[Roberts:] We're back with the Most News in the Morning. More on our developing story. New details now in the home invasion and chilling murder of a Florida couple with 16 children. Police say they now have all the murder suspects in custody, among them, a teenager. Our Ed Lavandera has got new details for us this morning from Pensacola.
[Ed Lavandera, Cnn Correspondent:] John and Kiran, investigators are now focusing on what brought these seven suspects together to carry out what they say was the brutal murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings.
[Lavandera:] Authorities say Leonard Patrick Gonzalez Jr. was the ringleader of the seven suspects that allegedly murdered Byrd and Melanie Billings. But in a short court hearing, Gonzalez surprisingly used the moment to declare his innocence. It's the first time we've heard from any of the accused.
[Leonard Gonzalez Jr., Suspect:] ...hearsay, circumstantial evidence and the confession of a mentally-challenged person with a long history of making false statements and false confessions.
[Lavandera:] We don't know who Gonzalez is talking about exactly, but investigators say they've arrested all the men who carried out what they called the methodical and chilling murders of the Billings couple. These are the pictures of the suspects who face murder charges. One we can't show you because he's a 16-year-old juvenile. Three are from the Pensacola area, the other four from the Fort Walton Beach area. The Escambia sheriff says Gonzalez Jr. and Donald Ray Stallworth have a military background. The Air Force confirms Stallworth is currently an active duty staff sergeant. In fact, authorities tell us these menus military-style training to rehearse their attack on the Billings home. And that they use this property here in the weeks before the killings to train. This is where Leonard Patrick Gonzales Sr. lived. He's the man authorities say drove the red getaway van seen in the surveillance video.
[Sheriff David Morgan, Escambia County, Florida:] It was a very well-planned and well-executed operation.
[Lavandera:] But after saying that robbery was one of several possible motives, authorities now say the suspects burst into the home, killed the couple and then stole a medium-sized safe. They squashed suggestions that something more sinister was behind the killings.
[Bill Eddins, State Attorney:] I think the safest, easiest, clearest thing to say is that the primary motive in this case is robbery. Home invasion, robbery.
[Lavandera:] Investigators say Leonard Gonzalez Sr. and Wayne Coldiron were occasionally hired to work around the Billings property, but beyond that there doesn't appear to be any connection between the seven suspects and the Billings family.
[Morgan:] We have found them and they are in custody.
[Lavandera:] As the final arrests were announced, Ashley Markham, the oldest daughter of Byrd and Melanie Billings, tearfully stood by the sheriff's side, but she left without speaking out. Investigators say their work still isn't done. Even though seven people now face murder charges, they say they're looking for an eighth person that might have had something to do with this crime. John and Kiran.
[Roberts:] Ed Lavandera reporting this morning. The Florida secretary's law office said that Ashley Markham, the daughter of the slain couple is holding a news conference right now. We're going to be monitoring this for you this morning. We'll bring you any news that may come out of it.