Melanie Anne Brock Billings, 43, and her husband Byrd Billings were found shot to death in their Beulah, Florida, home on July 9, 2009. The couple, known in their community for caring for 16 children — 12 of whom were adopted and had developmental disabilities — were discovered in their bedroom after an attack that took place while several of the children were in the house.

Investigators say the killings were part of a planned home invasion. Intruders dressed in black and wearing masks entered the home, executed the couple, and stole a safe containing jewelry and family documents. The Billings family’s home surveillance system recorded the crime and provided evidence used in the investigation. Multiple suspects were identified and charged in connection with the murders; law enforcement described one defendant as the ringleader and the person who shot Byrd Billings.

The deaths devastated a community that remembered the Billings for their generosity and dedication to children in need. If anyone knew the Billings, witnessed suspicious activity near their home on July 9, 2009, or has information about the intrusion, please come forward.