The Florida Murders of Adoptive Parents--Sovereigns?

[Prof]

CNN reports on developments in the Florida murder case of the Billings, who had adopted special needs children:

Additional documents released Monday from the Florida Department of Children and Families show a bizarre attempt by Byrd Billings to copyright the children's names and request money from the department for their use.

A department attorney, Katie George, told the Pensacola News-Journal that every time the agency sent Billings a letter referencing the children by name, he would reply with an invoice demanding millions in copyright infringement. In one document released by the department, he demands $10 million in silver or federal reserve notes of equal value.

In a sharply worded letter of December 2005, another department attorney, Richard Cserep, wrote to Billings, "you reference a wide variety of law in connection with this claim" for damages. "This includes copyright violations, trademark violations, contract violations, admiralty and maritime law, libel and the Truth in Lending Act. At no time in any of your correspondence have you made a plain demand for damages under a clear and cognizable theory of liability."

A handwritten note on the letter says that no further correspondence was received from Billings after that letter.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/07/20/flo ... index.html

[Judge Roy Bean]

Having been involved with caring for children from troubled families, the idea that so many of them could have been placed with a couple who were involved with sovereign lunacy is really, really disturbing in more than a few ways.

[Blup]

I nearly shat myself when I read this cnn article about Byrd and Melanie Billings, the couple who were shot in a home invasion robbery/apparent hit. Here's the relevant part:

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" Additional documents released Monday from the Florida Department of Children and Families show a bizarre attempt by Byrd Billings to copyright the children's names and request money from the department for their use.

"A department attorney, Katie George, told the Pensacola News-Journal that every time the agency sent Billings a letter referencing the children by name, he would reply with an invoice demanding millions in copyright infringement. In one document released by the department, he demands $10 million in silver or federal reserve notes of equal value.

"In a sharply worded letter of December 2005, another department attorney, Richard Cserep, wrote to Billings, "you reference a wide variety of law in connection with this claim" for damages.

""This includes copyright violations, trademark violations, contract violations, admiralty and maritime law, libel and the Truth in Lending Act," the letter said. "At no time in any of your correspondence have you made a plain demand for damages under a clear and cognizable theory of liability."

"A handwritten note on the letter says that no further correspondence was received from Billings after that letter.
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The full article is here: http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/07/21/flo ... in.couple/

Clearly the Billingses were members of the cult/scam. I wonder if it will turn out that the sovereign citizen/freeman/christian identity movement was involved in the deaths of these people.

Blup

[Blup]

Sorry, posted this in wrong forum and didn't see that it had been posted in the correct forum a few hours prior. Can't delete original post

[Blup]

sorry guys, you beat me to this scoop! I posted the exact same thing in another forum. I apologize, but it struck me as wild too when I read the cnn article.

[wserra]

Sorry, posted this in wrong forum

No worries, mate.

[Demosthenes]

Wow. Isn't that interesting.

[buck09]

"you reference a wide variety of law in connection with this claim" for damages. "This includes copyright violations, trademark violations, contract violations, admiralty and maritime law, libel and the Truth in Lending Act. At no time in any of your correspondence have you made a plain demand for damages under a clear and cognizable theory of liability."

That sounds reminiscent of the famous quote from the movie Billy Madison - sounds like that person was too polite to add "..everyone here is now dumber for having heard that. May God have mercy on your soul."

[Pottapaug1938]

"you reference a wide variety of law in connection with this claim" for damages. "This includes copyright violations, trademark violations, contract violations, admiralty and maritime law, libel and the Truth in Lending Act. At no time in any of your correspondence have you made a plain demand for damages under a clear and cognizable theory of liability."

The story reminded me of an old joke about a speaker at a town meeting in Vermont. He was rattling on about something; and while he did so a townsman arrived at the meeting and asked a friend, "what's this guy speaking about?" His friend turned and replied, "he ain't saying."

So many TP/sovrun arguments; so little substance.

[cynicalflyer]

Pure sovereign stuff.

Byrd S. Billings'

"Affidavit of Truth in the Nature of Supplemental Rules for Administrative and Maritime Claims Rules C (6)) "

"Power of Attorney in Fact"

He and the wife have at least a three dozen more like this, including UCC filings. THEY ALSO APPEAR TO HAVE FILED FOR ALL THE KIDS, TOO with Byrd signing on behalf of the kids. All locatable at

[EDIT: Fixed busted link} http://www.escambiaclerk.com/

It looks as if they were heavy into this stuff in 2004 and 2005 and then stopped.

