(ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla.) July 12 - As officials continue their investigation, a community is grieving the loss of two people described as giving and loving.
People who knew Byrd and Melanie Billings say they were generous people who liked to give back to the community. Those same people are trying to understand just why someone would want to take that away.
The Mobile Highway Baptist Church is right next door to the Billings' home. It's not the church the couple belonged to, but Sunday, members of the Beulah Community prayed for them.
"The children they left behind and they're handicapped," Betty Wynalda said. "I just can't imagine who would have the nerve to do something like that."
Wynalda didn't know the Billings personally, but says their murder hits close to come.
"May the Lord give that these murderers are brought to justice and that they see the terribleness of this murder," Harold Wynalda.
Flowers and balloons now sit at the entrance to the Billings' home. A letter from people in the community is taped to the fence, letting the Billings know how much they were loved.
"We prayed for the family," said Pastor William Tinker. "They have a tough road ahead of them and we'll continue praying for that family."
Known throughout the Pensacola area for adopting children with special needs, there are still so many questions left unanswered.
The couple leaves behind 16 children, 12 of whom were adopted.
