Couple who adopted 12 children shot to death #2

[gazelletime]

Its DISGUSTING...........The Billings were drug smugglers,militia members,tax evaders oh & apparently they stole children! Ive never seen such wild conjecture & bashing about victims & its just going on & on.Its like some people want to "justify"their murders............:furious:

SO, we just HALF-Sleuth?

We don't examine MOTIVE, (even if it unfortunately means dragging up the victim's PAST?)

No one wants to justify their murders, we are ONLY trying to find out WHY.

We're just supposed to accept the "well-planned, home invasion, random" theory from the Sheriff/Press??!?!??!

 

[mikeysmommom]

The latest official statement that there was no other motives is insulting.
Damage control and cover up are starting. What are they covering up? I guess we may never know. Yet, the second they start backing off of their "multiple motive" theory, you know that there are other forces at work. I would expect that there may be a government angle somewhere.​

Could be but Look at past cases Like Susan Smith the light she said turned red where her babies were taken,that sheriff knew on day 1 that was impossible.But he sure seemed like he believed her story if you watched those press conf. Till he got her to confess.just something to think about look how at first we were told about red van,Did not here about the second car they just let out what they need to.IMO

 

[pattieandco]

The latest official statement that there was no other motives is insulting.
Damage control and cover up are starting. What are they covering up? I guess we may never know. Yet, the second they start backing off of their "multiple motive" theory, you know that there are other forces at work. I would expect that there may be a government angle somewhere.​

And multiple agencies wouldnt be involved if that is just it - a simple robbery. And really couldnt they have robbed the house when nobody was there. They were fast enough as it is, sneak in take the safe and get out, why so many people involved and why did they have to murder them?

 

[NSC]

OMG you just put it out there, Was he really in the house if thats a fact it sure is the key to me?I admit I did not read most of all the pages because i would never have caught up.

Ya know, I don't want to think that. I really don't. But it does strike me as odd... thoughts?

 

[NSC]

Barbara Walters time!...lol

Hey, have you actually READ through the arrest reports (and the statements given by each person arrested..)?

http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...&Kategori=GRAPHICS&Lopenr=90715017&Ref=AR#top

There is VITAL info in these docs if anyone else wants to take a stab at them?

 

[SuziQ]

I tried to, but it looks like mine have been removed already.

Please forgive me and my newbie-ness. :sleuth: :blowkiss:

I have a question though - because this case involves so many people, there are many, many, many names mentioned this thread who haven't been mentioned anywhere in the press yet. With 8 suspects, that's bound to happen.

So what is the normal protocol about that? Is it normally ok to names, birthdays, public records, websites of people, etc who might be associated? If they publicly state they are not associated, we take them down, correct?


Not trying to be a pain or stir up trouble, I am seriously just trying to learn... I want to stay around and need to learn these ropes.

TIA.

The rule of thumb most go by is if a person hasn't been named by the media or an official in LE, don't post it. And even then, if you do post about them, initials are used instead of names. I know I've broken that rule a few times in this thread.

I hope that helps

ETA: Full names are acceptable for charged criminals and POI's though.

 

[NSC]

Another poster cleared up that Blue was NOT in the house at the time of the murders. Evidently what his mother said was misreported by the media? He was there after the murders? I'd go back and find the post....but it's just too late.

Thanks Suzi for clearing that up!!!

 

[LaceSprocket]

The rule of thumb most go by is if a person hasn't been named by the media or an official in LE, don't post it. And even then, if you do post about them, initials are used instead of names. I know I've broken that rule a few times in this thread.

I hope that helps

ETA: Full names are acceptable for charged criminals and POI's though.

Thank you very much!! :blowkiss:

 

[STEADFAST]

I tried to, but it looks like mine have been removed already.

Please forgive me and my newbie-ness. :sleuth: :blowkiss:

I have a question though - because this case involves so many people, there are many, many, many names mentioned this thread who haven't been mentioned anywhere in the press yet. With 8 suspects, that's bound to happen.

So what is the normal protocol about that? Is it normally ok to names, birthdays, public records, websites of people, etc who might be associated? If they publicly state they are not associated, we take them down, correct?


Not trying to be a pain or stir up trouble, I am seriously just trying to learn... I want to stay around and need to learn these ropes.

TIA.

We are only allowed to post full names of people if they have been named by LE as being investigated. We need to be very careful about posting innuendo, speculation, unfounded linkages between people, etc. especially if those involve the victim. Pretty often posters' speculations and guesses transform themselves into "facts" a few pages later.

