Seven Arrested In Murders Of Parents Of 16 Children

July 14, 2009 4:58 p.m. EST

Pensacola, FL (AHN) - Seven people are now under arrest in the murder of parents of 16 children, many of whom had special needs.

Four of the suspects were arrested Monday in the deaths of Byrd and Melanie Billings last week at their sprawling home in Beulah, a community west of Pensacola near the Alabama state line.

The suspects were identified as Leonard Patrick Gonzalez, Sr., 56; his son Leonard Jr., 35, Wayne Thomas Coldiron, 41, Gary Lamont Sumner, 30; Fredrick Lee Thornton, 19; and Donald Ray Stallworth, 28.

The seventh suspect was described as a 16-year-old child.

Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan alleged that the younger Gonzalez organized the home invasion robbery that led to the murders.

All seven will face murder charges, Morgan said in announcing the arrests Tuesday afternoon.

Hinting more arrests may yet come, Morgan said "there are some loops that need to be closed." He said one person was wanted for aiding and abetting the crime.

Officials described the investigation as wide-ranging. "There are elements of this case that go outside the state of Florida," Morgan said, adding that federal authorities had been brought into the case.

Morgan said the suspects had no direct ties to the Billings family, although some of the suspects had worked on the grounds.