Murder Weapons, Missing Safe Found
July 16, 2009
State Attorney Bill Eddins says “valuable evidence” has been recovered including the missing safe from Billings home.
“We believe we have the murder weapon or weapons,” he said.
Eddins will not offer any other additional information on the evidence located.
“We believe, that as the case progresses, that additional motives will be found,” Morgan said. “We have some people were are continuing to look at.”
Sheriff said probably 20 to 30 persons of interest, most knew nothing significant and were released.
Pamela Long Wiggins, 47, could face a grand jury indictment for accessory after the fact to felony murder. She could face up to 30 years in prison.
“We believe this concludes the matter, in our opinion,” Eddins said. “This was a home invasion robbery,” he said, where a safe was stolen. But he said the investigation will continue.
The DEA has provided investigative assistance, according to the DEA. Sheriff Morgan says they were called in to provide assistance.
“The Billings family, to the best of my knowledge, is not the focus of any investigation of the DEA”, Morgan said.
Morgan said the DEA was called as a courtesy. “Then my part was done.”
“I will not answer any questions about any investigation that the DEA may or may not have,” he said.
Morgan said that he did not know of any federal investigation of the Billings family, but he said he would not have information on federal investigations.
Morgan’s press conference concluded at 11:28 this morning.
Pamela Long Wiggins, 47, was arrested Wednesday night in connection with the murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings. She was the landlord of murder suspect Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr. Morgan said that Wiggins has several aliases, including Pamela Wiggins, Pamela Malden, Pamela Long and Pamela Laverne Long Coco.
Marriage License Provides Link Between Murder Suspects
July 16, 2009
More information is coming to light in the relationship between on of the Gonzalez murder suspects and the eighth person arrested Wednesday in connection with the Billings murders.
Pamela Long Wiggins. 47, was arrested Wednesday night and charged with accessory after the fact to felony murder in connection with the deaths of Melanie and Byrd Billings. Morgan had previously identified Wiggins as Pamela Laverne Long, but a marriage license obtained by NorthEscambia.com indicates that she was married on December 31 of last year to Hugh Gregory Wiggins.
That marriage license is signed by witnesses L. Patrick Gonzalez and Tabitha C. Gonzalez. Tabitha Gonzalez is the wife of Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr.
“She’s been observed transporting his wife and children at times,” Morgan said of Pamela Long Wiggins. “We know that she was associated with Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr. until the day of the murders.”
Click here to see the marriage license.
But court records in Escambia County indicate that her divorce from her previous husband is not complete.
Under the name Pamela Long Malden, she filed for divorce from James Colburn Malden, 68, on January 29, 2008. Escambia County court records indicate that the case is still open.
Pictured top: The signatures of L. Patrick Gonzalez and Tabitha C. Gonzalez on the December 31, 2008, marriage license of Pamela Long Wiggins and Pamela Laverne Long. NorthEscambia.com graphic, click to enlarge.
NorthEscambia.com Article Could Mean Big Bucks For Flomaton
July 16, 2009
Flomaton’s mayor hopes that an article he read on NorthEscambia.com will land the town some big bucks
The headline on the April article was “Wish List: $1.4 Million For Atmore, Nothing For Flomaton”. According to the story, Alabama Congressman Joe Bonner had requested $1.41 million in funding for projects in Atmore and $1.2 million for projects in Brewton.
“That set me on fire,” Bondurant said at a recent city council meeting. He said the wording of the headline caught his attention.
He discovered that in the last 16 years, Flomaton had not received any extra funding from Congress because the town had not actually applied.
Bondurant said he had been in touch with Bonner’s office and was getting assistance with how to fill out the paperwork necessary to apply for funding. “Next year we ought to get something,” he added.
Atmore’s $1.41 million in federal funding, if approved, would provide for $860,000 in improvements at the city’s airport and $550,000 for new elevated water storage tank. The $1.2 million requested by Bonner for Brewton would be used to relocate a natural gas line that is currently on railroad right-of-way.
Read that April NorthEscambia.com article by clicking here.
NWE, Tri-County Out Of Junior And Senior Baseball Tourneys
July 16, 2009
Bad news for local Junior and Senior All-Star baseball teams — both Northwest Escambia are Tri-County are out of contention for state playoff positons.
