Billy Van Arsdale

William Brester 'Billy' Van Arsdale III is a fictional character in Mark Winegardner's novel The Godfather Returns.

In the novel

Billy Van Arsdale is born in New York in 1935. His family makes a fortune selling citrus juice for many businessmen, including Vito Corleone. He meets Vito Corleone's granddaughter, Santino Corleone's daughter, Francesca, in college in 1955; they are married a couple of years later after Francesca becomes pregnant after a rendevous after Billy has gone to graduate school, and she gives birth to William Brewster Van Arsdale IV, whom they call 'Sonny' Shortly after it is revealed that he has secretly been collecting evidence against the Corleone Family.

By 1961, he begins an affair with one of Danny Shea's secretaries. Francesca never knows AbOUT this and thinks he would not have [...] with her because she is pregnant. By early 1962, Francesca learns of her husband's infidelity and spying against her family. Distraught, she follows him in her car one night and hits him, literally [...] him in half.

Van Arsdale's mistress is eventually convicted of second-degree [...] for his death.