CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - A young man admitted killing his parents
and sister after a dispute over credit card debt he had run up, authorities
said.
Peter Billington, 24, was
charged Sunday with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his
father, Nigel, 50; mother, Gerardinia, 49; and
sister, Amanda, 22.
All three were shot to death Saturday in the family's
home in Apison, an affluent community about 20 miles
east of Chattanooga.
Sheriff John Cupp said Billington told investigators "there was a family
discussion about his spending on the family's credit cards. He went upstairs
and got his father's gun, came back downstairs and shot them in the kitchen
area."
Cupp said Billington,
who was employed but still living with his parents, had "maxed out" credit cards, spending more than $5,000. He
said the family was having financial problems.
All three victims were shot multiple times.
Cupp said Billington
told investigators that after shooting his family, he changed his clothes and
drove to another area and discarded the gun. Investigators recovered the
weapon, Cupp said.
May 13, 2002