Niceville-Valparaiso beat Tri-County 9-5 Wednesday night in Niceville for the District 1 Senior Baseball tournament title. It was Tri-County’s second loss to Niceville-Valparaiso. N-V beat Tri-County Monday night 5-0.
The District 1 Junior Baseball tournament crown went to Defuniak Springs Wednesday night in Walnut Hill. Defuniak beat Shalimar 10-5 for the championship.
The host Northwest Ecscambia All-Stars weres knocked out of that tournament with a Monday night loss to Shalimar 6-21 and a Saturday night loss to Niceville-Valparaiso 6-3.
Hearing Date Set On State Farm’s Plan To Leave Florida
July 16, 2009
State Farm Florida Insurance Co. lawyers on Wednesday urged an administrative law judge to speed up a tentative hearing schedule in its quest to exit the state’s property insurance market within the next two years.
Calling an Oct. 12 start date too late, the company urged Administrative Law Judge Suzanne Hood to bring parties to the table earlier for up to a week of testimony over the timetable and details of the company’s withdrawal plan submitted to state officials earlier this year.
“For the reasons stated in (State Farm’s) petition, including the ongoing erosion of State Farm Florida Insurance Company’s assets and the company’s projected insolvency by the end of 2011 if it is forced to continue to operate under current rate and risk conditions, petitioners believe that it is extremely urgent to resolve this dispute as quickly as possible,” company lawyers stated in their response to the judge’s order.
State Farm, the largest private property insurer in the state, is wrangling with state insurance regulators over a two-year withdrawal plan brought on by the company’s decision to leave the Florida market following its inability earlier this year to obtain what it perceived to be necessary rate hikes. The company asked for but was refused a 47 percent average increase.
The exit plan calls for State Farm to non-renew nearly 470,000 homeowners policies during the first of a two-year withdrawal plan under a proposed strategy submitted to a state hearing officer on Wednesday. The company must give customers at least 180 days notice of their pending cancellation.
Attorneys for State Farm and the State Office of Insurance Regulation met a Wednesday deadline to set hearing dates on the proposed plan, though the parties disagree over when to schedule the four or five day hearing, with company officials asking to have them earlier.
State Insurance lawyers, counter that the Oct. 12 date would be too soon, saying they won’t have enough time to adequately prepare for the court-like proceedings.
“Respondent respectfully believes that, since it appears that extensive discovery will be necessary, any time prior to the beginning of November is probably an inadequate time to prepare,” attorneys for the state contend.
FHSAA Recinds Policy; High School Games Return
July 16, 2009
The Florida High School Athletic Association Board of Directors voted unanimously yesterday to rescind a new policy that would have reduced the number of games played in most high school sports.
The policy would have reduced varsity games by 20 percent and junior varsity games by 40 percent in most sports in an effort both to alleviate the financial crisis facing school districts and provide a uniform solution across the state. Varsity football was the one sport spared by cuts announced last April, with the schedule the next two years remaining at 10 games per year.
Since sports involving female athletes were all cut, many called foul, with a lawsuit claiming the policy amounted to gender discrimination under a law called Title IX. On Tuesday, the U.S. Justice Department and Department of Education filed a motion to join the lawsuit. Title IX prevents discrimination based upon gender in public schools.
The FHSAA was made aware of a possible Title IX violation and litigation in June, and worked diligently to be in compliance with Title IX. Since no compromise could be reached, a recommendation was made to hold a Board meeting to consider rescinding the amendments to the policy, the FHSAA said in a news release.
“I believe what we did in April was the best thing for the membership then, and given the situation, what we did today was in its best interest now,” said Board of Directors President Greg Zornes.
“I know there have been a lot of blogs and news articles about the FHSAA and this particular issue regarding gender equity. In actuality, the FHSAA is recognized by its peer members from other states as leading the nation in terms of providing equal and equitable opportunities for both boys and girls in high school,” said FHSAA Executive Director Roger Dearing. “We were yesterday, are today, and will be tomorrow, advocates for both boys and girls equally in creating life experiences that will make them healthier, happier and more competitive, while at the same time creating memorable experiences they will have for a lifetime.”
