Christine Billis

Case record: Christine Billis

Background

Christine Billis drove the family car into a towering pine tree in Charleston, Vt., during a single-vehicle crash in September 2009. Her husband, Charles Billis, was in the passenger seat and died after being pronounced dead on arrival at North Country Hospital.

Investigators initially believed the crash was due to a previously undiagnosed medical condition that they believed caused Christine to black out at the wheel. Christine, who was belted in, sustained minor injuries. Charles, who was unbelted, was badly injured.

Less than a year after the crash, Christine Billis registered with an online dating service and began corresponding with Kevin Leland. During their online communications, Christine allegedly confessed that the wreck had been no accident and that she had slammed the car deliberately into the tree, noting that Charles was unbelted.

The offence

On July 22, 2009, with the intent of killing herself and her husband, Christine Billis crashed their car into a tree on Route 5A in West Charleston. Christine was wearing her seatbelt and sustained minor injuries. Charles was not wearing a seat belt and died.

In later recorded and reported conversations, Billis described the crash as intentional. She told Kevin Leland that she had purposely rammed the car straight into a pine tree, explaining that she knew Charles was not strapped in. She also said the mental and verbal abuse from Charles contributed to her actions.

Investigation

A Vermont State Police press release stated that on September 22, 2009 at approximately 4:16PM, Vermont State troopers investigated a single vehicle crash at the intersection of Line Farm Road and VT Route 5A in Charleston, Vermont. Several fire and rescue agencies were called to the scene. The driver, Christine Billis age 42 of Brownington, sustained injuries and was transported to North Country Hospital. The passenger, Charles Billis age 57 of Brownington, was trapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated, and he was also transported to North Country Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The initial crash investigation indicated that the Billis vehicle was traveling south on VT Route 5A when it struck a large pine tree near the intersection of Line Farm Road. The crash occurred during the day, under clear skies, and dry road conditions. Speed was not considered a factor by the investigating trooper; however Charles Billis was not wearing a seat belt. At the time of the crash it was believed that the driver may have experienced a medical episode that might have contributed to the crash.

The press release stated that recently information became available regarding the investigation which led police to believe that the crash may not have been accidental. The continuing investigation by the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation determined that the crash was the result of an intentional act by Christine Billis.

Arrest

On June 28, 2011, tips and witness testimony led investigators to an arrest. Vermont State Police Sgt. Darren Annis said: “There is nothing at the crime scene that would point directly that it was intentional, but there is evidence at the crime scene that would corroborate that it was intentional. For example; the scene was a straightaway, the weather at the time was clear and sunny, roads were dry, daylight hours, no brake marks on the pavement. Stuff like that kind of made it suspicious”

On June 28, 2011, the press release stated that Christine Billis was arrested for Homicide in the 1st Degree, a violation of Title 13, Vermont Statutes Annotated Section 2301. The press release stated that she was lodged at the Northern State Correctional Center in Newport and was being held without bail. The press release also stated that she did not resist arrest.

During this time, the investigation described that information came from a person who recently met Christine Billis online and claimed she admitted killing her husband. The person met Billis in person and recorded conversations, and the tapes were turned over to police. In one of the recordings Billis said it “took months finding a way they couldn't prove it.”

Trial

On June 30, 2011, Christine Billis was charged with first-degree murder and was held without bail. Vermont Superior Court Judge Robert Bent did not allow her to enter a plea after she suffered an anxiety attack just before the hearing, and he ordered her to be held without bail and remanded for evaluation at the State Hospital for competency. The judge also wanted Billis examined to determine her sanity at the time of the crash. The material stated that Billis had a history of mental illness.

The material included descriptions of recorded statements attributed to Billis during conversations with an informant. In one conversation, when police confronted her about taped conversations, the material reported that Billis confessed, saying: “I saw the tree... the crazy part was that was the most beautiful thing I saw in my life... I couldn't take it anymore... Not gonna leave him with the kids... My intent was to kill both of us.”

It also reported that Billis had told this person that Charles was controlling and had threatened to kill her, and that she could not take the mental and verbal abuse. The material also reported that Billis described wanting a divorce and wanting to protect her children. The material stated that she also told the person that she had expected to die in the crash. Another reported statement in the material attributed to Billis during a recorded conversation was: “Yeah, it wasn’t easy.” The material also reported that when the concerned individual asked if she was sure she shouldn’t confess, Billis expressed concern about going to prison.

A separate conversation on April 25, 2011 reported that Billis told Trooper Annis that she had ovarian cancer and had had a hysterectomy in June 2009, and that a lot was going on that year and she had extreme emotional and mental issues. Billis told Annis that Charles was abusive to her, that she left him at one point but returned because he promised to change. The material further reported that on the day of the crash Billis wanted to stay home but had to take Charles, who was legally blind, to an appointment in Newport. It reported that after the appointment Billis drove toward the couple’s home but never made it.

The material also stated that Billis told Annis that Charles was abusive to her and the children. It reported that Billis said she and Charles were mutually abusive to each other, with no serious injuries described. It reported that Billis said Charles was controlling and would not allow her to have friends or talk to her oldest daughter or parents on the telephone. It also reported that Billis said she saw the tree and knew it wouldn’t move when she hit it, and that at the time she thought the tree coming at her was the “most beautiful thing” she saw in her life. It reported that Billis said she started to cry when she realized she didn’t die in the crash. It also reported that Billis said she didn’t preplan the crash.

Sentencing

On November 21, 2012, Christine Billis left the Orleans County Courthouse in tears after hearing her fate. In a plea agreement, Judge Howard VanBenthuysen sentenced Billis to 7-15 years with credit for time served.

The material stated that in July of the relevant period Christine Billis pleaded guilty to an amended charge of manslaughter. It stated that in the plea agreement the sentencing court gave the sentence of 7-15 years with credit for time served.

Judge Howard VanBenthuysen stated: “It would appear that there are some ambiguities in this case that could render trying the case very much a gamble for all sides. This is a tragedy for all concerned, particularly for the relatives and friends of Charles Billis. Nothing the court can do, unfortunately, will bring him back today.”

The judge also stated: “The court can send a message to others who want to change a bad situation in one of the most horrible ways,” and that Billis may feel some ambiguity about the situation, but it was not an unreasonable response because it was providing for a maximum sentence.

On November 21, 2012, the material reported that Christine Billis did not apologize for killing her husband and shook her head when the judge asked if she had anything to say. Charles Billis’s two brothers had little to say when they left the court and said they did not support the plea deal.

Appeals

No appeals were described in the provided material.

Outcome

Christine Billis pleaded guilty to an amended charge of manslaughter and was sentenced to 7-15 years in prison on November 21, 2012.

Other details

Neighbors and bystanders described the crash and scene. Pamela Helenek said: “I went over to get the mail, because you usually do. I went and looked at the hole again and thought about how that poor man died,” and added: “I had no idea what happened. But when I looked toward the window you could see dust everywhere. That's when we came out and saw the car over there.”

Raymond Helenek said: “It sounded like dynamite going off,” and the Heleneks said they were sitting down for dinner when they heard the crash.

The material also stated that Christine Billis was held without bail after arrest and remanded for evaluation at the State Hospital for competency until she entered a plea.

The material stated that Christine Billis’s two children were with family after the criminal proceedings described in the provided material.

The material reported that Kevin Leland was caught at the border with a gun and drugs, and there was speculation he was trying to financially benefit from blogging about the Christine Billis case. It also reported that defense counsel David Sleigh raised concerns about Leland’s credibility and legal issues with warrants related to efforts to get taped statements thrown out.