LOS ANGELES — With the 31st anniversary this weekend of the murder of William Arnold "Billy" Newton, also known as gay adult performer Billy London, the podcast "TDPS Presents: Christopher and Eric" has again returned to the cold case in the hope of generating new leads.
Episode 98 of the podcast covers the latest developments in the story, including what can be inferred about the killer's movements and motivations based on the details of the murder.
In late October 1990, shortly before Halloween, London completed what would be his final film and was last seen alive socializing in West Hollywood, California on October 28, according to available evidence. On October 29, his head and feet were discovered in a dumpster; despite several attempts over the years to generate new tips or leads, the case remained cold.
Billy Newton would have been 56 years old this year.
Previously, Episode 60 of "TDPS Presents: Christopher and Eric" pieced together a timeline of the final few days leading up to London's murder based on information that is currently available, a follow-up to the podcast's prior deep dive into the story in episode 48.
A tipline established by the podcast hosts, novelists Christopher Rice and Eric Shaw Quinn, produced the first verifiable lead in the case in three decades and drew the attention of the LAPD homicide detective investigating the crime.
In the course of his initial research, Rice spoke to this reporter, who first looked into the case more than a decade ago.
Given that London's murder occurred on the eve of Halloween, a celebration that draws tens of thousands to the city of West Hollywood, Quinn and Rice surmise that photos from that particular week in late October 1990 may exist that could provide clues, or at least help to establish London's whereabouts.
In addition, photos chronicling adult industry events regularly appeared in such magazines as "Advocate Men." Collectors with copies of gay adult magazines in their collection dating from roughly September to December 1990, are invited to contact this reporter at JC@xbiz.com or the tipline established by Quinn and Rice: williamnewtoninvestigation@gmail.com.
For the latest updates, listen to episode 98 of "TDPS Presents Christopher & Eric" here and follow Christopher Rice and Eric Shaw Quinn on Twitter.
Click here for XBIZ's ongoing coverage of the Billy London cold case.
Image: Flyer (right) courtesy of ONE Archives.