[wserra]

Thanks, cf, but your link's no good (some court sites only have temporary URLs). Here is the learned "Affidavit of Truth in the Nature of Supplemental Rules for Administrative and Maritime Claims Rules C (6)".

Tutti-frutti Koolaid. Wonder if this stuff has anything to do with what happened?

[Paladin]

http://www.escambiaclerk.com/xml_or_1.a ... ++++Search+++++++++++++++++++++++

[Blup]

I hate to impugn the dead but I'm wondering if adopting all those kids was an attempted financial scam... ?

[Doktor Avalanche]

I hate to impugn the dead but I'm wondering if adopting all those kids was an attempted financial scam... ?

I believe that theory was covered in an episode of "Futurama" where Bender took in a bunch of orphans for fun and profit (mostly profit).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cyber_House_Rules

[Paladin]

Florida Couple’s Slaying Was A Contract Hit, Source Says

July 31, 2009

Escambia County, FL — A source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN the state attorney’s office believes there were two motives in the home invasion murder of Florida couple Byrd and Melanie Billings — robbery and a contracted hit.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office had said it believed robbery was the prime motive, but that it would explore all avenues.

The source said the state attorney’s office is working under the belief that most of the suspects in the case thought they were there for a robbery, but that Leonard Gonzalez Jr., the alleged organizer of the crime, and other yet-unnamed suspects were plotting a hit on the couple.

The source said that from “Gonzalez down” it was a robbery and that from “Gonzalez up” it was a hit. The source was not sure of the motive behind the hit.

The office of State Attorney Bill Eddins declined comment.

The Billingses, who were known for adopting special-needs children, were killed during a robbery at their Beulah, Florida, home July 9.

A small safe containing prescription medication, family documents and some jewelry was taken, and later found in the backyard of a woman who said she was a friend of Gonzalez, authorities have said.

Two sources familiar with the investigation told CNN that a second safe at the home contained at least $100,000.

Eight people have been arrested in the case. Seven are facing murder charges and one is accused of being an accessory after the fact.

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.

An attorney representing the Billingses has said that Byrd Billings made a nominal donation to Gonzalez’s karate charity.

[Blup]

curiouser and curiouser

[Paladin]

Man accused of writing bad checks to Florida slaying victim

(CNN) -- Police in Escambia County, From Susan Candiotti CNN

Florida, questioned a man in connection with the July slayings of a couple known for adopting special-needs children, a spokeswoman said Thursday night.

Henry "Cab" Tice, a used car dealer, was arrested on suspicion of grand theft, said Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan. Police said they believe Tice wrote a series of bad checks to one of the victims, Byrd Billings, Morgan said.

Tice, 61, faces one count of grand theft of over $10,000 related to financial dealings with Billings' Worldco Financial Services, according to a sheriff's statement. The charge is related to a criminal investigation launched in May 2008, the statement said.

Eight suspects face charges in the murder of Billings and his wife, Melanie, who were shot to death during a home invasion robbery in Beulah, Florida, on July 9. Seven men are charged with first-degree murder and a woman is charged with being an accessory after the fact. State Attorney Bill Eddins said Thursday a grand jury would be convened in the case August 11.

Tice owed Billings money, and Billings was attempting to recover the debt, according to civil court and corporate records.

Asked whether Tice's charges are related to the slayings, Morgan said, "Not at this time." But he said he will release further information about Tice's "dealings in the car business as it relates to the Mexican Mafia."

The sheriff described those dealings as under-the-table cash sales of cars along the border to be resold in Mexico. Tice had borrowed up to $50,000 at one time from the Mexican Mafia, and was in debt to them, Morgan told reporters. He declined comment on whether police believe the Mexican Mafia had ties to the Billings slayings. Tice remains a "person of interest" in the killings, he said.

Tice went to the sheriff's department on his own volition to be questioned in connection with the slayings, said sheriff's spokeswoman Melissa Aiken.

A source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN in July that prosecutors believe there were two motives in the killings -- robbery and a contracted hit. The source said the state attorney's office is working under the belief that most of the suspects in the case thought they were robbing the Billingses, but that Leonard Gonzalez Jr., who authorities have described as the organizer of the crime, and other yet-unnamed suspects were plotting a hit on the couple. The source was not sure of the exact motive behind the hit.

A small safe containing prescription medication, family documents and some jewelry was taken from the home, and later found in the backyard of a woman who said she was a friend of Gonzalez and is now facing the accessory charge. Two sources familiar with the investigation have told CNN a second safe at the home contained at least $100,000.

