pain in my heart is and how bad it hurts. I am unable to rejoyce their lives as happiness and laughter are still very distant, the only thing present now is sadness, confussion and tears. I know God has a plan and I know I don’t know what it is, I just hope God will grant me the ability to forgive these criminals and to help the family pick up the pieces. Please pray for the families of those involved, both victim and criminal.

  11. Coach Dixie on July 13th, 2009 8:38 am

    To the Billings family and all my ball players? You’re in our thoughts and in our prayers.

  12. JJ on July 13th, 2009 8:33 am

    The Sheriff should drop the “humdinger and hollywood script” bull which only glorifies the pitiful actions of this collection of human garbage.

  13. Bill on July 13th, 2009 8:20 am

    Well said Bama54.

    I am glad we have Sheriff Morgan in office and finally got the criminal element out of the Sheriff’s Office.

  14. bama54 on July 13th, 2009 8:04 am

    With this tragedy come a bright spot. Last year when we voted for sheriff, several of us were divided between the current sheriff and voting for Mr. Morgan. After watching his press conferences and the professionalism in which he conducted these conferences, I am sure we elected the right person for Sheriff of Escambia. He has brought back (for me) confidence in the Escambia Sheriffs Department in the way he a reshape the department. I am sorry it had to be such terrible crime (for me) to see his leadership.

    As for the individuals who committed this crime God has a special place them.

  15. Molino Mom on July 13th, 2009 7:52 am

    jo — the story says the motive is still being determined

  16. me on July 13th, 2009 7:48 am

    I wonder if the criminals had any idea that they had cameras set up at their house, could you imagine the outcome, if their wasn’t any cameras. You are so right, the cameras definently helped, but I still can’t understand why these people would want to harm such good people…so sad!!!

  17. jo on July 13th, 2009 7:46 am

    what was the motive??

  18. CAMSHAFT on July 13th, 2009 5:25 am

    Thank God for cameras………this time………The criminals should be shot themselves.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News