Byrd and Melanie Billings, Couple Who Adopted 12 Children, Murdered in Beulah, FL … BOLO for Red Van

The unthinkable happens to a couple with a big heart …

A couple known for adopting children who were developmentally disabled, Byrd and Melanie Billings were murdered in their Beulah, FL home in what is initially being reported as a home invasion. The Billings were shot to death as their 8 children slept. The bodies of 66 year old  Byrd and 43 year old Melanie Billings were found Thursday night after a neighbor called 911. Police are looking for 3 men dressed in black in a late 1970s or early 1980s red van.

“He said that Bud and Melanie had, both of them had been murdered,” Markham said.

Three men dressed in black were seen on surveillance video approaching the property in a late 1970s or early 1980s red van about 7 p.m., authorities say.

Emergency personnel and police went to the home Thursday after receiving a call just before 8 p.m. about shots being fired, Roy said. An employee of the couple found their bodies, he said.

Byrd and Melanie Billings had 16 children, 12 of which were adopted. At the time of the shootings, 8 of the children were in the home; however, none of the children were harmed.

The Billings’ home had an extensive video surveillance system that had cameras in most every room as well as the driveway. Video surveillance was able to capture the following pics of the red 1970s or early 1980s van as well as suspects dressed in black approaching the victims’ house.

Be On the Look Out for a red 1970s or early 1980s van

UPDATE I: Cameras at slain Fla. couple’s home recorded crime

UPDATE II: Two People Being Questioned in the Muder of Byrd and Melanie Billings

Pensacola, FL (AHN) – Police in the Florida panhandle are questioning two people in connection with the killing of a couple who adopted more than 10 children, several with special needs.