A temporary injunction meeting in the lawsuit is still scheduled for Friday, July 17. What impact, if any, the Board’s decision will have on that meeting is unknown.
The new policy would have seen baseball, basketball, softball and volley ball cut from 25 games to 20 allowed per year. At the JV level, those sports would have been cut from 25 maximum games per year to just 15. Junior varsity football teams would have been allowed to play six games rather than eight, while varsity football teams would have remained at 10 games per year.
The maximum number of games in other sports, such as track and field, golf and cross country, were also cut.
Pictured above: Sarah Killam, member of Northview High School’s Cross Country team, rounds the corner toward the finish line in a race last September. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Another Arrest In Billings Murder
July 15, 2009
In a brief press conference Wednesday night, Sheriff David Morgan said there has been another arrest in the Beulah double murder case.
Pamela Long Wiggins has been arrested in connection with the murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings. She has been charged with accessory after the fact to felony murder.
Wiggins was located in Orange Beach, Alabama, and drove with her lawyer back to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department.
She was the landlord of Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr.
“The complexity of this case is staggering,” Morgan said.
“As Escambia County Sheriff, I have no knowledge of any DEA involvement in this case,” Morgan said. CNN reported earlier today that the DEA was involved in the case. “I have not spoken to any representative of the Drug Enforcement Agency today.”
The ESCO will hold another press conference at 10 a.m. Thursday to discuss more details in the case.
Person Of Interest Pamela Long Found, Not In Custody
July 15, 2009
Pamela Laverne Long, a person of interest in the Billings murders has been found.
Sheriff David Morgan said she was located in Orange Beach, Alabama, at a marina. Morgan said she is not in custody, but is driving back to Pensacola from Orange Beach, Alabama.
“We know that she was associated with Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr. up until the day of the murders,” Morgan said. “She is a person of interest because of her association with him.”
Morgan described Long as both a landlord and friend to Gonzalez Jr. She is considered both a suspect and a witness.
A second person of interest is being sought because of their involvement with the security system at the Billings home. The person was exterior to the home and not in the house.
There were two possibilities in shutting down the security system at the Billings home — either access from within the home or remotely via the Internet.
Below is an earlier NorthEscambia.com story on the Billings case.
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan held a noon press conference on the Billings double murder to name an additional person of interest in the case.
Authorities have named another person of interest in the murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings.
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan says that person of interest is Pamela Laverne Long, 48. She has several aliases, including Pamela Wiggins, Pamela Malden, Pamela Long Link and Pamela Laverne Long Coco. She has had no contact with the sheriff’s department for 48 hours.
Morgan said she rented property to one of the persons charged with murder in the case.
“Our intent is not to harass Ms. Long. We need to speak to Ms. Long,” Morgan said. She is well known in the Gulf Breeze area, Morgan said, but he would not provide her last known address.
Check back during the afternoon for developing updates on this story here on NorthEscambia.com
“She has not provided us any information. That is why we want to speak with her,” the sheriff said. He said she is wanted as a witness, not as a murder suspect.
Morgan also said it was someone’s job to disable the security system at the Billings’ compound, but that did not happen.
“Why was this system left on in an otherwise perfectly executed murder?” he said. “There may have been someone in this case who’s very duty was to disable the security system.”
“Obviously there is an eighth or ninth person,” he said. Morgan said the seven people charged in the case believed they were not under surveillance as they committed the crimes.
Video of the now infamous red van and other security system footage from the Billings home was the big break that allowed the sheriff’s department to quickly make arrests in the case.
Morgan ended the press conference with a question from a reporter who wanted comment on suspect Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr.’s request to be released without bond. Gonzalez made the request Tuesday afternoon, saying that there was a lack of evidence again him.
“And people in hell want ice water,” Morgan said.
Investigators are also looking for a second person of interest, according to the sheriff. He did not name that person.
Press Release From Billings Family
July 15, 2009
Ashley Billings Markham made the following statement at a press conference at 6:00 a.m. this morning. She is the daughter of Beulah murder victims Melanie and Byrd Billings.
Again, we would like to thank all law enforcement agencies, the community, our family and friends. We are relieved that the people involved in this crime have been apprehended, and we are certain that justice will be served.
The events that have unfolded in the last week, in the last couple of days, have devastated our family. As you know, our Mom and Dad were loving, caring, giving people. They have simply been taken from our lives too soon.
