Film Depicts Horrors of Spring Hill Serial Killer, Malevolent Legacy Feared

HERNANDO COUNTY, FL – With the steady increase in population over the last several years, a lot of new residents have never heard the story of serial killer Billy Mansfield, who buried his victims at his home in Spring Hill. That changed last month after Jacksonville-based director Warren Skeels released his film The Man in the White Van in theaters nationwide.

Convicted Murderer Billy Mansfield

Between 1975 and 1980, Billy Mansfield struck fear in residents as young female victims disappeared across Hernando County. Skeels captures that fear in his riveting film that recounts the harrowing story of one Brooksville, Florida, girl who narrowly escaped being abducted by Mansfield in 1975.

Image from The Man in the White Van

In 1981, the bodies of four victims were discovered in shallow graves on Mansfield's property located on Roundup Lane in Spring Hill. After his capture, Mansfield pled guilty to murder and is serving four life sentences in a California prison.

Since his conviction, the remains of more victims have been discovered on Mansfield's property. In 2022, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office announced that one victim had been positively identified as 16-year-old Theresa Fillingim but that another body remained unidentified.

Suspected Child Rapest Terry Mansfield

Unfortunately, the conviction of Billy Mansfield may not prevent more victims from being brutalized by someone bearing the Mansfield name. On July 28, 2023, Billy's brother Terry Mansfield was arrested on charges of Child Rape after investigators say he raped a diaper-aged toddler who is related to the Mansfield family. The details of that crime are too graphic to report.

According to court documents, a witness told investigators that the Mansfield family committed various acts of incest and rape on female family members. The witness claims Terry Mansfield and two other family members are responsible for the heinous crimes that have gone on for decades.

Terry Mansfield was released on a $50,000 bond and is still awaiting trial. No other member of the Mansfield family is facing charges at this time.

The Man in the White Van is now available to view on Amazon Prime.