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Melanie Billings

A jury has recommended that a Florida man be sentenced to death, a day after he was convicted of first-degree murder for leading a crew of masked men dressed as ninjas to ambush a Florida home.

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Trial of 'ninjas' accused of killing Florida couple to beginupdated: Mon Oct 25 2010 09:16:00

Jury selection begins Monday in the double-murder trial of eight alleged "ninjas" accused of shooting and killing a Florida couple known for adopting special-needs children.

Florida to seek death penalty in couple's slayingupdated: Tue Oct 13 2009 10:57:00

Prosecutors will seek the death penalty against four of seven suspects facing murder charges in the July death of a Florida couple known for adopting special-needs children, authorities said Monday.

Surveillance video shows Florida couple, gunmenupdated: Fri Aug 28 2009 20:50:00

Dark, grainy surveillance camera images from inside the home of a slain Florida couple show the moments before their deaths as gunmen dressed in black storm their house.

Not guilty pleas for men charged in Florida couple's murdersupdated: Thu Aug 13 2009 17:51:00

The seven men charged in the deaths last month of a Beulah, Florida, couple known for adopting special-needs children pleaded not guilty Thursday, a court clerk said.

Seven indicted in deaths of Florida coupleupdated: Tue Aug 11 2009 17:08:00

Seven men charged in the deaths of a Florida couple slain last month were indicted Tuesday on murder charges, officials said.

Florida couple's slaying was a contract hit, source saysupdated: Fri Jul 31 2009 23:02:00

A source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN the state attorney's office believes there were two motives in the home invasion murder of Florida couple Byrd and Melanie Billings -- robbery and a contracted hit.

Source: Safe in slain couple's home contained $100,000updated: Thu Jul 23 2009 19:51:00

A safe found in the home of a slain Florida couple known for adopting special-needs children contained about $100,000, a source familiar with the investigation told CNN late Tuesday.

Killings a contract hit?updated: Thu Jul 23 2009 19:51:00

CNN's Susan Candiotti interviews the daughter of a slain Florida couple about a possible contract hit on the victims.

Documents: Florida slaying victims knew suspectupdated: Tue Jul 21 2009 11:46:00

A man police believe organized the slaying of a Florida couple earlier this month told authorities he knew the victims and received financial support from them for a martial arts studio, according to court documents released Monday.

Safe contained meds, papersupdated: Sat Jul 18 2009 01:08:00

Minutes before a funeral service for Byrd and Melanie Billings, the family attorney reveals the contents of the stolen safe.

Florida slayings investigation is 'like master's-level chess'updated: Sat Jul 18 2009 01:08:00

Investigators are making "very delicate moves" in probing the killings of a Florida couple known for adopting special-needs children, the local sheriff said Friday.

Billings' daughter 'relieved'updated: Fri Jul 17 2009 00:12:00

Ashley Markham says she is prepared to be the matriarch of her family to keep the children together.

Visitation held for slain Florida coupleupdated: Fri Jul 17 2009 00:12:00

Thousands paid their respects Thursday to a Florida couple slain during what police said was a home invasion robbery.

Official says gun believed to have killed couple foundupdated: Thu Jul 16 2009 13:10:00

Authorities have located valuable evidence, including a stolen safe and several guns, in the slaying of a Florida couple who had adopted 13 children, a state attorney said Thursday.

Police have high hopes for new interviews in couple's killingupdated: Thu Jul 16 2009 09:43:00

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.

More arrests in Fla. killingsupdated: Tue Jul 14 2009 21:17:00

Officials announce more arrests in the killings of Byrd and Melanie Billings.

Fourth suspect arrested in killing of Gulf Coast coupleupdated: Tue Jul 14 2009 10:14:00

A fourth suspect has been arrested in the shooting deaths of a Gulf Coast couple known for adopting special-needs children, authorities said late Monday.

Two questioned in killings of Florida coupleupdated: Sat Jul 11 2009 23:32:00

Detectives are questioning two people in connection with the killing of a Gulf Coast couple known for adopting special-needs children, the Escambia County sheriff said Saturday.

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