Just before 2 p.m. onFriday,Nov. 14, 1997, Michigan police received a disturbing 911callfrom a group offishermen who werecasting their lines in Flint River.They told authorities that as they were walking down a trail toward the water, they spotted whatappeared to bea pile of blankets.
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Lookingunderneaththebedding,however,they made a gruesome discovery — the bruised and bloodied body of nurse andlocalwaitressNancy Billiter.
When first responders arrived,they discoveredBilliter had sustained multiple wounds to the head and face, and on her chest, there were large, circular dark spots, evidence of potential chemical or electricalburns.
While the comforterthatBilliter was wrapped in hadbeen doused in gasoline,the remains had not been set on fire, according to “Killer Couples,” airingThursdaysat8/7conOxygen.
Hoping to learn more about the moments leading up to Billiter’s death, investigators interviewed herfriend androommate, Carol Giles, atherhome, where Billiterhadmoved in afterthe death ofCarol’s husband, Jesse Giles.
Jesse, a nearly 500-pound diabetic who struggled with multiplehealth issues following a stroke, passed away from a supposed heart attack in September 1997.That is when Billiter offered to move into help her friendpick up the slack around the house andtake care of Carol’s two childrenwhile she was at work.
Carol told investigators that the last time she had seen Billiter was earlier that week on Tuesday night, when Billiter came home from work.Carol claimed that she, her boyfriend, Tim Collier, and Billiter hung out until 1:30 a.m., when Billitersupposedlyleft tovisit hermother, who lived nearby.
Whenquestionedif she thought it was normal that Billiterhad notreturnedtoherhousefor several days, Carol’s demeanor shifted,and she became evasive.
Jesse Giles and Nancy Billiter
Authoritiesasked Carol to continue the interview at theWest Bloomfield Police Department, and she was transported to thelocalstation, where she confessed that she had not been completely honest during their initial conversation.
Carol claimed thaton the evening ofNov. 12, 1997,Colliergotinto anargument with Billiterabout a burglary that had taken place while the couple wason a triptoCalifornia.Thevacationwas cut short, however, when Billiter, who was at home watching the kids,called them and said that the house had been broken into andsome money wasstolen.
Carol said Collier was suspicious of Billiter and believed that she had fabricated the break-in to cover up her own theft, and helaterconfronted her about the burglary.The argument quickly turned physical, and Collier pulled out a gun and beganhittingBilliter, according to Carol.
Collier tied her up to a bed in the basem*nt, continuing to beat and assault her, before he smothered her with a bleach-soaked towel.Carol said she watched in horror as Collier slowly suffocated her friend to death, and that Collier threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the murder.
Once Billiter was dead,Carol said Collier forced her to clean up the crime scene, later dumpingthe bodyin Flint. While Collier had planned to burnBilliter’sremainswith gasoline, theflamesself-extinguishedbefore the bodycaught on fire.
Carol blamed Collier’s erraticand violentbehavior on heavy drug use and said that after he dropped her off at home, he planned to lie low for a while, but she had no idea where he was hiding out.
Authorities placed Carol in protective custody at a local women’s shelter and conducted their search for Collier. He was later apprehended at the Giles homeand taken in for questioning.
Speaking with investigators,Collier said Carol was the one who was using drugs and that it was her who had become suspicious of Billiter and attacked herthat night. Collier claimed he watched asCarolusedher late husband’s insulin syringes toinjectBilliterwith battery acid.
When the acid started to destroy thesyringes, Carol switched to bleach, torturing Billiter to get her to talk.Collier said that Carol then suffocated Billiter with a rag doused in bleach.
Although Collier admitted to being an accessory to the crime, he claimed hedid not carry outBilliter’s murder.He was then taken into custody, and authorities continued to keep tabs on Carol at the women’s shelter.
Carol Giles and Timothy Collier. Photo: West Bloomfield Police Department
Investigators also obtained a search warrant for the Giles home, where they found evidence supporting both Carol and Collier’s statements to police.InsideCarol’s car, authorities discovered an empty plastic gas gallon as well as a container of battery acid. They also found a scrap of paper on the floor containing directions from West Bloomfield Township to Flint.
A search of the house uncovered blood spatter on the basem*nt wall and multiple syringes, and up in the garage rafters, there was a mattress soaked in blood.
Investigators brought Carol back in for additional questioning,and once they confronted her with Collier’s claims, her story began to crumble.
Carol confessedthat Billiter was killed not becauseshe and Collierhad suspected her of stealing, but because they wereworriedshe had overheard aconversation in whichCarol admitted to killing her husband,Jesse.
Following Jesse’s stroke, Carolbeganhaving an affair with Collier and,growing tired of caring for her ailing, diabetichusband,shefilledJesse’s syringewith an overdose of heroin instead of insulin.Carol claimed that Collier supplied her with the drugs to carry out thekilling.
Due to Jesse’svarioushealth issues,his murder initially went undetected,and an exhumation was ordered for his remains.Aftertesting hisorgans, toxicology results came backpositive forhigh levels of metabolized heroin.
Carol and Collier were charged withtwo counts offirst-degree murderfor the deaths of JesseandBilliter.Thecouple was convicted in both cases, and theyreceived two mandatory sentences of life in prison without thepossibilityof parole.
To learn more about the case, watch “Killer Couples” onOxygen.com.
