Four Sentenced For Billings Murders

August 4, 2011

Four men convicted in the death of Byrd and Melanie Billings were sentenced Thursday morning.

  • Gary Lamont Sumner Jr., who pleaded no contest to two counts of second degree murder, received 20 years with no probation.
  • Leonard Gonzalez, Sr., who pleaded no contest to two charges of second degree murder and home invasion, received 17.5 years in prison without probation when released.
  • Rakeem  Chavez Florence, who entered a plea deal for his testimony to second degree murder and home invasion robbery, was sentenced to 24 years in prison and 21 years of probation.
  • Fredrick Thornton, Jr, who pleaded to two counts second degree murder and one count of home invasion, was sentenced to 22 years in prison followed by 18 years of probation under a plea deal with prosecutors.

The sentences were handed down by Circuit Court Judge Nicholas Geeker.

Three other defendants were previous sentenced in the case:

  • Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. — sentenced to death for shooting and killing the Beulah couple.
  • Wayne Coldiron — sentenced to life in prison for first degree murder
  • Donnie Stallworth — sentenced to life in prison for first degree murder

Pamela Long-Wiggins is due to be sentenced on September 2 as an accessory after the fact.

Comments

2 Responses to “Four Sentenced For Billings Murders”

  1. So hard on August 5th, 2011 12:32 pm

    to comment on something so unspeakable. Sometimes it’s just hard to
    believe how callous some people are for money. Any punishment is
    to good for them. because what ever it is, could never repay to anyone the harm they have done.

    God Bless all those children.

  2. abrykin on August 4th, 2011 1:36 pm

    they all should have received death.One was as guilty as the other

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News