For instance, there have been linkages made here like "Joe Smith is a myspace friend of one of the suspects, and one of his friends lives in another state and has custody issues. The victims had lots of adopted kids. Get the connection?" That's really sloppy.

In my opinion, this thread has gotten way out of hand, way off base, and is no longer very helpful in understanding this crime.

I think the complications and various motives involve the suspects and not the victims, yet I've seen less work done tying the suspects together and delving into their activities (drug debts, prison friendships, missing linkages) than has been done trying (unsuccessfully) to tie the victims to criminal activity.

 

[SuziQ]

Thanks Suzi for clearing that up!!!

You are welcome NSC. There are so many newbies, but like another poster pointed out we usually get a bunch of trolls. Especially in a high profile case. This time we gained a bunch of great thinkers with alot to add to WS.

Everyone is learning and it can take awhile to learn the ropes.

Attack the post not the poster

And alert a moderator about problem posts by clicking on the red triangle in the upper right hand of a post and let them handle it. That's what they are here to do and they do a great job.

 

[NSC]

Thanks Suzi, I will make sure to post intials and links - I think because of the complexity of everything it is confusing even with the actual names!!

 

[Gypsy Road]

wow....amazing what some are insinuating about the victims, here.

I'll say!!! And I swear I am SO TIRED of reading about all the questions about the Billing's wealth, how'd they get so wealthy, or if they had life insurance on those kids, or if they got money from the government for taking in these kids, etc.

Not everyone is about MONEY for goodness sake!! I think it's obvious why the Billings took these kids in. They didn't do it to get rich, they did it because they wanted to give those children a loving home!

If there's one thing that really gets on my nerves - it's the haters who talk smack about people who have money.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

When Sheriff Morgan was asked if LG Jr worked at one of the Billings' car lots, he would not answer that question. Interesting.

I immediately felt that the motive was robbery.

It is well known that car dealers carry cash on them and would most likely have a safe at home where they could put it at the end of the day.

This very same type of crime happened in Alabama a few years back where two guys came to the car dealer's home to rob him. He happened to be outside waiting with his son for the bus to come. They killed his little boy right in front of his eyes and then shot him in the head, then dug a shallow grave and laid his son's body on his chest and covered them up. He miraculously lived and was able to get air somehow in the grave. One of the men who killed his son and almost killed him had worked for him in the past. Both men were given the death penalty.

Why it took so many to come into kill two defenseless people, I don't know, all I know is I am so glad that all of them have been arrested and justice will be given to the grieving families.

imo

 

[SuziQ]

To all new members, below is a link to a missing persons forum at WS, run by one of our moderators Christine. She's been featured in the media for the work she has done. Please take a look. These cases need volunteers. All you need is a caring heart and a computer.

[ame="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=190"]Read here first! What is Lighting the Way Home? - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community[/ame]

 

[Lindadanette]

I understand and sympathize with your emotion. However, I think people are following what little data can be found, and are indeed extrapolating or speculating, t and that leads to the next step... which, so far keeps leading to some very peculiar things in their business and legal filings.

Now, I don't doubt for a minute they were fine people with the kids and family, and all, but the reality is that no one (IMHO) is on here with an agenda to tar innocents or turn the victims into the culprits, but are trying to follow legitimate leads and routes of inquiry that might shed light on what otherwise appears to be a senseless crime, and a sensational one at that.

It is hard to do that and uncover what appears to be potentially unsavory facts about otherwise wonderful appearing people, who were clearly wrongfully murdered in cold blood, without raising some sensitivities. I thnik the mods and regulars here are doing a terrific job of making sure the atmosphere is personable and driving to the point.

I hope you will consider that, even though it is clear you are genuinely and understandably upset.

Extremely well said. I don't think that there is a single person on this board who would want anything other than justice to be done for the Billings. That said, if there is a possibility of exposing ANYTHING that might aid in busting a crime syndicate, I'm going to try to find it. The sleuthers on this case have been exemplary in their restraint. But as others have said far better than I, if there's something to be found - let's find it. And, please don't take it to heart.

 

[FromFL]

BOLDED BY ME..........TAKE KIDS FROM OTHERS????? WTH???????

The subtle victim bashing on this thread is making me sick...........these people opened their home & hearts to (mainly)special needs & disabled kids & now,due to some legal documents NOBODY understands everyone is branching out,with ZERO PROOF,that these were zealous anti government /anti tax activitists (MILITA MEMBERS have been bandied about)& apparently "TAKE KIDS FROM OTHERS"...........adoption is stealing now??????????????????????

