Leonard Gonzalez Jr., Wayne Coldiron, Gary Lamont Charged with Murder in Deaths of Byrd, Melanie Billings, Leonard Gonzalez Sr. Charged with Tampering

Clockwise from top left: Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr.,
Wayne Thomas Coldiron, Gary Lamont Sumner, Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Sr.

Police in the Florida Panhandle have arrested Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Sr., 56, in the murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings of Beulah, who were killed in their home Thursday night as eight of their children slept. Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said that Leonard is accused of seeking to paint over a red van that authorities spotted on an extensive surveillance system at the couple's home. Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr. has also been arrested and he faces open counts of murder in this atrocious crime. Gary Lamont Sumner has also been arrested and charged with murder.

The police have also arrested day laborer Wayne Thomas Coldiron, who turned himself in to Escambia County authorities. Coldiron, who was known to work with area car dealers, was friends with the elder Gonzalez, Morgan said. Wayne Coldiron is facing murder charges in the Thursday night shooting deaths of the couple.

The couple adopted children with developmental disabilities. They owned several businesses and had 16 children, 12 of them adopted. This couple was decent and trying to help children who needed love and care. Thankfully the couple's home had this surveillance system in place because it would have been harder to solve this crime.

This story is still developing. More to follow....

Photo credits: Leonard P. Gonzalez Sr., Leonard P. Gonzalez Jr., Wayne Coldiron, Pensacola News Journal