What the footage does show is so clear in uncovering exactly what happened. The tapes showed a large red passenger van had pulled into the driveway at the time of the slayings. Investigators tracked down Leonard Gonzalez and brought him in for questioning. Florida investigators tracked Wiggins down to Orange Beach, Alabama. We found that a series would allow us to go in-depth, as opposed to a singular film, said director Razelle Benally. Documentary & Special Interest. Byrd and Melanie Billings lived in Beulah, Florida, in a sprawling mansion with several children they had adopted. Patrick Gonzalez was then questioned and denied everything. He recruited the others and provided them with the guns, clothing, and boots. Theyd both been shot multiple times. With Michael Beach, Janine Turner, Dean Cain, Nick Searcy. More than 2 people lost their lives July 9, 2009. Im still processing it., When he was young, Bear Don't Walk said his uncles would visit each other and draw. , the couples oldest children, Ashley and Justin, who were from previous marriages, rushed to the home. His tenure was brief with the sheriffs office just eight months and his first major case was Selena Not Afraids disappearance. Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty: With Michael Virzi, Ben Heineman. This is the most dangerous place for Native women in the country, explained Luella Brien in the series opening. Leonard Sr also told the police that he was the getaway driver while the others broke into the house. A. s they asked her some questions inside the house, they observed a shoe box for black combat boots. A nation is not defeated until the heart of its women are on the ground, Simpson said in the series, sharing a Cheyenne proverb. That DNA doesnt match anyone arrested. Nobody would know me or trust me in this area, and I knew that going in with eyes wide open, and I wouldnt expect them to trust me.. In 1988, eleven women vanished from the streets of New Bedford, Massachusetts. The gathering honored Selena Not Afraid, a 16 year-old who was recently found dead near the 1-90 rest area east of Billings she went missing from on New Year's Day, and all missing or murdered indigenous women. Never-before-seen video footage reveals a deadly boat ride that spurs the toppling of a powerful dynasty. Detectives questioned the Billings children, and Justin. Wake Up Clear and Focused, Sleep with Somnus! Scenes are filmed in Billings, Hardin, Lame Deer and Crow Agency. The center is a Native-led nonprofit dedicated to ending violence against Native women and children, and Simpson is featured prominently in the series. This is emotion-driven. The bodies of entrepreneur Byrd Bud Billings, 66, and his wife, Melinda, 43, were found in the master bedroom of the sprawling estate. The man arrested was Leonard Lenny Gonzalez Sr., who later shared that the car belonged to his son Leonard Patrick Jr. After being apprehended, the state attorney declared that Leonard Sr. had admitted to the crime. Theyreviewed surveillance tapes at a Walmart near Patricks home in Santa Rosa County, where they found footage of him purchasing the black boots and black clothing. Ivan said authentic Native representation in film is vital. Florence told officials that Leonard Gonzalez had promised him $2,000 or $3,000 to carry this deed out, investigators said. Weeks later, police were still trying to complete their understanding of the genesis of the scheme and connection of the suspects to the Billings family. The remaining suspects were charged with armed home invasion, robbery and murder. that Leonard Gonzalez had revealed to authorities. Both of them had two biological children, each from their previous relationships but adopted 12 children, most of them with special needs. Two new docs aim to change that, Montana film, actor among Indigenous works making unprecedented splash at Sundance, Selena Not Afraid's death ruled accidental, We are in need: Bill would help missing person searches, Bill would extend and expand Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force, 'Somehow our normal': Several Indigenous people missing in southeast Montana. In Pensacola Florida, two loving parents are brutally gunned down in their own home. She was 16. Benally led many of the conversations with Native families. The National Indian Womens Resource Center is online at niwrc.org. For more information, visit festival.sundance.org. The ongoing Murdaugh family saga exposes murders, a suspicious death and a complex labyrinth of corruption. Directors Ian Clark Ben Mole The series does, however, give potentially global visibility to the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous people while placing it within a historical context. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. top of page. The cop's only witness one that never lies surveillance cameras. On July 11, a caller reported that a van matching the description of the one sheriffs were after was behind a shed at a residence in West Pensacola. While Ivan said Native people have known about the MMIW crisis for decades, many non-Native viewers may be unaware. This case hits home with me, because they lived in my hometown of Pensacola. All were charged with first-degree murder apart from Wiggins, who was charged with being an accessory. Survivors reflect on the shocking boat crash that killed vibrant teenager Mallory Beach - and the demons that haunted troubled driver Paul Murdaugh. Since colonization, our Native women have been targeted. He reached out to Benally, who was hesitant at first to work with a non-Native on a film about missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Pic credit: FL Dept. The Billings had a total of 16 children, some of whom were from previous marriages and some who had been adopted by the couple. The original story can be accessed here. Great Burn: 'One of the last best places' but for whom? All of them except Patrick Gonzalez agreed to plea deals, resulting in life sentences for Stallworth and Coldiron and lengthy prison terms for the others, according to Floribama Murders.. 10 The Keepers (2017) 'The Keepers' is a dark, disturbing investigation into the unsolved murder of a nun named Sister Catherine Cesnik. The MacDonalds cousin, Ashley Loring HeavyRunner, is one of thousands of missing or murdered Indigenous women, a crisis so prevalent it has its own acronym, MMIW. However, during the time leading up to the murders, Leonard Jrs business wasnt doing well. On July 9, 2009, a frantic 911 call went out in Beulah, Florida. Officers responded to a car crash shortly before midnight and discovered the driver had. This is greater than myself, and I felt spiritually competent and confident enough to ensure that this would be done in a good way, especially in regard to family, Benally said. