On Monday, May 1, 38-year-old Billy Phillips was sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 65 years, for the death of his former manager Jeffrey Biddle.
The sentence came down in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County from the Honorable Karla Smith. Phillips pleaded guilty in February after a plea agreement was reached by Assistant State’s Attorneys Lauren Turner and Thea Zumwalt. The charges he pleaded guilty to were, First-Degree Murder, Home Invasion, Armed Robbery, and Use of a Firearm in Commission of Felony.
According to court documents, the murder of 66-year-old Jeffrey Biddle, of Bethesda, happened June 23, 2021. Prosecutors say Phillips worked for the victim’s company and planned a “ vicious, premeditated attack.”
“This case is among the most evil that we have seen,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy. “The murder of Geoffrey Biddle was calculated and brutal. The defendant had a history of escalating criminal behavior, and we thank Judge Smith for this sentence which will ensure he no longer poses a threat to the community.”
Witnesses told investigators, Phillips was fired from his job in April 2021 for fraud and financial despair. Two months later, Phillips shot Biddle four times then cashed forged checks from the victim’s bank account.
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