Episode 68: Christine Billis
Charles Billis
On September 22nd, 2009, 42-year-old Christine Billis was driving her husband, 57-year-old Charles Billis, from an appointment back to their Charleston, Vermont home. The car had suddenly swerved into a massive pine tree with the front passenger side getting the majority of the impact. Christine was treated for minor injuries as she was wearing her seatbelt, but her husband was not wearing his and had to be extricated from the car. He was pronounced dead upon arrival to the hospital.
Authorities noted that the weather was nice, it was a clear day and the roads were in good condition. There were also no brake marks in the road. Christine informed them that she blacked out at the wheel, and the accident was attributed to an undiagnosed medical condition.
Less than one year after Charles’ death, Christine joined dating website OK Cupid and met a man named Kevin Leland. The two had been talking for just a few weeks when she told him that she had to get something off of her chest.
She explained that Charles was verbally and emotionally abusive and very controlling, so when she noticed he wasn’t wearing his seatbelt in the car she drove purposely into the tree. Kevin met up with Christine in person and recorded her telling him more about the murder before giving the recording to police.
Christine was arrested in June of 2011 and sentenced to 7-15 years in prison for manslaughter after a plea deal.
Image sources:
wcax.com - “Vermont ex-con back behind bars for domestic assault”
murderpedia.org - “Christine Billis”