Three arrested in Florida couple's death

BEULAH, Fla., July 13 (UPI) -- Police have charged three men in connection with the deaths of a Beulah, Fla., couple known for adopting special-needs children, authorities said Monday.

A fourth man has been arrested, but not yet charged, and police were searching Monday for four other men they said were involved in the home invasion robbery in which Byrd Billings, 66, and his wife Melanie, 43, were shot and killed Thursday.

The couple had 17 children in all -- 12 of them adopted. Nine of the adopted children were at home when the couple was fatally shot but none of the children was injured.

Suspect Wayne Coldiron, 41, surrendered to police Sunday and Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr. was arrested a short time later in neighboring Santa Rosa County, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said. The two men face homicide charges.

Gonzalez's father, Leonard Gonzalez Sr., 56, was arrested Sunday on evidence-tampering charges for allegedly trying to disguise a red Dodge van captured by surveillance cameras leaving the couple's home west of Pensacola, police said.

At a news conference Monday, Morgan said the motive was robbery and described the case as "a window into something bigger."

Morgan said five suspects were in the Billings' house at one point, and all of them were in and out of the house within a few minutes. He said three suspects were dressed like ninjas, the Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal reported.

The couple's children are being cared for and "will remain together, and will remain with family," said Ashley Markham, the biological daughter of Melanie Billings from a previous relationship.