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Cantonment Hit And Run Murder Suspect Arrested In St. Johns County
March 10, 2011
A 20-year old wanted for murder in connection with an Escambia County hit and run has been arrested in St. Johns County, Florida.
Phillip Michael Chevalier of Cantonment was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals. He’s facing a felony murder charge for the May 6, 2010, hit and run death of 23-year old Billy G. Beck III on Chemstrand Road in Escambia County.
Beck, 23, was walking on Chemstrand Road when he was struck by at least three vehicles. Chevalier, identified by the Florida Highway Patrol as the driver of the first vehicle to strike Beck, fled the scene. Beck’s family maintained that foul play may have been involved in the crash; however there were few leads or witnesses, according to the FHP.
Rebecca Maryellen Austin, 20, of Pensacola; and Brandon Charles Bell, 17, were also charged last week with Beck’s death. Both were passengers in the vehicle with Chevalier, according to the FHP.
On February 27, Florida Highway Patrol investigators developed additional evidence that led to arrest warrants being issued for Chevalier for felony murder and leaving the scene of accident with death. Felony murder warrants were also issued for Bell and Austin.
Bell was arrested last week during a traffic stop by the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. He was also charged with possession of cocaine and is being held in the Escambia County Jail. Austin was already in the Santa Rosa County Jail on an unrelated failure to appear charge.
The drivers of the second and third vehicles to hit Beck were not charged.
Comments
38 Responses to “Cantonment Hit And Run Murder Suspect Arrested In St. Johns County”
Hope you stay locked up for life this go around. Im dying to know what you did this time. I knew it would just be a matter of time before you get locked up. Never felt sorry for you boy
You killed my son. Billy had a heart of gold
MY PRECIOUS SON I THINK OF YOU DAILY. I MISS YOU DEEPLY. MY LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. WHEN WE SCATTERED SOME OF YOUR ASHES AT BOB SIKES BRIDGE I TOOK A PICTURE OF THE ASHES IN THE WATER. WHAT IT WAS WAS FACES OF THE PEOPLE IN 1ST CAR THAT KILLED YOU
Well, if these kids did do this on purpose to my son, then they are getting away with lesser charge. BUT FOR PEOPLE INFORMATION THEY CAN LIE THEIR WAY OUT OF THINGS, BUT THEY CAN NOT LIE THERE WAY OUT TO JESUS CHRIST. GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF THIS IN HIS WAY. LET IT BE!!!
Thank You so much Tanya so you sweet kind words. I am so very sorry that you and d did not know that they caught them when we found out. Please forgive me and bill for not saying anything but we thought you knew. I guess you dont hang out with the Cantonment bunch. Again I am sorry that we did not say anything to you. I love you girl.
LiL BiLL was my old man best friend even though people cant stand that but i want everyone to no that no one should have to be hurt or get killed like OUR FRIEND DID in my eyes i hope they all get what they have commin to them.. but i did promise LiL BiLL Mother something she ask me to do and i goin to keep my promise.. It hurt me to make that promise cause the way i fell inside i have so much anger in my over this. But to the people sayin it was his girlfriend at the time had something to do with this it need to stop because the Mother of Billy and the girlfriend have talk right here in my house and she forgave her please this need to stop (the blaming game) they found who done this so let now let our BEST BEST FRIEND,BOYFRIEND,SON,UNCLE(2 MY BOYS),BROTHER,NEPHEW AND MORE REST…. R.I.P. LiL BiLL YOU R TRULY MISSED AND I MEAN TRULY I LOVE YOU AND I NO THIS IS GOING TO SOUND CRAZY COMING FROM ME BUT I HOPE LiL BiLL WATCH’S OVER MY BABYS FOREVER AND EVER
I have to say that the FHP officers that solved this case did their job. At one point and time we believed that because of the circumstances that the surrounded the case that they just gave up on the investigation, but good job guys.
I need to give thanks to Bill and Cathy for bringing such a fine young man into this world to give me and my family a chance to know him. He was a good man.
T & D
Jac, Tra, Zay
Cathy and Bill I hope that this brings closure to you and your family. I know that it will never bring Billy back but I know that knowing that these young people won’t be able to hurt someone’s son like they did yours should rest your heart. R. I . P. Billy a true friend.
