A man who was suspected in the killings of 4 women in Northwest Florida is found dead in a motel, while his female alleged accomplice is taken into custody. According to the Escambia County Sheriff's Office in Florida, Boyette was involved in the killings of two women in Northwest on Tuesday, and one fatal shooting of another woman in Alabama on Friday.
William "Billy" Boyette Jr, 44, apparently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the West Point Motel near Alabama border, according to Sgt. Stewart Smith. He told CNN that his 37-year-old accomplice, Rice, came out of the motel room and was arrested by member of the county's SWAT unit after several hours of standoff.
Moments later, there was a gunshot inside the motel room. His female companion and accomplice, Mary Barbara Craig Rice, was further taken into custody due to her involvement in the killings.
The investigation was initiated on Jan. 31, when Boyette was named as a suspect in the killings of 30-year-old Alicia Greer and 39-year-old Jacqueline Moore. Both women were found shot to death in a motel room in Milton, Florida, police said.
According to Greer's parents, Boyette and their daughter had started dating several months ago. Her mother described Greer as a "goofy" and "bubbly" girl and said that she loves helping people.
The pair is also wanted simultaneously on murder and robbery charges in the killing of Peggy Broz, 52, Friday morning at her home in Lillian, Alabama. The Baldwin County Sheriff's Office stated on Facebook that both suspects stole Broz's car.
Another victim of the pair is Kayla Crocker. The 28-year-old who was shot during a home invasion in suburban Pensacola on Monday morning, died Tuesday evening. Crocker was randomly targeted about 6:30 am Monday by the suspects. Her 2-year-old son was present and was unharmed, police said. Boyette and Rice allegedly stole Crocker's vehicle and drove to a gas station and then to a Hardee's for breakfast.
The Columbus, Georgia, station reportedly told the police that the couple checked into the motel on Monday night and the car they had allegedly stolen was spotted on Tuesday. The pair was wanted in four killings over the past week in southern Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.
Boyette seem to have had an extensive criminal history as he has been arrested for allegations of aggravation and domestic violence in the past. Meanwhile, the authorities are sure that Rice was a willing participant in the killings. She was apparently recorded on a Walmart surveillance camera, shopping and buying bullets for herself. She will likely be charged for capital murder.
