suspected murder of his 67-year-old stepdaughter Karen Navarra, single serial killer known as the Chicago Strangler. On July 9, 2009, Bud and Melanie were killed by a murderous group of thugs. Shes a journalist based in Hardin who grew up on the Crow Reservation and is the central narrator in the production. She was 16. These are not true-crime stories to us. 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. We found that a series would allow us to go in-depth, as opposed to a singular film, said director Razelle Benally. So, the news of their murders as part of a burglary shocked everyone. This story is printed with the permission of the Montana Free Press. Also, 9mm shell casings were recovered from the scene. The cop's only witness one that never lies surveillance cameras. And if we are going to tell the story, we want to do so through the families and the community and make sure that they were in charge of letting us know what they wanted to share with us.. Nine of their children were present when masked intruders entered the house and killed 66-year-old Byrd and 43-year-old Melanie. The killers were all dressed in black in a manner described as ninja-like by the local sheriff, a characteristic which helped give the gang the name The Karate Killers. The Billings had a total of 16 children, some of whom were from previous marriages and some who . One of the vehicles used in the burglary was later traced to Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Sr. The bodies of entrepreneur Byrd Bud Billings, 66, and his wife, Melinda, 43, were found in the master bedroom of the sprawling estate. Byrd was a successful entrepreneur who made his money in the used car business and explored other opportunities. To learn more about the case, watch Floribama Murders, airing Saturdays at 9/8c on Oxygen. All perpetrators, even those who cooperated, received lengthy sentences. Investigators learned that Bud Billings was a successful businessman who ran a finance company. In exchange for a plea deal, she revealed the whereabouts of the items. 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. "We found that a. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Theres very little thats more gut-wrenching than injustice, yet it would surprise many how much of it happens under our noses. Telling the communitys stories is important, Brien said. The series will premiere at Sundance, the largest independent film festival in the U.S., on Jan. 22. When Chelysa Owens-Cyr got the call, she was stunned. This week on Reasonable Doubt, the team takes on the Raul and Cathy Sarinana were sentenced to death for abusing Would love your thoughts, please comment. Hypothermia is the go-to answer to the dead Indian problem in Montana, Brien says in the documentary. Im still processing it., When he was young, Bear Don't Walk said his uncles would visit each other and draw. Was the money the motive for the double homicide? Some speculated that the Billings adopted children so that they could receive money from the government. Authorities moved right away to find the six people connected to the murderer, including five people who . Brien was one of the filmmakers first sources, and she quickly became central to the documentary. Survivors reflect on the shocking boat crash that killed vibrant teenager Mallory Beach - and the demons that haunted troubled driver Paul Murdaugh. 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. RELATED:Man's Secret Identity Exposed After He Viciously Attacked Alabama Mom. During the series, she discusses the unsolved case of her aunt Beverly Diane Brien, found dead in 1977 at the Big Horn County Fairgrounds. Also, some witnesses who pointed to Patrick as the gunman had claimed they had seen his face when the surveillance video showed that the gunmen had their masks on the whole time. He was with three other men identified as Wayne Coldiron, Donnie Stallworth, and Gary Sumner, names that Leonard Gonzalez had revealed to authorities. Meanwhile, the couples oldest children, Ashley and Justin, who were from previous marriages, rushed to the home. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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. Authorities also learned that he had a power-washing business and had worked at the Billings home before. 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. Bud Billings, 66, and his wife, Melanie, 43, were found shot to death on July 9, 2009. It turned out that there was more to the Billings family than the all-American history that their prior media image implied. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! 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. 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. 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.. I would like to say I was shocked, but I wasnt shocked, Galkin said of Winburns comments. It was owned by Pamela Long Wiggins, who was in the real estate business. M. 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. It was very important to us to not go down the road to overload people with information and statistics.. Get information about the Billings children's special needs trust. 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. She gives context and a voice to the generational traumas experienced in Native communities. Both filmmakers were united in their approach to immersive storytelling and narrative film. Interviews are stitched together with footage pulled from the social media accounts of the young women, along with clips from media reports. 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. Tice adds a new link between the Billings couple and Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Jr., 35, who is charged in the murders and was called "pivotal person" by Morgan during the investigation. To learn more about the Billings Murder case, check out Jimmie Lee Staleys blog and Facebook page. 799K views 1 year ago In today's murder and crime documentary, we're covering cases of the world's YOUNGEST killers. Murder In Big Horn, which focuses on the murders of three Indigenous women in Montana, will be available on Showtime starting Feb. 3. 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. So, lets find out more about this case then, shall we? John Joseph Caylon III, 28, pleaded. He remains incarcerated at the Union Correctional Institution in Raiford, Florida, but owing to some legal matters, his apparent resentencing is pending. 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. One of the rooms that wasn't covered by camera - the master bedroom. A New Option for Performance and Recovery: CannaTape Sport Kinesiology Tape Uses CBD to Improve Every Wrap. Wake Up Clear and Focused, Sleep with Somnus! Weve been historically excluded from that space, and theres been misinformation and miseducation. Investigators tracked down Leonard Gonzalez and brought him in for questioning. 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. The murders of Bud and Melanie Billings occurred on or about July 9, 2009, in Pensacola, Florida, United States. The Billings family was well-known in the Pensacola, Florida, area. Citizen P.I. As police began looking at the Billings family history, they began to wonder if they were looking at a contract killing. Eiteljorg Museum Curator Dorene Red Cloud said Sean Chandler was a clear choice for the selectors., Its been crazy, said Elias Jade NotAfraid. The concept of a killer is terrifying enough, as it is hard for most people. This is emotion-driven. 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. The crime scene photos . Fortunately, none of the children were harmed. For more information on the series, visit sho.com/murder-in-big-horn. Authorities said the crime was carried out with military precision,, 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. The original story can be accessed here. We are filmmakers, and we can only do so much.. Here is what the National Weather Service says is in store for Missoula this week. 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. Here is the synopsis: Mansion Murder Cam In Pensacola Florida, two loving parents are brutally gunned down in their own home. That violence continues today, often carried out on the reservation within the communities. This Cannabinol (CBN) is Helping People Obtain the Sleep they Desire. . With Michael Beach, Janine Turner, Dean Cain, Nick Searcy. 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