Media links **NO DISCUSSION**

[Rizzy]

http://www.weartv.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wear_vid_4385.shtml

Judge To Appoint Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr A New Attorney

*snip*

ESCAMBIA COUNTY - The alleged mastermind of the murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings will soon be appointed a new lawyer.

Today, a judge allowed two attorneys to remove themselves from representing Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr.

 

[Rizzy]

http://www.pnj.com/article/20091009/NEWS01/910090336/1006/NEWS01

Mark O'Brien: A caring home for nine kids

Mark O'Brien • mobrien@pnj.com • October 9, 2009

*Snip*

A few months ago, Blue and Ashley Markham were a relatively carefree couple.

Then, her parents, Byrd and Melanie Billings, were slain by gunmen who invaded the Beulah home that was home to nine adopted children with special needs.

 

[Rizzy]

http://cbs4.com/wireapnewsfl/State.seeks.death.2.1243308.html

Oct 12, 2009 4:11 pm US/Eastern

State Seeks Death For 4 In Couple's Killings

*Snip*

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) ¯ Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for four men charged in the July home-insvasion killings of a Panhandle couple known for adopting numerous children with special needs.

State Attorney Bill Eddins announced Monday he will seek the death penalty against alleged ring leader Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr., 35, Air Force Staff Sgt. Donnie Ray Stallworth, 28, Wayne Thomas Coldiron, 41, and Frederick Lee Thornton Jr., 19.

.

 

[Rizzy]

http://www.pnj.com/article/20091013/NEWS01/910130312

Four suspects face death in Billings killings
Only 2 defendants' attorneys qualified to try capital cases
Kris Wernowsky • kwernowsky@pnj.com • October 13, 2009

*Snip*

The state's intention of seeking the death penalty creates an administrative issue for the court because two of the defendants' attorneys are not qualified to try death penalty cases.

 

[megamami]

http://www.northescambia.com/?p=11538

State To Seek Death Penalty For Four Billings Murder Suspects
October 13, 2009

snip
"Three others — Leonard Gonzalez Sr., Gary Sumner and Rakeem Florence — also face first degree murder charges, but the State Attorney has announced that he will not seek the death penalty."

 

[daisy7]

The State Attorney’s Office released today more documents and DVDs of the interviews with suspects, persons of interest and witnesses – 36 CDs and DVDs.

Among the documents is an interview with Silvano Gonzalez, the former Hispanic-American Auto Sales employee who Cab Tice said gave him $20,000 as a loan from the Mexican Mafia. Gonzalez tells investigators that he made up the Mexican Mafia connection to pressure Tice to repay the loan.

(snipped)

http://ricksblog.biz/?p=7700

 

[daisy7]

Billings murder suspect appears relaxed

Updated: Tuesday, 20 Oct 2009, 3:48 PM CDT
Published : Tuesday, 20 Oct 2009, 3:29 PM CDT

PENSACOLA, Fla. - The alleged ringleader of group of men charged in the July home-invasion deaths of a Panhandle couple appears confident and relaxed in an lengthy videotaped interview with detectives.

The 70-minute interview with Leonard Gonzalez Jr. was recorded July 11 and released to the media by the State Attorney's office on Tuesday as part of public information request.

(snipped)

http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/pensacola/billings_murder_suspect_appears_relaxed

 

[Pcola Hog]

ive days after Byrd and Melanie Billings were shot to death inside their Beulah home, Frederick Lee Thornton Jr. described to investigators a robbery that went horribly awry.
Advertisement

Thornton, 19, of Fort Walton Beach told officers that the ringleader, Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr., said the Billings’ home contained a safe with $13 million in it.

For participating in the lucrative snatch-and-grab, Thornton’s payday would be $100,000.

http://www.pnj.com/article/20091020/NEWS01/91020016/1006/RSS01

 

[daisy7]

ESCAMBIA COUNTY - More information today about the man accused of killing Byrd and Melanie Billings.

The state attorney's office has released video from his initial statement to investigators just days after the murders.

Channel Three's Dan Thomas has been looking at that interview and joins us now live. Dan what did you learn?

Even before investigators told him he was a suspect, Patrick Gonzalez Junior hinted that there was much more to the killings that he believed the Mexican Mafia was connected.

