Killer Of Ex-Boss Sentenced In 2021 Murder At Victim's Bethesda Home

BETHESDA, MD — A man fired from his job who pleaded guilty in the 2021 murder of his former boss was sentenced Monday to spend the rest of his life in prison, according to the Montgomery County State's Attorney's office.

Billy Phillips, 38, of Rockville was sentenced to life in prison plus 65 years for the murder of his former boss, Geoffrey Biddle, 66, inside Biddle’s Bethesda home. WTOP reported Biddle was the former CEO of Gaithersburg-based Payment Solutions.

According to the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Phillips pleaded guilty in February to charges of first-degree murder, home invasion, armed robbery, and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

According to a news release from prosecutors, Phillips had worked for Biddle's company, but was was fired over fraud accusations in April 2021 and was in financial despair. Phillips used what he learned during his employment to plan a vicious, premeditated attack on June 23, 2021.

Online searches on Phillips’s phone showed he was researching Biddle’s license plate number and known addresses, Assistant State’s Attorney Lauren Turner said in court, The Washington Post reported. And, the killer researched how loud gunshots were for certain weapons.

Phillips attacked his former boss in Biddle’s basement and shot him four times, the final shot being close range to the victim’s head.

“There was no struggle for this weapon. There was no fight,” Turner, the prosecutor, said, according to the Post. “Geoff had no chance.”

Phillips had disabled Biddle’s car to prevent him from trying to escape, prosecutors said. He also impersonated Biddle via email to excuse Biddle’s absence from work. Hours after the murder, Phillips cashed forged checks from the victim’s bank account. Biddle’s bank card and checkbook were found in Phillips's car when he was arrested.

“This case is among the most evil that we have seen. The murder of Geoffrey Biddle was calculated and brutal," said State’s Attorney John McCarthy in a statement. "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.”