Neighbors, Deputies Puzzled Over Conway Man's Death
By: Lauren Trager, KARK 4 News
Updated: October 30, 2012
A well known business owner in Conway was found dead inside his home.
Now, an entire community is left wondering just what happened.
Deputies say the man was found in his bed, dead from a single gunshot wound but there was no gun on scene.
There were no signs of a struggle. No one, it seems, broke into the home.
So, even deputies are pretty puzzled about how this happened and why.
Neighbors feel the same way.
Canterberry Point, Becky Young says, is usually peaceful.
"Perfect little place to live," Young said.
But the serenity surrounding this small cluster of homes west of Lake Conway was disrupted around 7:00 p.m. Monday night.
"He just came and asked my husband for help," said Young.
A teenager from next door told them he'd found his dad 60-year-old Larry Billings shot.
"It's just a heart rending situation," Young said.
Neighbors say they didn't hear or see a thing, Nothing is missing from Billings home except his blue Nissan Titan truck.
Young says it's all just a shock.
"He was very loving father, husband, seemed to care for his family a great deal," said Young.
But Billings, others say, also cared for his community.
"I remember when I was a kid, being around Larry," said Capt. Matt Rice, with the Faulkner County Sheriff's Office.
Capt. Rice, like others who grew up here, spent hours at Billings' business--the Conway Roller Rink.
A sign there is already honoring Larry Billings with an offer of free skating.
"Larry has always been a really likeable guy," Capt. Rice said.
Capt. Rice says Billings didn't seem to have any enemies.
In fact, associates say he was excited to retire.
He'd just worked out a deal with a developer to sell this prime real estate on Oak Street.
"It was a win for both Larry and myself because we come out well compensated for our properties," said Pat Allen.
Allen, who owns a business next to the rink, doesn't think an impending windfall had anything to do with Billings' downfall.
Now, all he and anyone can do, is hope to know more.
"Who would do this and why?" Allen said.
Deputies confirm they are looking at the development deal as a factor but they are still looking at everything at this point.
Family members, deputies say, are accounted for. They declined to talk to us at his home Tuesday.
now deputies say they need your help finding that truck. Again, it is a 2007, Blue Nissan Titan Truck with license plate 631 MEM.
Now, an entire community is left wondering just what happened.
Deputies say the man was found in his bed, dead from a single gunshot wound but there was no gun on scene.
There were no signs of a struggle. No one, it seems, broke into the home.
So, even deputies are pretty puzzled about how this happened and why.
Neighbors feel the same way.
Canterberry Point, Becky Young says, is usually peaceful.
"Perfect little place to live," Young said.
But the serenity surrounding this small cluster of homes west of Lake Conway was disrupted around 7:00 p.m. Monday night.
"He just came and asked my husband for help," said Young.
A teenager from next door told them he'd found his dad 60-year-old Larry Billings shot.
"It's just a heart rending situation," Young said.
Neighbors say they didn't hear or see a thing, Nothing is missing from Billings home except his blue Nissan Titan truck.
Young says it's all just a shock.
"He was very loving father, husband, seemed to care for his family a great deal," said Young.
But Billings, others say, also cared for his community.
"I remember when I was a kid, being around Larry," said Capt. Matt Rice, with the Faulkner County Sheriff's Office.
Capt. Rice, like others who grew up here, spent hours at Billings' business--the Conway Roller Rink.
A sign there is already honoring Larry Billings with an offer of free skating.
"Larry has always been a really likeable guy," Capt. Rice said.
Capt. Rice says Billings didn't seem to have any enemies.
In fact, associates say he was excited to retire.
He'd just worked out a deal with a developer to sell this prime real estate on Oak Street.
"It was a win for both Larry and myself because we come out well compensated for our properties," said Pat Allen.
Allen, who owns a business next to the rink, doesn't think an impending windfall had anything to do with Billings' downfall.
Now, all he and anyone can do, is hope to know more.
"Who would do this and why?" Allen said.
Deputies confirm they are looking at the development deal as a factor but they are still looking at everything at this point.
Family members, deputies say, are accounted for. They declined to talk to us at his home Tuesday.
now deputies say they need your help finding that truck. Again, it is a 2007, Blue Nissan Titan Truck with license plate 631 MEM.
