15
Jul
Diversity Homicide: Seven Charged in Murder of Florida Couple
Violence is one way diversity unites us all. Seven men of diverse backgrounds have been arrested for the home invasion murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings, a Florida couple who adopted mentally handicapped children.
At the time of their deaths, the Billings had nine of their seventeen children living with them. Byrd and Melanie Billings had two biological children each, but none together. The adopted children were also of different racial backgrounds. This homicide case could be called “Murder Under the Rainbow.”
The suspects are pictured (L-R) Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr., Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Sr., Wayne Thomas Coldiron, Gary Lamont Sumner, Frederick Lee Thorton Jr., and Donnie Ray Stallworth. The name of one juvenile suspect was not released.