PENSACOLA, Fla., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Authorities say a grand jury is the next step in the case against seven people charged in the slaying of a Florida couple that adopted special needs children.
The last of the suspects, Rakeem Chaney Florence, 16, made his first court appearance as an adult before Circuit Judge John T. Parnham, who appointed the Office of Regional Conflict Counsel to represent him, The Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal reported Wednesday.
Florence will return to circuit court on Aug. 28 for arraignment.
Authorities say it will be up to the grand jury to decide individual charges against each of the defendants.
The teen and six others are accused in the slaying and robbery of Byrd and Melanie Billings who were found shot to death in the bedroom of their home in Beulah.
The nine special needs children the couple had adopted were in the house at the time of the slayings.
