Larry Billings brought joy to many Arkansans over the years. But the story of the man who owned the Conway roller rink also comes with grief. This fall marks 11 years since he was murdered. Police are still searching for his killer thv 11. Sarah Horak investigates what happened and where the case stands. Now,
The Conway roller rink once filled with laughter and speeding skates served as a central hub for decades until one morning in 2012 when the rink’s owner and beloved member of the community, Larry Billings was murdered. I didn’t realize how much of an impact he had on the community until he was gone.
11 years later, his son Michael still wants answers. Shock. Yeah, I think there’s always gonna be anger like not knowing fully what happened on October 29th, 2012. Larry Billings was killed in his home. A single shot to the back of his head. I’ve read this case over and over several times.
Detective Jim Howington now leads the investigation. Mr Billings was lying in bed and was murdered. Timing was planned that uh they wanted him dead. Police say Larry wasn’t found until later that afternoon when his 14 year old son got home from school, went inside the house
And tried to wake him up and found blood. According to detective Howington Larry’s wife and step mom to his kids. Lana told police she left the home that morning to run errands. THV 11 spoke with her about that day back in 2013, I was driving home and he called me on the
Phone and I knew something, but police say this didn’t look like a random robbery and there were no signs of forced entry to the home. He had no enemies as far as anyone that I talked to knew. So why would someone kill Larry,
A man loved by so many detective Howington focused in on a motive, including one with a $1.3 million payout. Mr Billings had plans to sell the skating rink. Money hadn’t yet changed hands, but a buyer was set. Still not, everyone was happy. The family was about to be separated and that
The money was, uh, not going to be part of their life. And it, like I said, it upset some folks according to court documents, the marriage was in trouble. And since the rink was bought before the couple said I do, Laveda wouldn’t get any money from the sale,
But Larry did have $500,000 in life insurance policies. Another uh, of the Billings son filed lawsuit against the, his stepmother and uh to stop the payment of insurance. The judge eventually ruled there was an issue with legal jurisdiction. So Lavea
Got half a million dollars. Larry’s kids walked out empty handed in that lawsuit. Michael’s brother alleged Lavina planned prepared and had caused Larry’s death. There was some statements made from some of the witnesses that uh times and efforts and errands that was run did not match other documents in the lawsuit.
Alleged Lavina forged Larry’s signature on a check the day before he died and transferred more than $30,000 into her own account. The day he was killed, there was money, money withdrawn from the bank account that uh was too sudden in court documents. Lavea
Denied allegations that she had a motive to kill her husband. Also in that case, two Faulkner County Sheriff’s office reports. One details the crime scene. Another documents a call to detectives. Six months later, it was Lana’s son from a previous relationship. He said Lana paid someone to kill Larry.
He, he had made some statements about the murder and he came up missing return back to Little Rock. It was shortly after that that he came up dead. Detective Howington says her son’s death was ruled over intoxication during all of this, the roller rink once filled with joy slowly fell apart.
All the witnesses to all of this have either left and or have died. Legal battles over the estate were never resolved. The rink was torn down and Larry’s Children left to grieve the man they loved. I can hear his laugh. Uh You know, it’s like it’s, it’s an effect laugh
And II I missed that. Now, Detective Howington hopes someone comes forward so he can finally get answers coming down to proving it and getting enough information from someone that can say I know this person did this. I tried to call Laveda but never heard back.
Larry Billings family is offering a $15,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to the conviction and arrest of anyone responsible. If you do have information, you’re asked to call the Faulkner County Sheriff’s office.
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