A Georgia man has been charged with burglarizing the North Carolina home of late NASCAR driver Greg Biffle after learning that Biffle and his family died in a plane crash, authorities announced on Tuesday.
Terrell Williams, 44, faces charges of second-degree burglary, safe cracking, money laundering, and other felonies, according to Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell, who announced the charges at a news conference.
Investigators were led to Williams in July when police in Cobb County, Georgia, arrested him on suspicion of another home burglary and discovered items stolen from Biffle's estate in his possession. Williams is currently being held without bond in Cobb County, and jail records did not list an attorney for him.
Authorities reported that the break-in at Biffle's home occurred on Jan. 8. Burglars stole $30,000 in cash, two Glock handguns, gold and silver coins, and NASCAR memorabilia from the property.
Stolen Items and Security Tracking
Sheriff Campbell said investigators have recovered some of the stolen items, including pieces of NASCAR memorabilia. Officers also recovered a radio-frequency detector that they believe Williams used during the break-in to locate security cameras on the property.
Campbell stated that Williams monitored news coverage and social media to plan the burglary. "He used headlines, social media posts, different things to find out when people were and were not home, and he executed his plan in that capacity," Campbell said.
Williams is also suspected in a separate North Carolina burglary that took place while a law enforcement officer was staying in the hospital.
Financial Account Fraud Investigation
Sheriff Campbell announced that investigators have also identified a person of interest in a separate fraud case targeting the Biffle family following their deaths.
According to a search warrant affidavit, unauthorized individuals accessed bank, Venmo, and PayPal accounts tied to the Biffles online using personal information. The perpetrators changed phone numbers and email addresses associated with the accounts to gain control of the funds.
The stolen money was allegedly transferred to external accounts not belonging to the family and used to make purchases. Investigators noted that at least one fraudulent check tied to Biffle's business interests was cashed, with additional attempts to access accounts taking place across multiple states.
Fatal Flight at Statesville Airport
The burglary occurred weeks after Biffle, 55, died alongside his wife Christina, their two children Ryder and Emma, and three other passengers in a Dec. 18 jet crash. All seven people on board were killed when the aircraft slammed into the runway at Statesville Regional Airport, located about 45 miles north of Charlotte.
The jet crashed approximately 10 minutes after departing from the airport. During the brief flight, the plane experienced significant fluctuations in speed and altitude, quickly climbing from 1,800 feet (550 meters) to 4,000 feet (1,220 meters) before rapidly descending to just a couple of hundred feet above the ground.
Aviation experts noted that the flight path was consistent with a crew experiencing an in-flight issue and attempting a rapid return to the airfield. The crash remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
Greg Biffle Career and Legacy
Biffle was a prominent NASCAR driver who won more than 50 races across NASCAR's three national circuits during his career, including 19 victories at the Cup Series level. He claimed the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship in 2000 and won the Xfinity Series title in 2002.
In 2024, Biffle was honored for his humanitarian efforts after Hurricane Helene struck the United States. He personally operated his helicopter to deliver relief supplies to flooded and isolated communities across remote areas of western North Carolina.