Mom and Dad devoted their lives, in a large part, to educating others about children with special needs. While many say the children were blessed to have my Mom and Dad, Mom and Dad would tell you if they could, that they were the ones most blessed. They wanted to be the voice for children without a voice, they wanted to give these children a chance, and they wanted to give them a childhood. But it did not stop with children. Many friends will tell you that Mom and Dad were willing to help others who needed it. An example of this is their kindness to friends who recently lost their home in foreclosure. Mom and Dad gave them a home for their family until they could get back on their feet. There are many, many examples of this kind of generosity.
We have lost two people who were truly trying to make the world a better place, one person at a time. The family plans to continue their legacy in the community, as that is what they taught us to do.
The Billings children are coping well. We have an incredible family and we are more than capable of carrying through with the plan our parents have in place. As a result of the overwhelming support and outpouring of generosity from all over the country, we are establishing a trust for the nine younger Billings children. We are so grateful for this extraordinary kindness and will announce the details regarding the trust as soon as they become available.
Again, we would like to express our deep, heartfelt thanks to this community, and to all that have kept us in your prayers. We will need them more than ever in the coming weeks.
Though nothing will ever take away the pain of this horrible tragedy, the love, prayers and support have helped us as we grieve. We know that Mom and Dad are looking down upon us from heaven. We will continue to draw upon the memory of their warmth, compassion, love and strength as we continue through these difficult days. And, we know that they will be by our side every step of the way.
Federal Grand Jury Indicts Jeter For Bank Robbery
July 15, 2009
A federal grand jury has indicted Chad Floyd Jeter of Canoe for robbery of the First National Bank & Trust in Atmore.
Jeter, 30, was indicted on charges of bank robbery with a weapon and use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime in violence. If convicted, he could face penalties up to life in prison and fines of a half million dollars.
The federal indictment says Jeter took about $6,289 in the May 19 armed robbery of the Atmore bank using a Marlin Model 22 LR, a .22 caliber rifle. His federal court date has not been set.
Jeter reportedly drove up to the downtown Atmore bank in a white pickup with a camper shell, entered the bank dressed in a dark colored trench coat and the rifle. He ordered bank employees to fill a U.S. Army backpack with cash, while he stood with the rifle pointed at the floor. He reportedly threatened a teller with the rifle during the crime.
Within a few hours of the robbery, investigators identified Jeter as their suspect. Officials searched his trailer on Highway 31 near Canoe. Inside, they found troubling evidence that Jeter may be planning to attack a military base. He said in letters and notes that he is being watched by helicopters that circle his home. Police find maps with the locations of several military bases circled, including Pensacola NAS, Eglin Air Force Base, Whiting Field and Alabama’s Ft. Rucker. The notes indicate that he plans to kill military personnel and police. Military bases are alerted to the possible threat.
Jeter’s burned out camper shell was found in the woods after the McDavid Station of Escambia Fire Rescue responds to a brush fire on a secluded section of Pine Barren Road near Breastworks Road early the morning after the robbery.
While on routine patrol at 4:15 Eastern time Thursday morning following the Tuesday robbery, an Inglis (Fla.) Police Department officer, Tim Swigget, locates a blue GMC pickup trucked parked backed into a wooded area near a Yankeetown, Florida, neighborhood. Inside the vehicle that is nearly 400 miles from Atmore, he found Jeter sleeping. After the officer determines that Jeter is wanted for the bank robbery, Jeter attacked the officer with a Ninja star.
A manhunt involving several agencies and the U.S. Coast Guard followed after Jeter fled the scene. Jeter was taken into custody in a swampy area and transported to the Levy County Jail, charged with attempted murder of the police officer and to await the federal bank robbery charges.
For a complete timeline and more details on the robbery and subsequent arrest, click here for a NorthEscambia.com story from May 22.
Pictured top: Jeter’s truck is searched after he was found in Levy County, Florida Pictured middle inset: Jeter’s truck at the First National Bank & Trust in Atmore. Pictured lower inset: Surveillance video of the bank robbery in progress. Pictured bottom: Jeter after being taken into custody in Levy County, Florida. NorthEscambia.com files photos, click to enlarge.