T & D
Lil Bill this is my promise to u . i will find out why they did this to u.if ur girlfreind had something to with this. i will see to it that she pays for it. if the beef was with his girl.then why murder him. it was was a problem with the girls. why take it out on him. i will be there when these three people goes to court. i want closer and till this is done i wont rest till i know the truth.
I LOVE YOU AND ALWAYS WILL. REMEMBER ME LIL BILL AND PRAY FOR ME. IM TRULY SAD AND WILL BE FOR A LONG TIME. REST IN PEACE U ALWAYS WILL BE MISSED
LOVE
UNCLE CHARLES
This is the Mother of the Deceased Young Man. Please stop calling people idiots.
They made wrong decisions in life and now they will pay for what they did to my son. Yes, I do have to agree that the parents are to be blamed to some degree as far as not bringing their children up right with godd morals. But these kids parents did not do this to my son. The kids took it upon themselves to do it. STOP COMPLAINING THAT IT WILL COST YOU MONEY IT IS COSTING ME MONEY AS WELL, I WANT JUSTICE FOR MY SON . IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN TO YOUR CHILD WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE JUSTICE PREVAIL. A TRUE FRIEND IS SOMEBODY WHO IS THERE FOR YOU AT ALL TIMES EVEN IF THERE FRIEND IS DEAD. YOU ARE TO SPEAK UP & SAY WHAT YOU KNOW IF IT WILL HELP THE DEAD PERSON AND HIS OR HERS FAMILY. BUT SITTING BACK AND SAYING NOTHING TO THE POLICE OR TO THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE DECEASED FRIEND IS SIMPLY WRONG. I HAVE TO SAY WITHHOLDING INFORMATION IS WRONG AND PEOPLE SHOULD PAY FOR THAT AS WELL. My Billy was always there for his friends as some of you say he would have given his shirt off of his back to all of you and IT IS A CRYING SHAME THAT YOU DID NOT DO THAT FOR BILLY WHEN HE NEEDED YOU THE MOST WHEN HE DIED.
I am hurt and distraught over this situation of Billy’s friends
I know there were several confrontations with Billy’s girlfriend, and the girl who was in the truck at the time had admitted that they hit him intentionally to others.
REGARDING:
“my understanding is that this idiot bragged about it and it was done on purpose so I guess that would explain the felony murder”
If so, yes it would explain all and would show my guess was wrong.
David who knows how to be wrong
Well, David, my understanding is that this idiot bragged about it and it was done on purpose so I guess that would explain the felony murder.
FOR HORRIFIC–I WILL BE WILLING TO BET YOU THAT THE FAMILIES WILL NOT BE PAYING FOR LAWYERS—YOU AND I WILL BE PAYING FOR THEM. WE FUND THE PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE WITH OUR TAXES AND A LOT OF FAMILIES HAVE TO USE THEM.
REGARDING:
“I just don’t understand why these young people did what they did to that poor young man. What made them so wrong and so violent? God help them.”
This is just a guess and may be completely off. I imagine they hit him by accident and the driver panicked and ran. (Hitting him by accident wouldn’t be all that violent. The others who hit him definitely did so by accident.)
When they realized the driver was in trouble for running, the driver probably convinced the others they were guilty of hit and run too, so they were scared to come forward. The longer they waited, the worse it got.
My guess could be completely wrong.
The felony murder charge is harder to guess at without any information. That would require them to be involved in a felonious act when they killed the person. It could well have been drug related since cocaine was found with him when he was arrested. One of the problems of dealing with illegal drugs is that you don’t dare come forward to the law enforcement officers lest your other actions be found out. (Not counting those who give bills of sale for items bought with marijuana, of course.)
Mainly we’ll just have to wait and see.
David also wondering
and guessing
I jus don’t understand why these young people did what they did to that poor young man. What made them so wrong and so violent? God help them.
My prayers are with the victim’s family and friends in their loss. Such a senseless tragedy!
Mr and Mrs. Beck and Family I hope this will help heal your wounds.
Kids are not supposed to leave this earth before us.
I’m so very very sorry for your loss
OK football mom I don’t want to disappoint you.,
These thugs mothers must be very please with themselves.
They raised them….now they can pay for their lawyers.
