I got wind of this story yesterday afternoon, but details were very sketchy at that time. Our good friend TJ Hart of The Sky 97.3 has shipped us this update on the case. One thing is clear, things are moving rapidly in the investigation. Simon
TJ Hart Reporting
tjhart@entercom.com
A man detained by police for driving with an expired license was identified as a fourth suspect in the killing of a Florida couple Thursday known for adopting disabled children.
I got word from sources close to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office while participating in the live telecast of The Nancy Grace Show on HLN last night that day laborer Gary Lamont Sumner was being held in Okaloosa County, Fla., and would likely be brought to Escambia County Tuesday.
That tip was verified about 40 minutes later by Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan in a press conference Monday evening at about 9:30 ET.
Sheriff David Morgan said he expects more arrests to be “imminent,” including another likely to happen Tuesday.
“We hope to bring all the suspects we have identified to justice very shortly,” he said.
Escambia County law enforcement officials said at least 6 to 8 people may have been involved.
The descriptions of the suspects in what appeared to be ninja attire had been put together from surveillance video from the Billings’ home that showed five men entering and leaving the house, and from witnesses, he said.
Investigators continue looking at the role business ties might have played in the murder of a wealthy north Florida couple who had adopted 12 children with developmental problems or disabilities.
Byrd Billings, 68, and Melanie, 43, had 16 children; four of them were their own and the remainder were adopted.
The Escambia County Sheriff said robbery was one of what may be “numerous motives” in the killings.
Billings and his wife owned several local businesses.
At first, officials said they had suspected the murders were the result of a home invasion. Further investigation has revealed a situation more complex than law enforcement officers said they had expected.
Detectives said they were still attempting to work through the web of potential motives in a case that they say grows more complex by the day.
I will have more information for you as it comes to light. Watch for the update tonight on HLN’s Nancy Grace Show.
TJ Hart
7 users commented in " 4 In Custody in Killing of Florida Couple with 16 Kids "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a Trackbackthis is truly sad. what is this world coming to?
Is there a link somewhere to the sheriff’s actual news update last night re the 4th suspect?
I have been able to find the news conference from yesterday afternoon re the tapes from the back of the house but nothing after that.
I prefer raw footage to the ‘pre-digested’ stuff!
And I just saw that a fifth person had been arrested – and also maybe a sixth who is a teenager and name will not be released.
This is an absolutely sickening story. I don’t know what the motives are but the children are left now, with no parents, such a tragedy.
Wow they were all day laborers. So much for law abidng latinos huh?
Wow Dave, quite an assumption – defining the ethnic identity of these horrifying criminals – even worse – you are taking the act of heinous criminals and are generalizing the morality of all day laborers and applying the assumption that all day laborers are of Latino heritage – you my friend have an issue with spouting off your personal beliefs without even reviewing the facts of this crime. IF you had paid any attention to the news reports and the information provided by the law enforcement agencies working this case you would know that these “day laborers” are of various ethnic backgrounds. Low and behold – even white (Caucasians).
Good day to all and may god bless and hold this family in the palm of his hand and protect them.
Thackery,
I was busy with TV and radio updates and forgot to post the updates here. Sorry.Here is a link with the latest from the CNN/HLN team coverage where I am also a guest contributor/on-air correspondent.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/07/14/florida.couple.slain/index.html
TJ
Thank you TJ.
Leave A Reply