On December 18, a Cessna Citation II crashed at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina, killing Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, their children Emma and Ryder, Dennis Dutton, Jack Dutton, and Craig Wadsworth. The plane had departed Statesville Regional Airport only about 10 minutes before crashing. According to flight tracking data reviewed by the Daily Mail, the plane's speed and altitude fluctuated erratically: it climbed from 1,800 feet to 4,000 feet, then descended sharply, and was only a couple of hundred feet off the ground when it went down. Aviation experts consulted by the Daily Mail said the flight path was consistent with a crew experiencing an issue and needing to return to the airport quickly.
According to the NTSB preliminary investigation, the left engine initially failed to start, and as the plane taxied, those aboard discussed an inoperative thrust reverser indicator light. The NTSB said Dennis Dutton was acting as pilot and his son Jack Dutton as co-pilot, though neither held proper certification for the flight; Greg Biffle, seated behind them, also lacked certification. Jack Dutton shared control duties with his father, and less than 10 minutes after takeoff, he said, "having some issues here," while Biffle mentioned a power-related alternator issue—despite the C550 having no alternator. The NTSB's final report is still pending, and the exact cause of the crash has not been determined.
The aircraft was owned by Biffle's company, GB Aviation Leasing LLC, according to Federal Aviation Administration registration records.
The estates of Dennis Dutton and Jack Dutton have filed wrongful death lawsuits against the estate of Greg Biffle. The lawsuits allege that Biffle was responsible for the deaths due to inadequate maintenance and upkeep of the aircraft. Each estate is seeking $15 million in damages, for a total of $30 million.
having some issues here
In the early hours of January 8, a break-in occurred at the Biffle family's mansion in Mooresville, in which $30,000 in cash, two handguns, NASCAR memorabilia, and a backpack were stolen. Surveillance cameras captured a hooded figure near the house during the intrusion. The suspect on video appeared to know the home's layout and camera locations, suggesting prior familiarity, detectives said. Police noted similarities between a friend of Cristina Grossu who attended the celebration of life and the person in the footage, and they matched a license plate to the vicinity on the day of the break-in, according to the search warrant affidavits.
Search warrant affidavits allege that hundreds of thousands of dollars were stolen from the family after their deaths. Detectives said bank accounts belonging to the deceased family were compromised even before the break-in. After the couple died, changes were made to email addresses, phone numbers, and passwords for the victims' accounts, and fraudulent activity occurred on Cristina Grossu's Venmo account, according to search warrant affidavits. On December 29, bank account information was changed over the phone, and at least one fraudulent check was cashed from an account tied to Biffle's business interests, according to bank records cited in search warrants. The fraudulent activity extended across multiple bank branches in different states, the records showed. An email reading "I heard you're dead, rest in hell" was sent to Biffle's account, according to search warrants filed in the case. The sender remains unknown.
Iredell County Sheriff's Office detectives believe the break-in and financial fraud are part of a coordinated scheme to take the family's wealth, relying on insider knowledge. Several people in Greg and Cristina's inner circle were named in affidavits, but their names have not been disclosed. A search warrant application stated the break-in was a coverup to steal evidence of a more elaborate plan against the Biffle family and their wealth.
A person of interest in the break-in has been identified, but the name has not been released, an Iredell County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said. On April 23, search warrants were executed at a home in Lincoln County and a business in Mooresville in connection with the break-in, according to the sheriff's office. Electronic devices were seized, but none of the items stolen from the Biffle residence were located, the sheriff's office confirmed.
Search warrants have been filed for email accounts, phone data, and two properties, according to court records. Iredell County detectives said there are multiple suspects across multiple states, and they continue to investigate possible connections. The total amount of money stolen from the family remains uncertain, and authorities have not yet indicated whether anyone from the inner circle will face criminal charges. The case remains under active investigation, according to the sheriff's office.