The Billingses had adopted 13 children, and each had two biological children. Police have said nine of the children were home at the time of the assault, and one managed to flee and seek help from a neighbor.

Gonzalez, his father, Leonard Gonzalez Sr., and two other suspects in the case are set for arraignment August 13. Two other suspects are set for arraignment Friday.

[Blup]

weird. When everything comes out, this may be one of the more interesting crimes in recent history. Movie of the week, for sure. Where's Truman Capote when you need him?

thx for posting that

[Blup]

more info:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090818/ap_ ... uple_slain

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PENSACOLA, Fla. – A 10-year-old adopted son with Down syndrome was sleeping with his parents when masked gunmen burst in and shot and killed the Florida couple in their bedroom last month, according to documents released Monday.

The boy was among nine children between the ages of 4 and 11 at the home when Byrd and Melanie Billings were slain July 9. The couple was known for adopting numerous children with special needs

According to a sheriff's report, the child in the bedroom told investigators he heard a knock on the door and that "two bad men" said, "You're going to die, one, two, three" and then, "no way, no way."

The documents say investigators struggled to interview the boy because of a speech impediment and other disabilities. The child witness said his dad grabbed the neck of one of the gunmen and that his mom "got shot in her shirt."

The more than 700 pages of witness and suspect interviews, crime scene reports and autopsy information released by State Attorney Bill Eddins detail a gruesome scene. Six men and a 16-year-old boy charged as an adult face two counts each of first-degree murder. Eddins and Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan have said more arrests are possible.

Pamela Long Wiggins was taken into custody Monday after being arraigned on a charge of accessory to first-degree murder. Prosecutors claim she hid a safe stolen from the Billings' home in her yard. She has pleaded not guilty.

According to autopsy reports, Melanie Billings, 43, was shot twice in her chest, and also in the face and head. Byrd Billings, 66, was shot multiple times in the head and legs.

Investigators asked the boy whether his father called out any names before he was killed, but he could only use sign language to spell out three letters.

A 9-year-old boy asleep in another bedroom told investigators that he heard "seven booms and a scream."

Investigators have said the extensive surveillance system in the family's sprawling west Escambia County home captured the men, some of them in ninja garb, entering and leaving in less than four minutes.

The dozens of witness and suspect interviews reveal a complex investigation involving the suspects and their ties to Byrd Billings, his used car financing business, gangs, drugs and the Mexican underworld.

The safe taken from the family's home contained nothing of value, but a second safe that wasn't stolen had $164,000 in cash. An attorney for the family has said the suspects might have been targeting the second safe.

In his initial interview with investigators, Patrick Gonzalez, 35, the man investigators have described as the ringleader of the home-invasion and killings, suggested a group of car dealers with a grudge against Billings wanted him "whacked."

Gonzalez also told investigators that he and one of Byrd Billings' grown sons, Justin, had worked together as "enforcers" to get payments from people who had gotten behind.

Justin Billings and his friends were extensively interviewed. One friend said the son also believed his parents' deaths were a hired hit. Justin Billings told investigators he knew of gang members who wanted his parents dead.

The most heart-wrenching interview was April Spencer, who helped Melanie Billings care for the children and lived on the property.

Spencer said she spent the afternoon with the family and left after Melanie Billings had bathed two children and fixed dinner for the others.

Around 7:30 p.m., the couple's 11-year-old daughter came to her home and told her "mom and dad are dead."

Spencer ran to the couple's home and could smell gunpowder.

"As I was walking toward the staircase you could see drops of blood," she said.

"Her son ... He's 10 years old and he's got Down syndrome, he was standing in the living room and pointing to um, his mom and dad's room. I went into the bedroom, Byrd Billings, 'Bud' was laying in front of the dresser, face down, it looked like he had had been shot in the head and Melanie was lying in front of the closet face up."
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So, a cabal of disgruntled car salesmen ordered the hit?

Don't fuck with Cal Worthington I guess!

[Paladin]

November 7, 2009
A suspect in the July murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings made an appearance in court Friday on an unrelated assault charge.
Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr., 35, is accused of stabbing a fellow Escambia County Jail inmate twice with a pencil in late September. Gonzalez pleaded not guilty Friday to the charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The maximum penalty is 15 years in prison.
Gonzalez faces a first-degree murder and other charges in the home invasion that resulted in the July killings. The state is seeking the death penalty.
His next court appearance in the pencil-stabbing incident is Jan. 6.