Investigators suspect friends looted Biffle home after deadly plane crash

Police in North Carolina say the burglary at Greg Biffle’s empty home may have been carried out by people inside the family’s own circle, turning a racing tragedy into a case of alleged insider theft. Investigators believe two friends of the former NASCAR driver conspired to break into the Mooresville house after the Dec. 18 crash that killed Biffle, his wife Cristina, their children Emma and Ryder, and three other people.

The case has widened quickly. More than 40 search warrants have been issued, and deputies served warrants on April 23 at properties in Mooresville and Denver, North Carolina, where they seized multiple electronic devices. Investigators say the break-in was reported on Jan. 8, but local reporting says it happened the night before, on Jan. 7. A detective said the intruder stayed inside for nearly six hours overnight, moving through a home that had already been emptied by grief.

Authorities say the thieves took $30,000 in cash, two Glock handguns and NASCAR memorabilia. The more damaging theft may have been digital. Warrants indicate that bank, Venmo and PayPal accounts tied to the Biffles were accessed after phone numbers and email addresses were changed, suggesting someone was not only inside the house but also trying to control the family’s money from the outside.

Investigators have focused on a married couple who allegedly knew the Biffles. The husband met Greg Biffle through hurricane relief work in Western North Carolina, and the woman had attended a Christmas party at the Biffles’ home weeks before the crash. Surveillance video reportedly showed a woman who seemed familiar with the layout, including the cameras, closets and safe room. That kind of familiarity is what often turns a standard burglary inquiry into a broader fraud case, especially when investigators are trying to determine who had access to homes, phones and payment accounts after a death.

The crash that set off the chain of events remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. A preliminary report said cockpit instruments malfunctioned shortly after takeoff from Statesville Regional Airport and the Cessna C550 attempted to return to the airport before the fatal crash. Seven people died aboard the aircraft: Greg Biffle, Cristina Biffle, Emma Biffle, Ryder Biffle, Dennis Dutton, Jack Dutton and Craig Wadsworth.

The aftermath has now become both a criminal and civil fight. The Biffle estate is facing wrongful-death lawsuits totaling $30 million, adding another layer of financial strain to a case that already showed how quickly death can open the door to exploitation.