Surveillance Video Captures Moments Before the Murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings in Bulah, FL

Surveillance video captured the entire crime and murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings.

Surveillance video captured the grisly moments before the Florida couple Byrd and Melanie Billings were murdered in their Beulah home on July 9, 2009 as their children slept. A judge has ruled that the video cannot be released as it is part of an ongoing investigation. According to Sheriff David Morgan, “it was apparent again from the tape, when you viewed the tape that they meant business from the moment they entered that home”.

Dark, grainy surveillance camera images from inside the home of a slain Florida couple show the moments before their deaths as gunmen dressed in black storm their house. The images, taken at the home of Byrd and Melanie Billings, were shown Thursday to representatives from several news organizations. The Beulah, Florida, couple, known for adopting special-needs children, were shot to death in their home July 9.

Eight people have been arrested with regards to the murder including 56 year old Leonard Gonzalez Sr, Leonard Gonzalez Jr, Wayne Thomas Coldron, Gary Lamont Sumner, Fredrick Lee Thornton, Donald Ray Stallworth, an unidentified 16 year old juvenile, and Pamela Long.

Authorities are investigating the surveillance video for further clues. Investigators are working with the FBI to enhance the images an identify the suspects more clearly.

Leonard Gonzalez, Jr Double Motive? Was the Murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings a Robbery … a Murder for Hire Contract Hit? Or Both?

Double motives in the murders of Florida couple, Byrd and Melanie Billing?

Was the murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings a home invasion robbery or murder for hire? Florida authorities have yet to rule out that the deaths of the Billing’s couple could have been a murder for hire hit.   Sheriff David Morgan responded Friday night to contract hit reports.

 Leonard Gonzalez, Jr … Robbery or Contract Murder?

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office previously had refused to address whether the home-invasion shootings of Byrd and Melanie Billings may have been murders-for-hire. The couple, known for adopting special needs children, were found dead July 9.

It has been nearly one month since the double murders of the Florida couple, Byrd and Melanie Billings. The two were found dead in their Beulah, FL home on July 9, 2009 believed to be the victims of a home invasion. It was not long before there were arrests made in the double homicide.

First, 56 year old Leonard Gonzalez, Sr. was taken into custody and arrested for tampering with evidence. Then, the Escambia County, Florida Sheriff’s Office announced two more arrests; that of Leonard Gonzalez, Jr. and Wayne Thomas Coldiron. The arrest head count in the double murder case then came to seven as Gary Lamont Sumner, Fredrick Lee Thornton, Donald Ray Stallworth, and an unidentified juvenile were taken into custody. Then finally, Pamela Long was arrested as an accessory after the fact.

According to unidentified sources, there were double motives for the crime: robbery and contract killings. Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan would neither confirm nor deny at a Friday night news conference whether the report was accurate.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office had said it believed robbery was the prime motive, but that it would explore all avenues.

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Byrd and Melanie Billings Funeral: Couple Laid to Rest as Double Murder Investigation Continues … Rest in Peace

Byrd and Melanie Billings, the Florida couple known for their compassion for adopting 13 special needs children will be laid to rest today. The couple was murdered last Thursday in a double homicide, home invasion robbery. Let us not forget in all of the news dominated by the horrific crime against Byrd and Melanie Billings, which these people were inspirations and heroes. The compassion and caring that these two showed in opening their home and hearts to special needs children is never to be forgotten.

Byrd and Melanie Billings, Rest in Peace

Family and friends gathered Thursday night for a visitation for the couple at Liberty Church west of Pensacola. A funeral was set for Friday at the church.

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Pamela Long, Eighth Suspect Arrested in the Double Murders of Florida Couple Byrd and Melanie Billings

Eight is Enough?

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrested Pamela Long on Wednesday as a person of interest in the murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings. She is the 8th individual arrested in connection with the Billings murders and the first female. Long was located and arrested in Orange Beach, AL by the Orange Beach Police Department. She is being charged with accessory after the fact, which is a felony.

Pamela Long, charged with accessory after the fact

Long was originally a person of interest in the murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings. Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan says Long was found inside a boat at an Orange Beach marina.

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Seven Suspects Now Arrested in Murders of Florida Couple Byrd and Melanie Billings

More arrests have been made bringing the total to 7 with more possibly to come.

There have now been seven suspects arrested in the double murders of  Byrd and Melanie Billings during the home invasion robbery that obviously went terribly wrong. The suspects, some dressed as ninjas,stole a safe and other items during the break in Thursday.  One of the seven taken into custody was a 16 year old boy.

The suspects ranged in age from 16 to 56, and several were day laborers who knew each other through a pressure washing business and an auto detailer they worked for. One, Donnie Ray Stallworth, was with the Air Force Special Operations Command with an aircraft maintenance squadron at Hurlburt Field near Fort Walton Beach. It wasn’t clear how he knew the others.

The seven suspects names are as follows from Sheriff David Morgan. Morgan told reporters Leonard Gonzalez, Jr. was the “organizer” of the crime. It’s just a matter of time, if they have not already, that the suspects will be looking to point the finger at others and cop a plea deal to save their skin in the double murder.

• Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr., 35
• Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Sr., 56
• Wayne Thomas Coldiron, 41
• Gary Lamont Sumner, 30
• Fredrick Lee Thornton, 19
• Donald Ray Stallworth, 28
• An unidentified juvenile, 16

7 Suspects Held in Slaying of Fla. Couple

One, Two, Now Three Arrests Made in the Murders of Florida Couple, Byrd and Melanie Billings

More Arrests Made …

There have been three arrests made in the double murders of the Florida couple, Byrd and Melanie Billings, who where killed in their home last Thursday.

 Leonard Gonzalez Sr.

First, 56 year old Leonard Gonzalez Senior was arrested Sunday afternoon and charged with tampering with evidence in a murder investigation. Leonard Gonzalez Sr. is accused of trying to paint over and hide damage on a red van caught on the Billings’ surveillance video.

The Escambia County, Florida Sheriff’s Office has now confirmed that there have been two more arrests. 41 year old Wayne Coldiron and Gozalez’s son, Leonard Gonzalez Junior have been arrested in connection with the Billings’ double homicide. They have been charged with murder.

The two newly arrested suspects mug shots can be seen below.

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Arrest Made in the Double Murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings … Tampering with Evidence … More Arrests Expected

According to WKRG, there has been an arrest made in the double homicide of  Byrd and Melanie Billings. According to the Escambia County, Florida Sheriff’s Office, 56-year old Leonard Gonzalez was taken into custody as is being charged with tampering with evidence. Leonard Gonzalez Sr. is accused of trying to paint over and hide damage on a red van.

The Billings’ were murdered Thursday in their Beulah, FL home in what is initially being reported as a home invasion

 Byrd and Melanie Billings

He is being charged with tampering with evidence related to a murder investigation. Sheriff David Morgan says Gonzalez changed the appearance of the van believed to be used in the murders and is one of the two men brought in for questioning Saturday. Sheriff Morgan did not release any information involving the motive of those responsible for the murders. Morgan says the investigation into the murders is getting more complex and, in his words, “reads like a movie script.”

The big break in the case came this weekend when a tip lead them to the van captured in surveillance video leaving the Billings residence.

Investigators got a big break in the case this weekend when tips led them to a 15 passenger van believed to be linked to the murders. The van was found at a home on Palm Court.

The discovery led to an arrest Sunday.

According to Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan at the press conference, more arrests are expected.

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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.