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. After Bud and Melinda Billings were murdered, investigators discovered multiple people were connected to the crime. The murders of Bud and Melanie Billings occurred on or about July 9, 2009, in Pensacola, Florida, United States. It's very difficult to review this case, as there, The FBi has been murdering people for years since their, Clearly its hard for some people to understand that although, What is taking so long? The authorities had a lot to work with right away because the place was rigged with many security cameras. We are waiting to hear from you. Power." (Oxygen) Released in December 2021, this 90-minute documentary special, hosted by Troy Roberts, looks into the boat crash, the murders, the insurance fraud and more. . The suspects were caught on the family's surveillance system. The only law enforcement official to comment was Eric Winburn, the former undersheriff for Big Horn County who resigned in August 2020 and now resides in Idaho. I would like to say I was shocked, but I wasnt shocked, Galkin said of Winburns comments. Investigators rounded up the suspected members of the deadly robbery crew, although Patrick Gonzalez turned himself in. The series, "Murder in Big Horn," debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January and will be available for streaming on Showtime Feb. 3, broken into three hour-long episodes. Investigators theorized that the Billings case was a money score for Wiggins but turned into a "robbery that went horrifically bad, said Morgan. The alleged victims of the highflying, some would say sociopathic politician with a list of victims that spans the long career of him and Hillary his 'wife' What followedquicklybecameone of the most infamous unsolved serial murder cases in American history. Jerry Douglas is a motivational speaker, fitness guru, and writer. After the nightclub incident, Byrd moved heavily into the buy-here, pay-here car lot business, which he would later leave under the management of his stepdaughter, Ashley, and her husband, James Blue Markham. "They did wonderful things.". . The arrest would lead to several people put behind bars including Lenny. Found the resolution to each, I know who really killed Chanin, her husband did not, I have so many questions about this story. He owned a pressure-cleaning business, and police believed he and Coldiron had done work at the home. He remains incarcerated at the Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Florida, but owing to some legal matters, his apparent resentencing is pending. Billings police investigate the scene of a homicide on the 200 block of South 29th Street at 2 a.m. Sunday. Some speculated that the Billings adopted children so that they could receive money from the government. While the robbery appeared to be well planned, the police believed that one of the accomplices failed to turn off the security cameras, which later became primary evidence in the case. Benally joined the project after being contacted by fellow director Matthew Galkin, who admittedly came to the project with no awareness of the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people. Here is the synopsis: Mansion Murder Cam In Pensacola Florida, two loving parents are brutally gunned down in their own home. Was the money the motive for the double homicide? We had to really balance the series, so when Native families or people watch this, they are not feeling like they are being exploited.. He claimed his father had brain damage and that the van barely moved in a recorded interview with authorities. Its what they must rely on, to catch the killers and bring them to justice. Investigators learned that Bud Billings was a successful businessman who ran a finance company. Historic low temps are possible on Thursday. Scenes were filmed in Billings, Hardin, Lame Deer and Crow Agency. The Associated Press cited divorce records from his second wife in 1993 that revealed Billings had not been rich at that time: his total net worth at that time was just $1400. Most of the nearly 80 people attending dressed in red, a symbol of the MMIW movement. HeavyRunner, 20, was last seen on the Blackfeet Reservation in 2017. By the spring of 1989, the remains of nine victims had been discovered along the highways surrounding the city. Keeping the community informed is important. RYAN BERRY, Billings Gazette "Murder in Big Horn," a three-part documentary set on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne reservations, will premiere at the internationally acclaimed Sundance Film. Billings murder documentary on Investigation Discovery channel tonight @ 9 pm, PS Podcast: Patty Hightower on school safety, PS: Rep. Clay Ingram gives latest updates on the Florida House , Salzman wants School Superintendent to resign, Breaking: Humane Society releases CPA report, FPL plans to increase electric bill rates in April, Breaking: School Board to vote on returning to elected superintendent. Fortunately, none of the children were harmed. "Death is a smell youll never forget, Sr. Deputy Robert Guy, of Escambia County Sheriffs Office, told Floribama Murders, airing Saturdays at 9/8c on Oxygen. Others have speculated that the murders may have been a hit. It was the home of Leonard Gonzalez, whose wife spoke with investigators. The group had also gotten together to train before the crime for a few weeks. To learn more about the Billings Murder case, check out Jimmie Lee Staleys blog and Facebook page. From a young age, I was taught to never go anywhere alone, Benally said. Byrd Billings, 66, was shot multiple times in the head and legs. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. The story you haven't been told about Patrick Gonzalez Jr. Mansion Murder Cam The cop's only witness one that never lies surveillance cameras. But she never expected , Last year, scholarships were up to $10,000 for returning undergraduate applicants, up to $12,500 for graduate and professional students and up. Theyd both been shot multiple times. Scenes were filmed in Billings, Hardin, Lame Deer and Crow Agency. It was the home of Leonard Gonzalez, whose wife spoke with investigators. It turned out that there was more to the Billings family than the all-American history that their prior media image implied. 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