State Attorney Bill Eddins gave the opening statement today for the prosecution in the trial of Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. who is on trial for the July 9, 2009 murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings during a home invasion. He is facing the death penalty.
Eddins told the jury of 10 women and two men that Byrd and Melanie were brutally murdered by a gang of masked men led by Leonard Gonzalez, Jr. and that Leonard Gonzalez, Jr. was, in fact, the murderer. Eddins described Bud Billings as a businessman involved in the car business and finance business. He said the couple had a passion for children with disabilities.
The state attorney said that the defendant was “broke with six children, so broke that his mother had to buy him as van….the beat-up distinctive-looking van that was used in the crime.” Eddins said that Gonzalez casually knew Billings from the car business and believed that Billings kept millions in his house.
He said that he talked with several people about robbing Bud Billin (Two of which–Lonnie Smith and Tony Eisa–testified later that they refused).
Eddins said that Gonzalez did get Gary Sumner, who owned a car detailing shop in Fort Walton Beach, involved. Frederick Thornton and Rakeem Florence, who Eddins described as “two young kids that hung around the shop”, also got involved and were told that we get a safe with $13 million and would split it with them. An member of the gang, Donnie Stallworth, was described as a friend of Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr. Florence and Thornton have pleaded guilty to robbery and second degree murder and will testify against the defendant.
Gonzalez also got his father involved as well as a hanger on around his father’s house —Wayne Coldiron, who got involved at the last minute.
Eddins sad that Gonzalez was not the smartest person in the world, because his father’s ex-wife and girlfriend, Carol Brant, also know the plans.
According to Eddins, Gonzalez supplied some of the clothing, all the guns and the masks used in the crime. He described an aborted early robbery attempt on July 4 that was stopped when the sensor lights at the Billings’ residence came on. He also talked about Gonzalez being seen with the other suspects at the Gulf Breeze Wal Mart.
On July 9 at dusk, Patrick led the crew to the Billings house. When they kicked in the doors, Patrick confronted Bud Billings and demanded to know where the money was. Billings said that he had no money. Gonzalez shot him in the legs, then put his arm around Billings’ head and placed the pistol against his head. He takes Billings into the master bedroom and continued to demand where the money was. He shot Billings in the cheek and then twice in the back of the head.
Gonzalez then turned his attention to Melanie Bilings, who was standing in a small hallway. He saw a small safe on the floor of the linen closet under the bottom shelf. He demanded the combination. She didn’t know, or could remember. Gonzalez shot her in the face blowing out the back of her head and then three more times in the chest.
They took the safe and went to the Antique Mall owned by Pamela Long Wiggins. She took the safe and all five guns.
Eddins talked about the surveillance system, how it was used to locate the red van and eventually led to arrests. He talked about Wiggins and her husband Hugh’s involvement in hiding the guns used in the crime. He told the jury that the safe was found unopened at the home of Wiggins. When it was open, there was no money in it.
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While Eddins uses the name “Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr.” in describing the defendant, his attorneys refer to him as “Patrick.”
John Jay Gontarek gave the opening statement for defense. He reminded the jury that Eddins’ statements aren’t evidence and that they need to wait to hear all the evidence. The burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt is on the prosecution.
Gontarek said that there has been a “rush to judgment and arrest in this case, fortunately there has not been a rush to verdict.”
He said that Patrick only has a vague connection to the red van. It was “such a piece of junk that he gave to his dad and didn’t know how he could use it.” All the other suspects in this crime have nicknames and aliases- Leonard, Sr. “Frank”, Stallworth “Stalls” etc. “Patrick went by Patrick.”
Patrick didn’t hide. He wasn’t arrested in Canada. He tried to assisted his friend Chief Bill Chavers. “Next thing you know it’s a humdinger and he’s arrested.”
Gontarek said there is a lack of evidence. He suggested the jurors will be asking – Why would Patrick do that? Why was he so open at WalMart?
He said that there are inconsistent statements: If he’s guilty, why would Patrick say this or that? Can you believe what he said?
He said that some of the witnesses are self-serving. They made a deal and will cover themselves. They will say whatever it takes to save themselves. Gontarek also said that the scientific evidence will show that Patrick didn’t do it.
“You aren’t going to rush to judgment.”