@ Mr & Mrs Beck – I’m sorry you had to endure the loss of your son. Hopefully now you can get some much needed closure. Thoughts and prayers to both of you.
@ Horriffic – ummmmmm I think you forgot to blame their parents
Master Corporal? When did the FHP add Master to their ranks.
RIP Billy! I will always love and miss you!
Thanks William. I guess I didn’t read that part when this all first happend! Thank God someone in that situation had a heart!!! RIP Billy G. Beck III
>>Well what ever happend about the other 2 vehicles?? Were they caught as well? I wish people weren’t so heartless…=( I’m glad they got caught!
The other two drivers stopped and were not charged with any crime since it was an accident on their part, according to the FHP.
Well what ever happend about the other 2 vehicles?? Were they caught as well? I wish people weren’t so heartless…=( I’m glad they got caught!
Yes thank you JUSUS CHRIST FOR ALL THE HELP AND SAFE RETURN OF ALL PERSON THAT CAUGHT PHILLIP . I HOPE U READING THIS .U TOOK MY FIRST BORN NEPHEW FROM ME. AND U WILL PAY FOR WHAT U DID. I WILL MAKE SURE THAT ALL THREE PAYS. . WE SEE U IN COURT.
SO NOW LIL BILL REST IN PEACE. I LOVE U AS IF U WAS MY OWN. BUT I M JUST THE UNCLE THAT LOVES U AND ALWAYS WILL. VICTOR AND AUSTIN WILL BE LOOK AFTER AND I MISS U SO MUCH
LOVE,
UNCLE CHARLES
To all the family and friends, I am verrrry glad that these people have been found and arrested! I know that justice will never bring Billy back, but now u will have some closure for the horrible loss u have suffered! Billy always put a smile on everyones face around him and is dearly missed and always will be!! The people involved will pay the rest of their very long lives, since they were so young and ignorant, they do not deserve the priviledge of walking around on Earth, since they took that ability away from Billy.. It was a senseless act of stupidity, that has forever changed many lives, and ended one life.. I want to wish the family and friends, peace now, may this bring some justice, to the injustice done to your son, friend, brother, fiance, and may he smile down from Heaven on you all
I THINK THAT IF THAT PERSON KILLS OTHER PEOPLE THEN THEY SHOULD BE TREATED THE SAME WAY THAT IS NOT FAIR TO OTHER PEOPLE TO BE KILLED AND NOT THE KILLER. THAT IS JUST MY OPINION…SO WHATEVER
Their sooooo young to be this bad…….
Very sad thing here all around. More no good youths who think their above the law and when events challenge them to do the right thing and stand up…………
they RUN ….. HOW SAD!
Now I hope justice is served and ALL three of these young people do something
that they have probably never had to do….DO CONSEQUENCES FOR THEIR
ACTIONS.
Hi This is the Mother of Billy Glynn Beck III I want to say Thank you to my Jesus Christ and to the U.S. Marshalls and to the FHP and to Master Corporal Chris
Now my son can REST IN PEACE.
REGARDING:
“wasn’t there a story where multiple vehicles had hit someone?? ”
Yes, this one.
From above:
“Beck, 23, was walking on Chemstrand Road when he was struck by at least three vehicles.”
David answering question asked
to splat…..
the other two idiots that were arrested were in the car. once they failed to report the hit and run and failed to try and help the victim they became just as guilty as the one driving the car,. people have no morales or character anymore.
Hi I am the Mother of the Billy Glynn Beck III and I want to give Thanks to First of all Jesus Christ and the U.S. Marshalls and the Florida Highway Patrol and Investigator Master Corporal Chris. I have waited for this to happen and its finally here.
One life lost and others ruined. I hope these kids as for forgivness and gets their lives straightened out while they are gone. Althoug the amount of time is yet to be seen.
how can they be involved if they were passengers? Just curious.
Good job FHP for not letting this go.
O ok I just went back and reread the story, I was thinking three different vehicles had hit him…wasn’t there a story where multiple vehicles had hit someone?? Well at least they got caught! Sorry for the family of Mr. Beck though. Sad, just sad..
3 Young lives ruined and one lost…all because the 1st person that hit that poor guy didn’t stop and keep other people from doing the same thing..so sad for everyone involved.
” Beck’s family maintained that foul play may have been involved in the crash” Is there any connection between the victim and the suspects?