The tone of this thread has such wild conjecture & with some of our newer posters displaying some obvious (unexplained) personal bias..........I cant believe Im seeing it on my beloved websleuths...........THE BILLINGS FAMILY ARE VICTIMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Your zest to 'convict' them or somehow justify their murder alot of you seem to have forgotten that!!!

Since I'm the one who wrote it I'll explain. (I'm catchig up and don't know if any one else has commented or not). I'm not biased for or against the Billings. I don't know any one connected to them or the persons arrested for their involvement. I am, though, going down the middle of the road and have found, like the Sheriff and many others on here, that when you open one door you think leads to just -1- thing, it opens a slew of others that you must now travel through.

First: "take kids from others" -- wasn't meant as saying they STOLE them from any one.

Second: That's what adoption is...they take kids from parents a and put them with parents b. I'm not saying this a bad thing, especially when parents are abusive, unable to care for them, etc.

Third: Yes, they are victims. But aren't we trying to find out WHY they were killed? A robbery gone awry isn't adding up to me. Too many loose pieces of the puzzle.

Fourth: It's not victim-bashing, it's looking for MOTIVES. Immediately every one felt sorry for them, including myself, especially considering all of the good deeds they've done. But something brought this group of perpetrators together to do this horrendous thing. For the most part, I'm pretty positive most people who have found information and posted on here have either cited the document or website that shows the information.

Trying to make sense of a senseless crime often involves a darker side than most people ever saw, or want to know about.

Not everyone lives their life in the public eye to be scrutinized like a celebrity. And even those celebrities that we 'see' often have weird connections in their past no one in the public knew (drugs, larceny, batery, etc.)

Five: EVEN IF the Billings' past actually played a part in the "reasoning" [MOTIVE] of these criminals to go do this, I don't believe they deserved to die for it.

 

[SleuthyMama]

I'm reading the arrest reports...can someone answer a question for me? On Rakeem's report the weapon he was carrying is redacted. Anyone have a clue why that would be done?

The sentence reads: Florence stated he was armed with an ____________ during the commission of this crime.

 

[MBSC]

I was looking into this yesterday...

I checked more of the arrest records at the Escambia Sheriff's office site, and it's really confusing why the charges vary from person to person....

LPG, Sr. - Charge #1 TAMPERING WITH OR FABRICATING PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
Charge #2 MURDER
Charge #3 MURDER
Charge #4 ROBBERY-RESID HOME INVASION

LPG, Jr. - Charge #1 MURDER
Charge #2 ROBBERY-RESID HOME INVASION

GL SUMNER - Charge #1 HOLD FOR OKALOOSA DEPT OF CORRECTIONS
Charge #2 MURDER
Charge #3 MURDER

FL THORNTON - Charge #1 MURDER
Charge #2 MURDER

WT COLDIRON - Charge #1 MURDER
Charge #2 ROBBERY-RESID HOME INVASION

16 YR OLD - Charge #1 MURDER
Charge #2 MURDER

The others weren't there yet. I believe I read on one news site that the 7th person will be extradited tomorrow.

Is there any particular reason they all wouldn't be charged with the same thing?

And have been trying to figure out the rhyme and reason for why they are charged the way they are. Still out on that one LOL

There's mention of forced entry at both doors, which puzzles me.

A couple other "wonder why's" - it only took 4 mins inside the home...so why did it take 10 mins outside? Since PLW has been seen with LPG,Jr's wife and children since the murders, why aren't we hearing anything about his wife? Just seems odd to me...

Sorry for redundancy, but am just another newby trying to figure this out. I do appreciate your patience with us newbies - some of you are just amazing, and it's sort of intimidating!

 

[FromFL]

There are folks on here from all over the country that are just trying to piece together a bunch of unknown information.

I wouldn't take anything on here personally, IMHO. The majority of folks seem to be looking for justice for the sake of justice.

Having grown up in Escambia County all my life, and having lived in Beulah for the last 13 years, I know anything is possible in this county for anyone. Not to be disrespectful, I'm just sayin'..,

So VERY true, too.

 

[noZme]

There is VITAL info in these docs if anyone else wants to take a stab at them?

This may have been discussed, I haven't read all the "overnight" posts. From the paperwork mentioned above, it seems Coldiron & Sumner were the shooters. There has been so much info coming so fast, I do not remember their criminal histories. Does anyone have the links handy to bring forward?