An Escambia County, Alabama judge took the first step Monday to extradite one of the seven suspects charged with the murders of a Florida panhandle couple.
Donald Stallworth, 28, walked handcuffed and silent into the courthouse in Brewton. Waiting inside were more than 20 friends and family members, including the suspect's mother.
"I love my son. I stand by him 100%," said Stallworth's mother. "I love my baby," she said.
An investigator from the Escambia County, Florida Sheriff's Office testified nearly an hour about Stallworth's alleged role in the calculated killings of Byrd and Melanie Billings.
The investigator, who said Stallworth was one of the gunmen who entered through the front door of the Billings' home July 9, testified Stallworth is the man who carried the safe out of the house. The safe was later recovered buried in the Gulf Breeze backyard of Pamela Long-Wiggins, who is charged as an accessory after the crime.
After an hour of testimony, Circuit Judge Bert Rice ruled their is probable cause to hold Stallworth pending an extradition order from Alabama Governor Bob Riley.
Riley and Florida Governor Charlie Crist have 24 days to work out the details of the extradition.
Judge Rice changed Stallworth's bond from $1 million to no bond.
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