I just found out that Byrd and Melanie Billings, parents of 16 in Beulah, Florida, were shot to death in their home. They had 12 adopted kids, several of whom had developmental disabilities. Others had been sexually abused or were born to drug-addicted moms. Evidently, eight of the kids were in the home when the couple was killed tonight. At this point, police are saying it was a home invasion by three men in a red van.
These weren't just good people—they were the supergood people of the world. Here's a story on them written back in 2005.
It just doesn't make sense. It doesn't make any sense at all.
Tonight, my heart goes out to the family and those poor kids.
Photo from Pensacoloa News Journal
O-U-T-R-A-G-E-O-U-S! What a hard post to come back to. I hope the ba%$#@*ds are caught and given the worst. That poor family!
ReplyDeleteI'm just playing catch up with my Blogger Moms. Sounds like you've had a very eventful summer. I love the idea of making drool a "family trait". I think we'll have to use that one too!
Our hearts and prayers go out to these children. It just seems like the world is getting worse by the day. It's enough to make you want to move to a deserted island and cut off all contact with humanity. We will be praying for this family and these children.
ReplyDeleteugh. That is sick. I would love to move to a deserted island cut off from humanity...do you think they have pediatric neurologists and epilepsy monitoring units there?
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts are definitely with those babies. :(
I am just sickened. How awful. There are no words.
ReplyDeleteThat is absolutely DREADFUL!! So sad for those kids and their dear friends & family.
ReplyDeleteThat poor family!
ReplyDeleteI just received a book to review..."hearing Jesus through your sorrow"...it is times like this that just do not make any sense at all, that I need to read this book.
My prayers go out to the whole family and to all those children!
Completely heartbreaking. What a horrendous crime.
ReplyDelete(And it finally seems like my browser likes your blog again. I haven't been able to comment because my browser normally freezes...but I've been reading!)
These poor children have been through too much already. First they have a disability or are abused, second they have the trauma of losing their birth family (even if it's the right thing to do it's still traumatic), and now their parents are murdered in front of them? The men who did this have caused more pain than they could possibly understand.
ReplyDeleteThis is Joyce. I cannot even grasp how this can be. So heartbreaking. Since you posted this there has been a news conference and it seems they have persons of interest and most of it was caught on an elaborate video system at the house. Hopefully this will all help in the investigation. It just makes no sense.
ReplyDeleteTotally senseless. That amazing couple gave these children something that many of them may never have experienced love and security and it was taken from them in an instant. I hope they find who did it and hopefully the death penalty exists where they are caught.
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