Murder Suspects Wanted In Death Of Three Woman And Attempted Death Of A Fourth
More deputies are on patrol for a Florida panhandle sheriff’s office in an effort to bring in a man suspected in the deaths of three woman and the attempted death of a fourth.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chip Simmons warned the public on Monday to be on the lookout for William “Billy” Boyette, 44, and Mary Rice, 37. The two are suspected of shooting a young mother during a home invasion and taking her car on Monday, near Pensacola.
The multi-state search for Boyette is entering its second week.
“In short we have a killer, he is in our midst . Everyone, and I mean everyone, should be aware of this, should be aware of what they look like,” Simmons said to the Associated Press.
Boyette and Rice are suspects in three other murders. Alicia Greer, 30, and Jacqueline Jeanetter Moore, 39, were found dead at the Emerald Sands Inn in nearby Milton on Jan. 31 and Peggy bros was found dead in Lillian, Alabama on Friday. Authorities say the two suspects also stole Broz’ car.
Sheriff’s offices across the Panhandle and southern Alabama are actively searching for Boyette and Rice. Rice was previously considered a person of interest in the attacks. On Monday she was pushed up to an official suspect, because authorities believe she has had multiple chances to flee or ask for help. Surveillance videos have showed her entering stores on her own.
Monday morning the mother of Kayla Crocker went to check on the 28-year-old after she didn’t show up for work. She found Crocker with a gunshot wound, but her 2-year-old son was not injured, said police.
Boyette and Rice took Crocker’s white Chevrolet Cobalt and Sheriff David Morgan told local news outlets that video surveillance showed the two took the car to a nearby Shell station and ate at a Hardee’s restaurant just after the attack.
Police say Boyette has a history of drug trafficking and is best known to be a heavy user of the drug Spice.
Morgan said he warned residents to stay alert.
“When you go to work, when you come home, make sure a friend or family member knows where you are …, ” Morgan said to local news outlets. He added that while the measures may seem extreme, “we’re dealing with an extreme situation here.”