Jury Recommends Death For Leonard Patrick Gonzalez
October 30, 2010
An Escambia County jury has recommended Friday that Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr., 36, be put to death for the first degree murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings.
The death penalty recommendation was not unanimous, with the jury voting 10-2 in favor of the death penalty. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Gonzalez was found guilty of the murders Thursday night.
Assistant State Attorney John Molchan told an Escambia County jury that Gonzalez planned, organized and then executed the July 9, 2009, robbery and murder of the Billings, who were known for adopting special needs children.
According to testimony, Gonzalez believed he would steal a safe containing $13 million from the Billings home.
The defense rested Thursday afternoon in the trial without calling any witnesses.
Gonzalez faces a maximum penalty of death on two counts of first degree murder when the court reconvenes Friday morning.
Fish Fry Benefits Councilwoman With Cancer
October 30, 2010
The community came together Friday to financially help Century Councilwoman Nadine McCaw who is recovering from surgery to remove a cancerous kidney.
In just a few hours, over 300 catfish plates had been sold to benefit McCaw at a fish fry at the Century Roadside Park. McCaw underwent the surgery at Baptist Hospital last week. Her health insurance is exhausted, and the family needs help to pay for her treatment.
Other fundraisers are underway for McCaw. Here is how you can help:
- Large purple bows to show support are being sold for $6. The bows are available at the Century Town Hall, the Century Branch Library and at Southern Treasures (across from Whataburger on North Century Boulevard).
- Donations can be made by PayPal to the address nadinemccaw@yahoo.com or at Pen Air Federal Credit Union on North Century Boulevard.
Pictured top: Patrons line up for fish plates this afternoon in Century. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Photo Gallery: Bratt Elementary Fall Festival
October 30, 2010
The annual Bratt Fall Festival was held Friday at the school.
For a photo gallery, click here.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Pharmacy Robbery Suspect Allegedly Assaults Getaway Car Driver With 2-Liter Coke
October 29, 2010
The man accused in the armed robbery of a Molino pharmacy last month has been arrested again — this time for the alleged battery of the getaway car driver with a two liter Coke.
Joseph Daniel Flowers, 56, is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and domestic violence battery for allegedly striking Krystal Lynn Collins.
Flowers was charged with robbing Scott’s Pharmacy on September 20 while wearing a bathrobe, slippers, yellow kitchen gloves and underwear on his head. Collins, 24, was also charged in connection with the robbery; deputies believe she was the getaway car driver.
Tuesday night, Flowers allegedly became involved in a physical altercation with Collins, who is his son’s girlfriend, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The son told deputies that Flowers struck his girlfriend several times in the head and face before picking up a full two liter bottle of Coke and hitting Collins.
According to a Sheriff’s Office arrest report, Flowers admitted to striking Collins with the full bottle of Coke at his Molino Road home.
Flowers remained in the Escambia County Jail early Thursday morning without bond.
For more about the robbery and Flowers’ arrest, click here. For more about Collins’ arrest for allegedly driving the getaway car, click here.
Pictured top: Joseph Daniel Flowers was detained by deputies at his Molino Road home following the armed robbery of Scott’s Pharmacy in Molino on September 20. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Flomaton Beats Excel; Brantley Says Goodbye
October 29, 2010
The Flomaton Hurricanes blew past the Excel Panthers in a Thursday night game 20-6.
Thursday night also marked a major milestone for one Flomaton man. Bo Brantley (pictured) has stepped down as the Hurricane’s announcer after 55 years behind the microphone.
After an Excel turnover, the Canes were first on the board with 6:46 to go in the first quarter on a 25-yard pass from Neiko Robinson to James Dean. With a good point after kick from Corey Busbee, Flomaton was up 7-0.
The Hurricanes scored again on a 72-yard drive that ended on a 19-yard touchdown run from Jacob Newton. Busbee hit the point after kick again, 14-0 Flomaton
The Panthers managed an 11-yard touchdown run with just 11 seconds to go in the half. The Hurricanes blocked the kick, 14-6.
The last score of the game was a 32-yard run from Rhyheem Dixon. The kick failed, for a 20-6 final.
With the win, the Flomaton Hurricanes finished the regular season at 6-4.
Photos: Visit The Pumpkin Patch
October 29, 2010
Looking for a pumpkin? The Allen Memorial United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch is open at the corner of Highway 29 and Neal Road. Pumpkins of all shapes and sizes are available, with some priced as low as $1.
For more photos from the pumpkin patch, click here.
