July 21, 2021
Levy County Detectives closed a cold case on June 25, 2021 with the arrest of Phillip D. Quillen (2/21/44) of Chiefland. Quillen was linked to this case with forensic evidence recovered from the crime scene. Quillen is currently being held in the Levy County Detention Bureau having been charged with burglary, felony criminal mischief and arson of an occupied dwelling. His bond was set at $1,375,000.00 during his first appearance in court.
On July 14, 2021 Detectives learned of a plot Quillen concocted to hire a person to murder several people whom he believed had wronged him. The victim of the crime in which he is incarcerated was also one of his targets. Quillen offered $5,000 for each of the four people he wanted killed and promised to pay an additional $5,000 bonus if all the murders were successful.
Detectives filed the additional charge of conspiracy to commit murder on July 20, 2021. Quillen has not been to his first court appearance in this new case.