Longview Man Charged In Double Murder

Gregg County Crime

By LAUREN GROVER
Staff Writer
LONGVIEW — A 44-year-old Longview man was arrested by Gregg County deputies late Friday night and charged with the brutal April 18 murder of an elderly Longview couple.
Brett Michael Birdwell did not resist arrest at midnight at his apartment on the 700 block of Golfcrest and was arraigned this morning and booked into the Gregg County Jail on $1 million bond, said Sheriff Maxey Cerliano.
Birdwell used credit cards or checks belonging to the murdered couple, evidence that allowed investigators to obtain an arrest warrant, Cerliano said. He was a key suspect since investigators interviewed him two days after the murders, he said.
Neil and June Killingsworth, both 83, were attacked on April 18 and died of blunt and sharp force injuries in their home on the 400 block of North Tryon Road. Several items were stolen from them, including the couple's truck. Robbery is still the only determined motive, the sheriff said.
"This was a horrendous crime," Cerliano said today. "It's been a difficult last 28 days and a lot of investigators haven't taken a day off, working nights and weekends, trying to come to a resolution. But there are still leads and this investigation is not over."
Birdwell was convicted of two previous felonies since 2005 and served jail time, county records show.
Cousin of the deceased, Chas Killingsworth, 81, of Longview, was relieved to learn of the arrest Saturday afternoon.
"It's good to know somebody's in jail over this," he said.
He described Neil and June Killingsworth as healthy and active despite their old age, who spent time "out in their yard, piddling around like every else does," he said.
"They were fine people, didn't bother nobody, went to church every Sunday and worked in the church," Killingsworth said. "There wasn't any cause for that."
Neil Killingsworth worked at a drug store more than 30 years and his wife raised three boys, Chas Killingsworth said.
"They helped everybody who needed help, all you had to do was call them," he said.
The Longview Police Department and Texas Rangers are assisting in the investigation, the sheriff said.