The man charged with murdering a West Valley City code-enforcement officer Aug. 9 and setting both her body and a neighbor’s house on fire pleaded not guilty to 13 felony counts Friday.
Attorneys representing Kevin Wayne Billings, 64, entered the not guilty pleas; Billings remained silent during an appearance via closed-circuit TV from the Salt Lake County jail, where he’s being held without bail.
Billings is charged with aggravated murder in the death of Jill Robinson. She was shot in the head in the driveway of Billings' home, and he’s also charged with setting her body on fire and then igniting a neighboring home.
According to charging documents, Billings' neighbor heard a gunshot, came to investigate and saw Robinson's body in the driveway and Billings sitting nearby, smirking.
(Photo courtesy of Halie and Katie Merrill) Jill Robinson smiles with her dog in this undated family photo.
“Why did you shoot her?” the neighbor asked, according to the documents.
“I’ve had all the harassment I can take,” Billings allegedly responded.
The probable cause statement indicated that Billings had “previous dealings” with Robinson over code-enforcement issues at his home. And one witness reported that, after the officer was killed, Billings said, “After 40 years of harassment, the b---- got what she deserved."
Billings is charged with aggravated murder and aggravated arson, first-degree felonies; arson, a second-degree felony; desecration of a human body and five counts of possession of explosive parts, third-degree felonies; and four counts of aggravated animal cruelty, Class A misdemeanors. Four dogs were killed when the neighbor’s house burned.
Billings' next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 4.
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