Suspected thief found dead on board stolen $2 million yacht
This story has the elements of a first-class mystery- murder, a brazen heist, and international intrigue. There may be some sex mixed in somewhere, but that hasn’t come out yet. Even so, it’s more excitement than we usually get here in Seabrook, where excitement is running down to the corner gas station to watch them fill the cigarette machine on Friday night. Or, if you don’t smoke, you could always go to Hooter’s and check out the new butt shorts on the waitresses.
So how DO you steal a $2 million yacht? Well, if you have the balls that Shane Billings apparently did, you sign in at the yacht club’s front gate (using your real name), climb aboard, start ‘er up, and head out to sea. From all indications, it was just as easy as that.
This is where we lose the story, and where things apparently became a whole lot more interesting. The owner now knows where his boat is, and he’s got a bonus to go along with it- a dead body. Yep, that’s a whole lot more excitement than we normally ever see around here.
In this mostly residential bay front community, Seabrook police work plenty of stolen cars, stolen scooters and even stolen boats — but never one like this multi-million dollar mystery….
The 63-foot 2002 Hatteras yacht disappeared in late June from the Lakewood Yacht Club. The $2 million vessel, complete with three staterooms, three full size baths and luxurious leather couches, was up for sale, stored in what was supposed to be a secured marina. But soon it was gone.
The thief’s scheme was not elaborate. We’re told he drove right up to the security checkpoint, told the officer he was here to repair the boat, signed in as Shane and drove right in. Minutes later he was sailing out to sea.
The crook would make it all the way to Cozumel, undetected and without the use of the boat’s advanced navigational equipment.
Had that been the end of the story, it would have been interesting enough. What makes things even more interesting is that the intrepid (and now late) Mr. Billings was found aboard the yacht, which was in Mexican waters, sporting a bullet hole in his head.
According to police, it appears Billings was alone on board the yacht, because there were only enough supplies and clothing for one person. But again, because the 32-year-old is now dead, we may never know the entire story. As for the yacht, authorities are negotiating with the Mexican government its return, but it’s possible the owner may never get it back.
Thankfully, the owner, who lives in The Woodlands, had insured the boat, so he’ll be made whole one way or another…which is more than can be said for Shane Billings. I’m sure there’s a hell of a story here…not that we’ll likely ever learn what that story may be.
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