Program Note: Tune in to AC 360º tonight at 10 P.M. ET for more coverage on the murder of Byrd and Melanie Billings, the parents of 16 children in Escambia County, Florida. Below is the statement issued by the family.
We would like to start by thanking everyone for their support, especially the good people of Escambia County and the surrounding community. We would also like to thank the investigative agencies involved in this matter.
The family cannot begin to find the words to adequately express the pain and disbelief of these last few days. To know there are people among us capable of this type of violence and with this magnitude of hate and evil in their lives is sickening.
Our Mom and Dad only had love in their lives. Since the day they met, 19 years ago, they knew they were soul mates. They chose a life that many people did not understand.
Together they decided to adopt a child, which turned into the adopting of many children. They had a calling to adopt, and to provide love to children that most did not see as normal. To my Mom and Dad their children are perfect. In their eyes their children had no disabilities and presented no challenges. They saw them as angels that God provided to them and Mom and Dad knew they would love them eternally. Mom and Dad had the ability to provide their children with lives full of fun, joy, patience and love. Though they have 17 children, love was never scarce, never withheld. They loved and cherished each child as much as a person is possibly capable.
| Jules |
July 14th, 2009 2:56 pm ET The world is surely a sadder place with these people gone. |
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| Isabel • Brazil • |
July 14th, 2009 3:10 pm ET A crime is often shocking and scary. In this case where the couple has a history of life so beautiful and humanitarian, the sadness is much worse. It is difficult to understand what is happening in the mind of killers. They're just sick people! |
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| Sonya G. Sarmiento |
July 14th, 2009 3:16 pm ET every time i hear of this story i can't help but cry. i can't imagine leaving my children...and i can't fathom losing my parents. Two such amazing and selfless people have left us – we should all be sad. not many people have the hearts to love the ways they did. we were so lucky to have had them. |
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| Vickey |
July 14th, 2009 3:30 pm ET I do not understand why people are evil. Make your life happy and worthwile! |
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| Michelle |
July 14th, 2009 4:52 pm ET so sad and unfortunate |
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| Josie Brookins |
July 14th, 2009 8:53 pm ET My PRAYERS go out to the BILLINGS family. It is so SAD. The crime and double murders to me equals a DRUG hit. I hate to be the one to make such horrible accusations but with the info provided it only makes sense!!!! There must be more to the story!!! |
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| Annie Kate |
July 14th, 2009 9:33 pm ET If the criminals murdered the parents why did they spare the children? Was the murder of the parents just to remove any eye witnesses?? I feel so bad for this family; there aren't many unselfish people who will do what this couple did and to the extent they did it. The world is a poorer place without them. |
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