of Corrections. 2. The next, they were innocent victims of a methodical murder plot. . I would like to say I was shocked, but I wasnt shocked, Galkin said of Winburns comments. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Byrd was found face down by the foot of their bed. PENSACOLA, Fla. (CBS/AP) The ringleader who led a group of armed men dressed as ninjas in the robbery and murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings, a Florida couple known for adopting children with. Melanie was around 25 years old when she met Byrd and the two married in 1993, just four months after Byrds divorce from his second wife. The Fort Belknap Indian Community Council announced a tribal police officer would be allowed to return to his regular duties after he shot and. Investigators learned that Bud Billings was a successful businessman who ran a finance company. and nearly three decades of unanswered questions. I was still stunned, given how many families are involved in these cases and how much media attention these cases have started to get.. The Billings couple had many fostered children, who were all within the home along with some employees and house staff on the day of the murder. Through interviews with law enforcement, state medical examiners, tribal leaders and victims families, the documentary tells the story of several missing or murdered Indigenous women in Montana. In fact, all eight that were involved in the robbery/murder were tried and convicted, so why am I looking further into this case? HeavyRunner, 20, was last seen on the Blackfeet Reservation in 2017. The death of 16-year-old Selena Not Afraid has been ruled accidental. . I dont think the issue is real.. This is the most dangerous place for Native women in the country, explained Luella Brien in the series opening. You have permission to edit this article. It was the home of Leonard Gonzalez, whose wife spoke with investigators. Ayasha Momberg, 6, holds a photo of her cousin Ashley Heavyrunner Loring, 20, who disappeared from the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in north-central Montana in the summer of 2017. We had to really balance the series, so when Native families or people watch this, they are not feeling like they are being exploited.. Its really dense, and its really sensitive.. This story is printed with the permission of the Montana Free Press. There were eight people in total who faced charges related to this case, but only five of the number entered the Billings home, and the ringleader was later determined to be Leonard Gonzalez. Was the money the motive for the double homicide? Aiello was the oldest man suspect ever held in the county, but he died before he could stand trial for murder. The team spent two years working on the series, and they filmed more than 60 days during a half dozen visits, starting in September 2021. All three girls were 18 or younger when they went missing and were later found dead in Big Horn County, which includes portions of the Northern Cheyenne and Crow reservations. In the aftermath of Mallory's death, Alex Murdaugh's damage control raises alarm. The first two shots to Buds legs were captured on camera. The Mansion Murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings BY Tricia Romano Tweet Follow @crimelibrary Share Comments A Connection to the Family Ashley and Blue now live in her parents' home and sleep in the same room where they were gunned down. He was known to keep cash stashed away in a home safe located upstairs. Murdaugh Murders: Deadly Dynasty: With Michael Virzi, Ben Heineman. 10 The Keepers (2017) 'The Keepers' is a dark, disturbing investigation into the unsolved murder of a nun named Sister Catherine Cesnik. A. s they asked her some questions inside the house, they observed a shoe box for black combat boots. Never-before-seen video footage reveals a deadly boat ride that spurs the toppling of a powerful dynasty. By highlighting family narratives, the documentary shares the story of missing and murdered Indigenous people through the voices of Native people who have lived through such traumas for generations. Rae Senarighi, best known for colorful abstracts, intricate typography and vivid portraiture, is bringing his exhibition, Transcend, to the Holter Museum of Art in Helena. When police searched the van, they found nothing that tied it to the murders. Directors Ian Clark Ben Mole Anthony Aiello of San Jose, California, was 90 years old when the police of Santa Clara County arrested him for the suspected murder of his 67-year-old stepdaughter Karen Navarra. The Billings family was well-known in the Pensacola, Florida, area. 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He was known to keep cash stashed away in a home safe located upstairs. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, After escaping 'religious cult', Montana woman faces new challenges with honeyberry farm, 'Buffalo take care of us': First Blackfeet buffalo hunt open to all was a success, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Business Buzz: New coffee shop, bakery opens in Missoula, 'A hearty animal': Yaks roam 1,000-acre ranch outside of Kalispell, Name of man killed during Clinton Market incident released, Homeless Missoulians get creative to survive extreme cold. See production, box office & company info, Self - Neighbor of Byrd and Melanie Billings, Self - Daughter of Byrd and Melanie Billings. The MacDonald siblings have been working on documentary storytelling in the Indigenous community for years and are currently producing a documentary, When They Were Here, centered on families whose loved ones went missing or were found dead in the Blackfeet community in northwestern Montana. On July 9, 2009, Bud and Melanie were killed by a murderous group of thugs. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). the money the motive for the double homicide? Together, they produced "Murder in Big Horn," which will premiere at Sundance Film Festival in January 2023. In the series, Winburn described certain obstacles, including family members who wanted their 15 minutes of fame, which he said put more pressure on the Big Horn County Sheriffs Office. What followedquicklybecameone of the most infamous unsolved serial murder cases in American history. One of the rooms that wasn't covered by camera - the master bedroom. The young women are remembered through the recollections of family members and friends, who detail their shared barriers to justice and the lack of response from law enforcement officials. Two of the women were never found. 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According to autopsy reports, Melanie Billings, 43, was shot twice in her chest, and in the face and head. Murder in Big Horn, Ivan said, stands out from other MMIW series in its depth and breadth of coverage. That DNA doesnt match anyone arrested. She was 16. The plan, he claimed, was never about murder. Detectives questioned the Billings children, and Justinprovided a possible lead. 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.. Filmmakers Razelle Benally and Matthew Galkin spent more than two years working on the documentary. Mrs. Gonzalez allowed detectives to take the shoe box and to tow the van. The crime scene photos . All were charged with first-degree murder apart from Wiggins, who was charged with being an accessory. Ivy and I have always understood that the ways in which non-Indigenous people learn about Indigenous people is through media, Ivan MacDonald said. In exchange for a plea deal, she revealed the whereabouts of the items. While there are more questions than answers, the Conjuring Justice blog owner hopes that people put in charge of the case will veer away from corrupt practices and see the case without bias or malintent. . Another safe, a small one in the master bedroom for personal keepsakes and documents, was missing. Its what they must rely on, to catch the killers and bring them to justice. There was a problem saving your notification. 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. Like Benally, she was hesitant to talk with Galkin, not wanting to become involved with a project that wasnt going to ethically explore the underlying issues contributing to the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people. But its an important thing that we are going through as Native communities, and the world at large needs to know, Brien said. Investigating the Billings Murders One moment, they were sleeping peacefully in their Florida home. For more information on the series, visit sho.com/murder-in-big-horn. They were scared to death, investigators said. When Chelysa Owens-Cyr got the call, she was stunned. Byrd Billings, 66, was shot multiple times in the head and legs. As soon as we walked in that door, we knew.. What followedquicklybecameone of the most infamous unsolved serial murder cases in American history. Byrd was a successful entrepreneur who made his money in the used car business and explored other opportunities. At UM, Bird will work with tribal communities as well as prospective and current Native students to increase retention and provide support. There are factors that led to that., Our girls dont just die, added Lucy Simpson, executive director for the National Indigenous Womens Resource Center, based in Lame Deer. The arrest would lead to several people put behind bars including Lenny. By the spring of 1989, the remains of nine victims had been discovered along the highways surrounding the city. What the footage does show is so clear in uncovering exactly what happened. "They were good people," she says. On July 9, 2009 in Pensacola, Florida, a group of masked men entered Byrd and Melanies vast home at dusk and murdered the couple in what was thought to be a robbery case. Wealthy couple Byrd and Melanie Billings, who had adopted 16 dpecial needs children, were killedin their home during a robbery/home invasion. Scenes were filmed in Billings, Hardin, Lame Deer and Crow Agency. He had taken a loan from Byrd to set up a martial arts studio. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}. He remains incarcerated at the Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Florida, but owing to some legal matters, his apparent resentencing is pending. Murder in Big Horn, a three-part documentary set on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne reservations, will premiere at the internationally acclaimed Sundance Film Festival. Leonard Gonzalez first shot Bud in the legs and then dragged him into the main bedroom where he and his wife, Melanie, were both shot multiple times. Both filmmakers were united in their approach to immersive storytelling and narrative film. Shot over 15 years, it is the real story of Wisconsin-based Steven Avery, who was wrongly accused of the sexual assault and attempted murder of Penny Beerntsen and had to serve 18 years in prison since his arrest in 1985. Patrick Gonzalez was then questioned and denied everything. The getaway drivers were believed to be waiting in the car. He had participated and been sentenced to probation for an adoption scam with one of his wives: He and Cindy Reeve had pleaded nolo contendre, accepting punishment without admitting guilt. Byrd was known to have money stored in a safe at his home, so the authorities did believe that the crime was financially motivated. agreed to tell police everything he knew about the crime including who was in the van, provided prosecutors took a possible death penalty off the table, according to Floribama Murders., Detectives focused on the crime scene videos and observed the black boots worn by the home invaders. Mansion Murder Cam Tice was cleared when authorities reviewed surveillance footage from the Billings home. Interviews are stitched together with footage pulled from the social media accounts of the young women, along with clips from media reports. 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. He writes about lifestyle, self-motivation, fitness, and leadership. As deputies searched the house, the couples nine adopted special needs children were found cowering in terror and hiding in closets. "They did wonderful things.". To learn more about the Billings Murder case, check out Jimmie Lee Staleys blog and Facebook page. The next, they were innocent victims of a methodical murder plot. In July, Lake County sued the state,asking a judge to declare that the state is obligated to reimburse the county for law enforcement service, The tribes, whose territory spans the boundary between the U.S. and Canada, wrote that they initially made this request in October 2012 and al, Lake County Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution of intent to withdraw from a law that establishes a unique law enforcement relatio. We are not going to have answers, Benally said. 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. Though he and Melanie had been married 18 years, Byrd "Bud" Billings had been married two times before. Patrick Gonzalez was allowed to leave. Byrd and Melanie Billings lived in Beulah, Florida, in a sprawling mansion with several children they had adopted. 51m. You can cancel at any time. The caller reported that a married couple had been shot in their home and that their children were still in the house. 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. For instance, the skin under Byrds fingers was there after he grabbed his killer. It was owned by Pamela Long Wiggins, who was in the real estate business. Brien walks the viewer through the complexities of the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs and other agencies that respond to crimes on reservations and the jurisdictional issues and systematic failures that can happen during those investigations. Myiahfe Low, 6, holds a candle in 2020 while a round dance song is played at a candlelight vigil outside the Helena Indian Alliance. Investigators had also noted that Gonzalez Sr. was flustered on the day police showed up on his door, but no one had noted that he had an array of mental disorders, including schizophrenia. Nora Mabie is the Indigenous Communities reporter for Lee Montana. As they asked her some questions inside the house, they observed a shoe box for black combat boots. 'Murder in Big Horn' MMIW documentary to premiere at Sundance. It was very important to us to not go down the road to overload people with information and statistics.. The Karate Killers on ID is investigating the truly shocking murders of husband and wife, Byrd "Bud" and Melanie Billings, who were butchered during a brutal home invasion at their home in Pensacola, Florida. The authorities believed that the shooting happened in the bedroom in front of the child. The Karate Killers airs at 9/8c on Investigation Discovery. It certainly added an element to the series that I think is quite important for people to see and to hear.. He was. From a young age, I was taught to never go anywhere alone, Benally said. After Bud and Melinda Billings were murdered, investigators discovered multiple people were connected to the crime. entrepreneur Byrd Bud