Police have released surveillance images of a hooded suspect believed to be responsible for a burglary at the North Carolina mansion of the late NASCAR icon Greg Biffle. The break-in occurred in the wake of the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of Biffle, his wife Cristina, and their two children, Emma and Ryder, last month.
Details of the Break-In
The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office issued the photos on Wednesday in connection with the January 7 incident. According to authorities, thieves forcibly entered Biffle's residence around 11pm, kicking in his bedroom door and making off with a significant haul.
Stolen Items and Curious Omissions
The stolen property includes approximately $30,000 in cash, two handguns, NASCAR memorabilia, and a backpack. Interestingly, police reports indicate that the suspect spent an extended period inside the property but left Biffle's trophy cases completely untouched, a detail that has puzzled investigators.
The Discovery
The burglary was discovered by a woman identifying herself as Biffle's mother-in-law, who called 911 after arriving at the house to perform cleaning duties. She reported noticing that the Christmas tree had been moved from its usual position, and upon investigating further, found the bedroom doors had been kicked in.
'I'm at the house now, and it looks like someone tried to break in,' the woman told the 911 operator. 'Someone tried to kick the doors in. It's upstairs. It's the doors on the top of the stairs, which is bizarre!'
Police Response and Investigation
During the 911 call, the operator instructed the woman not to disturb anything else at the scene and assured her that officers were en route. As a precaution, she secured her dogs behind another door to prevent them from startling the arriving police.
The responding officer offered condolences for the family's recent tragedy while beginning the investigation. No arrests have been made to date, and the case remains active and unsolved.
Context of the Tragedy
The burglary occurred shortly after the devastating plane crash that killed Biffle and his entire family. Their private jet crashed into the runway at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina last month, shocking the racing community and sports world.
A public remembrance service for Biffle and the six other victims was held earlier this month at Charlotte's Bojangles Coliseum. Biffle's 14-year-old daughter Emma was recently laid to rest, adding to the family's profound losses during this difficult period.
Police continue to investigate the break-in and are appealing for information from the public regarding the hooded suspect captured on surveillance cameras near the property.