(snipped)

http://www.weartv.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wear_vid_4613.shtml

 

[Solomisskitty]

AP
Alleged ringleader in killings calm in interview
In his interview with detectives, the older Gonzalez said he never believed the Billingses were going to be killed.
"I had no idea there was going to be a homicide or a murder. Had I had that idea, I never would have gone," he said. (snipped)

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_COUPLE_SLAIN_FLOL-?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

 

[megamami]

Gonzalez Senior Says He Didn't Know About Billings Murder Plot
http://www.weartv.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wear_vid_4618.shtml

LOTS of information here! Interview of Gonz. Sr and Jr snips. Much of testimony points to Gonz. Jr. as the planner and the shooter and a news anchor says Hugh Wiggins gave hours and hours of testimony and was given 'use immunity' for anything he testified about which was a lot (he gave hours and hours of testimony). Hugh says Jr. may have also been involved in a Gulf Breeze robbery.

ETA: They say there is a mountain of information released and they will have more stories as they sift through everything.

 

[Rizzy]

http://www.pnj.com/article/20091021/NEWS01/910210338/-1/special

Promise of cash led to Billings murders
Suspect Thornton details carnage that took place inside house
Kris Wernowsky • kwernowsky@pnj.com • October 21, 2009


There is a picture of Gonzalez Jr. to the left of this article and he isn't looking to spunky these days!!

 

[Solomisskitty]

http://www.pnj.com/article/20091021/NEWS01/910210338/-1/special

Promise of cash led to Billings murders
Suspect Thornton details carnage that took place inside house
Kris Wernowsky • kwernowsky@pnj.com • October 21, 2009


There is a picture of Gonzalez Jr. to the left of this article and he isn't looking to spunky these days!!

Notice that in this mugshot, Gonzalez, Jr. is dressed in lime green garb which is reserved for the most dangerous inmates. http://www.escambiaso.com/SmartWebClient/jail.aspx

 

[daisy7]

Patrick Gonzalez Jr., the man believed to have killed Byrd and Melanie Billings during a home invasion, has been charged with stabbing a fellow inmate in Escambia County Jail.

Gonzalez, jailed since July, following the home invasion and killing of the couple, has been charged with aggravated assault for stabbing a fellow inmate with a pencil.

(snipped)

http://pnj.com/article/20091022/NEWS01/91022021

 

[Solomisskitty]

Pam Wiggins
http://www.weartv.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wear_vid_4665.shtml

 

[megamami]

http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091023/NEWS01/910230344

Sheriff won't rule out mafia in Billings case
Kris Wernowsky • kwernowsky@pnj.com • October 23, 2009

"But Morgan said Thursday he still believes the Mexican mafia could be involved.
He said he has independent knowledge, beyond what Gonzalez said, of possible Mexican mafia ties among the eight suspects arrested in the slayings."

 

[megamami]

Pam Wiggins
http://www.weartv.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wear_vid_4665.shtml

"Meeting with her attorney and State Attorney Bill Eddins, Wiggins learned investigators believed she was sitting in her red mini-van down the street from the Billings' home that night.
They also believed she transported the safe taken from the home."

 

[megamami]

http://www.weartv.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wear_vid_4671.shtml
Billings' Son Thought Parents' Murder Was a Contract Hit"

"The son of Bud and Melanie Billings believed his parents were the victims of a contract killing. " (speaking of Justin)


"Investigators found no truth to the "gang from Colorado" story.

 

[megamami]

http://www.weartv.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wear_vid_4639.shtml

Inside Hugh Wiggins's Interrogation

"Hugh Wiggins says he knew as early as March that there was a contract on Bud Billings's life.

As it turned out, the gun used to murder Bud and Melanie was owned by Hugh Wiggins."


"He claimed that local car dealer Cab Tice and perhaps others wanted Bud Billings dead because they were tired of paying back loans he had made them"

ETA:
Also: http://www.weartv.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wear_vid_4655.shtml
Hugh helped plan the robbery. Gonz Jr. was saying Bud involved with Mexican Mafia.

 

[megamami]

http://www.weartv.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wear_vid_4646.shtml
Wiggins Interrogation Reveals More About Gonzalez's Past

"The man who gave authorities inside information about the murders of Bud and Melanie Billings says the alleged trigger man, Patrick Gonzalez, Junior, also robbed a local bank, and may have committed other crimes"

Hugh Wiggins alleges Gonz Jr. buried a body and tried to take down a coke dealer but police never confirm.

Hugh knew about the murder ahead of time.