Police have high hopes for new interviews in couple's killing
PENSACOLA, Florida (CNN) -- Police plan to interview at least two more people in the killing of a Florida couple who adopted 13 children, many of them with special needs, the lead investigator said Thursday.
Byrd and Melanie Billings did not have any children together, but they cared for 16 children over the years.
Those interviews may provide a more complete picture of the circumstances surrounding the slayings of Byrd and Melanie Billings, who were shot to death last week in their home with nine of their children present, Sheriff David Morgan of Escambia County, Florida, said on CNN's "American Morning."
"We believe -- but this case has had so many odd twists and turns -- that this may be the last piece of our puzzle," he said.
Investigators have already charged eight people in the case. One of the two they plan to interview "possibly could have a connection to the case," Morgan said. He referred to them as "persons of interest" but did not elaborate.
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Morgan also clarified that the Drug Enforcement Administration was not assisting in the investigation, contrary to prior reports.
He told CNN's Anderson Cooper Wednesday night that during the course of the investigation into the Billingses' deaths, authorities had uncovered information on "other individuals and other crimes that may have been committed."
"So I have both a legal and ethical responsibility to pass that information on to the appropriate agencies," Morgan said, adding that he had invited representatives of the DEA, FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and other federal agencies to his office last week to share that information.
"I think it was somehow confused that the DEA somehow was involved in our investigation and I want to state here, that to the best of my knowledge, as the sheriff of Escambia County, that they are not," he said.
More at link...
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/07/16/florida.couple.slain/index.html
