Over a decade later, a family is a step closer to closure in the brutal mystery murder of a former South Florida firefighter.
On October 21,1986, William “Billy” Halpern was brutally murdered in his Miramar home. He was found beaten, stabbed, and strangled with his throat slashed ear to ear. Billy, who was 28-year-old at the time of his death, was a former firefighter who enjoyed bodybuilding.
He had a loving family and was described as a good friend.
Many believed Halpern’s case was solved and the perpetrator was behind bars, but for the last year-and-a-half, a Miramar Cold Case Homicide Detective revisited Halpern’s case bringing to light a chilling mystery filled with twists and turn.
On Tuesday, Miramar Police Detective Danny Smith, identified Harry Collier as one of the men who killed Halpern. Collier was killed in a murder connected to two other murders, including this one, all of it, surrounding a former gym.
“We feel confident that if Collier were alive today we would be charging him with murder and he would stand trial,” said Smith.
Six months ago the Miramar Police Department held a news conference and announced the reopening of the cold case after discovering new details. Halpern’s sister, Lori, spoke at the news conference back in January.
“Come and tell them what you know, I’d be grateful, my family would be grateful,” said Lori.
“He was a loving, wonderful brother,” she said. “I miss him terribly, and everyone who knew Billy loved Billy.”
Smith who was still leading the investigation urged the public to come forward with any information they had after discovered new DNA evidence.
“We need names. We need somebody to come forward,” he said.
Later, dozens of leads came in that aligned with the new evidence, sparking a connection to a double murder around the same time in Tamarac, with Harry Collier’s DNA there.
“The way that the murder scene in Tamarac was laid out, very similar, if not exact, to the Halpern murder scene,” said Smith.
Much has been speculated and written about Halpern’s murder and those of several others who had ties to The Apollo Gym and Fitness Center, a popular bodybuilding gym in Hollywood that attracted police, firefighters, paramedics, and soon enough, criminals.
Halpern frequented the gym and police believes Halpern’s death was the first of two murders connected to the Apollo gym.
The gym was owned by Gil Fernandez, a former Miami-Dade cop and bodybuilder with mob connections. He was considered a suspect in Halpern’s murder at one time, but was not implicated by DNA. He was later sentenced to life in prison for another murder.
Investigators believes Halpern was considered a loose end for criminals that frequented the gym.
“He knew something that he just shouldn’t have known and he heard something he shouldn’t have heard,” said Smith.
It would cost him his life and although this case is cleared. Detectives say it’s not closed.
“We’re looking for people that were there. We’re looking for individuals that may have ordered this murder. People that were complicit. We’re not going to stop,” said Smith.
There are more connections to be made and potentially more arrest in this case.
