Fla couple’s death now looks like a hit
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office says that the much-publicized murder of Florida couple Byrd and Melanie Billings was most likely a contracted hit. Sources say the mastermind was 35-year-old Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr.
An unnamed “source” told CNN that the suspects believed that they were there to rob the well-to-do couple, but Gonzalez had ulterior motives and wanted them dead.
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan has said Gonzalez once worked for a car dealership Byrd Billings owned, and court documents state that Gonzalez received financial support from the family for a martial-arts studio that he ran.
Eight people have been arrested and seven are facing murder charges.
Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr.
| Arrest Number: 200909672 | |
|---|---|
| Inmate Number: 141790 | |
| Race: W | |
| Ht.: 5’06 | |
| Cell: B2G*09*B | |
| Arresting Agency: S | |
| DOB: 01/31/1974 | |
| Hair: BLN | |
| Eyes: BLU | |
| Arrest Date: 07/13/2009 | |
| Expected Release Date* | |
| Sex: M | |
| Wt.: 185 | |
Charge(s) Information
| Charge Number: | 1 |
| Case Number: | 09-17289 |
| Court: | CIR |
| Court Date: | 08/06/2009 |
| Court Time: | 08:30 |
| Statute: | 782.04 |
| Description: | MURDER |
| Bond Type: | NONE |
| Bond Amount: | |
| Charge Number: | 2 |
| Case Number: | 09-17289 |
| Court: | CIR |
| Court Date: | 08/06/2009 |
| Court Time: | 08:30 |
| Statute: | 812.135 |
| Description: | ROBBERY-RESID HOME INVASION |
| Bond Type: | COM |
| Bond Amount: | XX |
| Charge Number: | 3 |
| Case Number: | 09-18028 |
| Court: | |
| Court Date: | |
| Court Time: | |
| Statute: | 782.04 |
| Description: | MURDER |
| Bond Type: | NONE |
| Bond Amount: | XX |
| Charge Number: | 4 |
| Case Number: | 09-18028 |
| Court: | |
| Court Date: | |
| Court Time: | |
| Statute: | 812.135 |
| Description: | ROBBERY-RESID HOME INVASION |
| Bond Type: | NONE |
| Bond Amount: | XX |