Visitation held for Florida couple slain in robbery

From John Couwels
CNN

PENSACOLA, Florida (CNN) - Throngs of people paying their respects to a Florida couple slain during what police said was a home invasion robbery flocked to a church Thursday for a visitation.

The bodies of Byrd and Melanie Billings arrived at Liberty Church in separate hearses for the service, the first of two planned for the couple. The funeral will be held Friday.

Those attending looked at pictures of the family on posters and video monitors in the church lobby during the somber gathering. A constant stream of cars arrived and departed during the three-hour service. The Billingses' caskets were closed.

Eight people have been arrested in connection with the Billingses' deaths at their large home outside Pensacola, Florida, last week. Police have said the invasion was carefully choreographed, but they believe the primary motive was robbery. A safe taken from the home was recovered, authorities said Thursday. The Billingses were shot to death.

The couple was known for adopting special-needs children. They had 13 at one time, along with two biological children each for Byrd and Melanie Billings, but three of the adopted children died.

Nine of the children were at home at the time of the home invasion, and authorities believe three children encountered the intruders. One managed to flee the home and seek help at a neighbor's house.

The Billingses' dog groomer, who declined to give her name, said as she left the church the couple was "the sweetest people you would want to meet in your life."

"We just went to pay our condolences," said Jerry Revais, whose daughters were friends of the Billings children.

Several people mentioned the community had been touched by the slayings.

"I think it's the toughest thing that has happened to this community," said Pensacola Commissioner Wilson Robinson.

The Billingses' funeral is set for noon Friday at Liberty Church. Burial is set to follow at the Pensacola Memorial Gardens.