Billings, 66, and his wife, Melinda, 43. were found in the master bedroom of the sprawling estate. Here is what the National Weather Service says is in store for Missoula this week. . It's what they must rely on, to catch the killers and bring them to justice. Found the resolution to each, I know who really killed Chanin, her husband did not, I have so many questions about this story. The Big Horn County Sheriffs Office, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the FBI all declined to participate in the series. In business, Bud Billings wouldnt give you a dime unless you gave him 29 cents back, Tice told authorities in a recorded interview. The Billings used them to monitor their children. He recruited the others and provided them with the guns, clothing, and boots. In Pensacola Florida, two loving parents are brutally gunned down in their own home. One of the most important parts is the supplements they take. He admitted to painting the car over to disguise it. We are filmmakers, and we can only do so much.. With all these details brought to light, and with Patrick still fighting a death sentence and Lenny now gone after passing away behind bars due to cancer, Jimmie Lee Staley continues to seek for the truth behind the Billings murder case. None of them were harmed in the incident. While Wiggins initially claimed she had nothing to do with the murders, she eventually admitted she provided the guns and hid the safe. All Rights Reserved, Slender Man stabbing, Waukesha, Wisconsin, Though he and Melanie had been married 18 years, Byrd "Bud" Billings had been married two times before. As deputies searched the house, the couples nine adopted special needs children were found cowering in terror and hiding in closets. Coming Soon. We knew right from the beginning we did not want this to be newsy or information-driven, Galkin said. I couldnt do anything by myself, because I was a girl, and I was a Native girl.. 43 m IMDb RATING 7.0 /10 34 YOUR RATING Rate Documentary Crime In Pensacola Florida, two loving parents are brutally gunned down in their own home. "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. People gather in front of the Big Horn County Courthouse to demand a response to the MMIW crisis Wednesday, May 5, 2021 in Hardin. Investigation Discoverys Citizen P.I. He was shot thrice in the head. Investigators theorized that the Billings case was a money score for Wiggins but turned into a "robbery that went horrifically bad, said Morgan. The Investigation Discovery series See No Evil covers the July 9, 2009 murders of Bud and Melanie Billings. He was well-known in the town as the previous owner of a nightclub called The Backseat, which burned down mysteriously after reports came out that the establishment was operating a brothel within its vicinity. Detectives focused on the crime scene videos and observed the black boots worn by the home invaders. He initially said the van belonged to his son, Patrick, and hadnt been running for a while. Detectives questioned the Billings children, and Justin. or call 1-508-505-INFO. Ivan said authentic Native representation in film is vital. After years of closing the case of the murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings, spectators thought that justice had been served. And yet, in 2009, the Billings lived like the wealthywith an elaborately equipped nine-bedroom house worth $700,000but no one could figure out how a modest car dealership would generate enough income to cover all their expenses, which included so much help for the children. Authorities had five of the seven suspects in custody and as detectives prepared to question them, the remaining two suspects surfaced: Patrick Gonzalez was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder and armed home invasion robbery. She gives context and a voice to the generational traumas experienced in Native communities. So, lets find out more about this case then, shall we. There were nine children living at the house who were special needs kids. In 1988, eleven women vanished from the streets of New Bedford, Massachusetts. The elder Gonzalez may have been on the Billings property for his business. 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. Keeping the community informed is important. An investigation revealed that a safe was missing from the house. 799K views 1 year ago In today's murder and crime documentary, we're covering cases of the world's YOUNGEST killers. For one, the getaway van that had linked Patrick with the murder case had multiple problems, including a busted second gear and reverse gear. Jake was mute and could only help the police by using sign language; however, he later proved instrumental in solving the crime. He was sentenced to death for the first two counts and life in prison for the invasion. The Billings had a total of 16 children, some of whom were from previous marriages and some who . More information on the crime Beulah, Florida, two loving parents brutally. 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