Parents of 16 Found Shot to Death in Home

Couple Had Adopted 12 Children; Assailants Broke into Home as Kids Slept

(CBS/AP)  The mother and father of 16 children - 12 of them adopted - were found shot to death in a home invasion, a relative said.

The mother-in-law of one of the grown children, Nancy Markham, said Byrd and Melanie Billings were found in the bedroom of their home in Beulah, just west of Pensacola near the Alabama border.

Escambia County Sheriff's officials told the Pensacola News Journal that all the children living in the home were found safe following the Thursday night attack. The children were home at the time and "deputies had to wake some of the children," said sheriff's office spokesman Sgt. Ted Roy.

The children at the home ranged in age from an infant to 11 years old, he said.

According to a 2005 profile of the couple in the News Journal, some of the adopted kids included children of drug users, sexual abuse victims and children with developmental disabilities.

"They were very good people. I don't know what's going to happen to those children," Markham told the News Journal.

Authorities were searching for three men in a red van who may have been involved in the slayings, authorities said. Investigators were also examining surveillance tapes from the home. The suspects forced their way into the home, authorities said.

The couple owned several local businesses and had been featured in the News Journal for their generosity taking in children with disabilities and from troubled backgrounds.

[quapawsix]

So if we take the guns away and they start clubbing people with Baseball bats do we outlaw baseball bats next, and then do we outlaw people who voice their opinion, and then do we outlaw people who do not agree with out opinions? Tell me where it stops. Point is, guns don't kill, its the person behind the gun.
And law abiding people who are responsible don't commit acts of murder.

[Stormy500]

Where will all these children go? It is so difficult to place disabled kids in nice homes, and this couple was compassionate enough to do so. Now, these children have another trauma to go through. I'm sure these children were the first thing that entered these caring people's thoughts before they were struck down.

[toldyouso29]

Condolences to the family. This was a terrible, terrible, crime.

[speakinup22]

It is very sad that this couple was murdered leaving these 11 children parentless.

[ajbean1241]

Interesting that you would find it sad we've become "us vs. them" partisans, GiveMeFreedom, and then you did just that by dividing people into "blue counties" and "red counties." What nonsense. There are plenty of people who live in my "red county" who voted "blue" in the last election and vice versa. Issues are rarely so black and white.

Yes, Britain has a crime problem, but their rates of homicide are still far below ours.

As for the news story, how sad that these people were killed for whatever reason, by whatever method.

Oh, and for the record, I also happen to be an independent voter.

[jd2408]

Criminals will get guns no matter what. In Britain they still have gun crimes but most domestic crimes are done with knives. They recently had an article on the problems they are having with crimes involving knives.

When you take away guns from the public you empower criminals and even governments. If you think it can't happen in the USA just look around the world and ask yourself honestly if you want all the power in the hands of a very few. I sure don't and never will, no matter what the cost. (p.s.) I am an Independent voter, not a Republican !

[GiveMeFreedom]

I think it is so sad that you had to identify yourself as an independent voter. This is what we have become in the U.S. - a bunch of them vs. us partisans.

Personally, I believe that if democrats do not want to allow guns, then anyone living in a blue county should not own guns and if you live in a red county you are allowed to own guns.

Then we will see for once and for all if the gun issue matters. No more studies. Let us see once and for all. I bet you might just be surprised where the crime rate is higher and the gun crimes are highest too.

[ToolMangler1]

Britain is/was considering a law that would make owning a knife with a sharp point, a crime. So then they will start using 'forks'. "MAN" I can see it now, "Ok folks, its finger food only or you don't eat"

[toldyouso29]

Personally, I believe that if democrats do not want to allow guns, then anyone living in a blue county should not own guns and if you live in a red county you are allowed to own guns."

Dumb idea--because counties are not made up of all nongunowners or gunowners--you have people who would NEVER use a gun living in red counties and some who do have guns in blue counties--unless you are prepared to force each type to move to the county and leave their jobs and homes--the experiment or results would be skewed. I am a gunowner--but I'd go crazy if I had to be around Republicans more than I am now--because though I own guns, believe in the death penalty and am a fiscal conservative--I am also pro choice, detest bigotry, torture and wars based on lies, I also detest parties who use smears to win elections and whose members are incapable of independent thought--so of course, I could never stomach too much continual contact with the reds...LOL

[azure13]

justathought...

At least a person has a chance against bats or knives.

I don't really give a rats ass, but I do believe if we got rid of guns for public use, killings would go way way down.

[speakinup22]

I would like to believe you are correct azure13, but find it unlikely. Trying to rid this country of guns would be just as difficult as ridding Iraq of guns. Only the bad guys would have them.

[excoachken]

Guns....Guns....Guns.

[displeased]

You think this happened because of guns. Is it ever the criminal's fault? Or the fact that we live in a violent society?

[stuart2020]

Guns...Guns...Guns...all too easily available in the U.S.