Billy Woodward was given a concurrent sentence of 25 years in prison for the attempted murder charge and life in prison for both charges of second-degree murder.
The peaceful hamlet of Titusville, Florida witnessed one of the most horrifying killings ever as a result of a neighborly argument over a misplaced birthday gift.
When Billy Woodward slaughtered his neighbors in cold blood in an act of hatred and wrath, the once-peaceful neighborhood witnessed horrible bloodshed.
‘Fear Thy Neighbor: Screaming Oaks’ on Investigation Discovery depicts the horrible, cold-blooded killings and how, in a startling turn of events, Billy suddenly declared that he was exempt from being charged with murder.
What Happened To Billy Woodward?
Billy Woodward was given two life sentences on Wednesday following an afternoon of dramatic impact statements from the relatives and loved ones of both the men he was found guilty of killing and himself.
The two terms will run concurrently. In addition, he received a 25-year term for trying to kill a third victim.
The killings of Gary Hembree and Roger Picior on Labor Day 2012 in Titusville were committed by Woodward, who appeared before a judge at the Moore Justice Center in Viera.
On two charges of second-degree murder and one count of attempted murder, Woodward, 50, was found guilty on January 31.
Bruce “Tim” Blake, who had been wounded numerous times, managed to live and gave a January testimony against Woodward. In March, Woodward’s request for a fresh trial was turned down.
The families of the individuals Woodward was found guilty of killing, as well as the allegations of harassment against him, were taken into consideration by Judge Kelly McKibben.
The defense concentrated on Woodward’s military background, claiming that his brain damage and post-traumatic stress disorder should be taken into account as mitigating circumstances when determining his sentence.
Billy Woodward Murder Trial Verdict And Appeal
As soon as the police arrived, Billy Woodward was taken into custody without giving any resistance. The cops reviewed the CCTV tape and discovered that Billy was seen walking toward Hembree’s barbeque party.
Billy may also be spotted crawling for a short distance to avoid being discovered. The police questioned Billy to find out why he had committed the shootings after gathering enough evidence for a trial.
When questioned, Billy said that he took the action he did because their neighbors had been making threats against them for a while.
When Billy appeared in court, his defense argued that Florida’s Stand Your Ground statute, which permits self-defense against an approaching threat, prevented him from being charged with murder.
Barbara, Billy’s wife, said in court testimony that their neighbors often harassed them and threatened to rape their daughter.
Who Is Billy Woodward? His Age & Wikipedia, Bio
Billy Woodward, also known as William “Billy” Theodore Woodward, resided on Smith Drive in Titusville, Florida, with his wife, Barbara, and their two children. He had served his nation for four years as an Army veteran.
He also said that PTSD was a result of his military service. The Woodwards were well-liked in the neighborhood and got along well with practically everyone.
Their eight-year pal Gary Hembree and his neighbors Tim and Keri Blake resided across the street from them. The children of both families enjoyed spending time together, so the Blakes and Woodwards got along well.
Later, Roger Picior, Hembree’s buddy, and his girlfriend Kim Sillsbury moved in with him. At the height of the 2012 summer, trouble started.