STATESVILLE, N.C. — Just weeks after the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and his family, investigators have uncovered a plot involving two individuals who purportedly broke into Biffle’s vacant home. Their alleged aim was to steal cash, firearms, and sensitive financial documents, potentially seizing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
North Carolina authorities have issued over 40 search warrants, honing in on a married couple believed to have been acquaintances of Biffle and his wife, Cristina. Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell revealed that the suspects meticulously planned to exploit the couple’s untimely demise for financial gain. The Associated Press has opted not to disclose the couple’s identity, as no charges have been filed yet.
The plane crash on December 18 resulted in the deaths of Biffle, his wife, their two children, and three others, with the incident still under investigation by the NTSB. In the aftermath, relatives of the victims have initiated lawsuits against the estates of both Biffle and the pilot, seeking millions in damages.
Details from a search warrant affidavit reveal that the male suspect first encountered Biffle during a relief mission after Hurricane Helene, when Biffle used his helicopter to deliver aid. The female suspect had visited the Biffles’ Mooresville, North Carolina home weeks before the crash for a Christmas party.
The break-in was reported on January 8, with authorities noting the theft of $30,000 in cash, two Glock pistols, and NASCAR collectibles. Search warrants were subsequently carried out at locations both near the Biffles’ residence and in a neighboring county.
Surveillance footage captured a woman, seemingly knowledgeable about the sprawling home’s layout, including the positions of cameras, closets, and a panic room. According to a detective’s account in a search warrant affidavit, the intruder spent nearly six hours inside the residence between the night of January 7 and the morning of January 8.
Evidence showed a cellphone and multiple devices were active on the property during that time, according to the warrant. The only people allowed to be there would’ve been the administers of the estate, but they weren’t present.
Authorities say they linked the woman to someone who attended Biffle’s celebration of life, and said license plate readers placed her husband’s truck near the home that night.
The warrants also describe alleged financial crimes. Investigators say that bank, Venmo and PayPal accounts tied to the Biffles were accessed online using personal information, with phone numbers and email addresses changed to gain control of funds. Money was then allegedly transferred to accounts not belonging to the family and used for purchases, according to the warrant.
At least one fraudulent check tied to Biffle’s business interests was cashed, and other attempts were made to access accounts. The activity occurred across multiple states. The sheriff would not say whether the same suspects in the break-in are being investigated for the financial crimes, saying the department is waiting for more evidence.
Meanwhile, the plane crash sparked lawsuits against the estates of Biffle and the pilot Dennis Dutton, who was killed along with his son.
On April 17, the estates of Dutton and his son sued Biffle’s estate for at least $15 million each, alleging Biffle failed to properly maintain the plane and operated it in a defective condition. The claims include lost income and “pre-death pain and suffering.”
In February, Biffle’s ex-wife, Nicole Biffle, filed a notice of claim against Dutton’s estate on behalf of the couple’s 14-year-old daughter’s estate, seeking at least $10 million for wrongful death.