Pictured top The Allen Memorial Pumpkin Patch in Cantonment. Pictured left: Loyd Pickens arranges pumpkins for sale recently. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Century Care Center Celebrates With Trick Or Treat, Fall Festival
October 29, 2010
Century Care Center hosted a fall festival Thursday afternoon, complete with a haunted house, costume contest, cake walk, games, prizes, food and trick or treating for the kids.
For more photos from the event, click here.
Pictured above and below: Century Care Center’s community fall festival was held Thursday afternoon. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Man Airlifted After Being Bit By Rattlesnake
October 28, 2010
A male was airlifted to a Pensacola hospital Thurday afternoon after being bitten by a rattlesnake in North Escambia.
The man, about 30 years old, was bitten about 4:30 p.m. in the yard of a home in the 8000 block of Sunset View Lane in Molino, about a mile from the intersection of Highway 97 and Sunshine Hill Road. He was flown to the hospital by Lifeflight. His name and condition were not immediately available.
The snake was reportedly around a satellite dish at the home. At last report, the snake had not been captured.
The Molino Station of Escambia Fire Rescue and Escambia County EMS responded to the call.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Suspect Arrested In Domestic Incident That Led To Shot Fired At Deputy Near Northview
October 28, 2010
The man wanted on domestic violence charges in an incident near Northview High School where a shot was allegedly fired at a deputy is behind bars in Alabama.
Marvin Anthony Haynie, 46, was arrested Thursday afternoon on the Poarch Creek Indian Reservation by Poarch Creek Tribal Police. He is being extradited back to Florida this afternoon. No charges have been filed at this time in connection with the shot fired at the deputy.
Haynie will face a domestic violence battery charged once returned to Escambia County, Florida.
Below is the NorthEscambia.com story from Wednesday morning on the domestic violence incident and shooting.
At least one shot was fired at an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office deputy early Wednesday morning during a manhunt near Northview High School.
Deputies had established a perimeter around York Road as they searched for a domestic violence suspect identified as Marvin Anthony Haynie, 46. At least one shot was reportedly fired from a wooded area toward a deputy’s cruiser, with the round striking the dirt road directly in front of the car. The deputy was not injured and did not return fire.
After searching for Haynie for a couple of hours after the shot was fired, the manhunt was called off.
The incident began with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic violence complaint in the 3000 block of York Road about 7:30 Tuesday night. Haynie’s wife told deputies that he was outside in their vehicle drinking a beer and playing the radio loudly. When she asked him to turn down the radio, she stated that he threw CD’s at her. After exiting the vehicle, he then threw an empty beer can at his wife, striking her in the upper arm, according to the ECSO report. She was not seriously injured.
When deputies arrived, the wife told them that Haynie had gone to a neighbor’s house; the neighbors told deputies that Haynie had fled into a nearby wooded area. Deputies searched the area and at least two homes for Haynie, but were unable to locate him.
At about 11 p.m., the female victim again called the Sheriff’s Office, reporting that Haynie was back at the residence, wet and covered in scratches from running through the woods. The wife alleged that Haynie took beer, Lortab and other medication, and departed in an unknown direction.
Deputies set up a perimeter and called for the assistance of an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit about 11:40 p.m.
About 12:05 a.m. Wednesday, the shot was reportedly fired at the deputy. Deputies maintained their perimeter and continued their search with the K-9.
By 1:45 a.m., deputies returned to the mobile home where the victim reportedly lived and escorted her out of the area to spend the rest of the night elsewhere. By 2 a.m., the manhunt was called off.
Haynie was described as a white male about 5-foot 7-inches tall, 165 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a light-colored t-shirt, and blue jean shorts.
York Road is a short, dead-end dirt road east off Pine Barren Road directly opposite Northview High School.
Further details were not available Wednesday morning.
Pictured top: Escambia County Deputy Bobby Cook helps maintain a perimeter in the search for a suspect on York Road about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.
Rick Scott Scheduled To Appear In Cantonment, Molino
October 28, 2010
Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott will be in Escambia County on Friday as his week-long campaign bus tour continues, and stops have been confirmed for Cantonment and Molino.
Tentative plans call for Scott to make a stop at Plastic Coated Paper on Kingsfield Road at 3:30 p.m. and Fran’s Country Grill in Molino at 5:00 p.m.
Later, he will appear at a “grassroots” celebration at The Pensacola Fish House in Pensacola at 6:35 and at the Pensacola Interstate Fair at 8:15 p.m.