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Published: Friday, July 10, 2009 10:08 p.m. MDT
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Investigators are also awaiting autopsy results on the couple to learn more about the killings, he said.

A woman who lives in an outlying building and helps care for the children called emergency dispatchers from the home. The Billings had 16 children, 12 of them adopted.

Cancellation not due to racism, club says

HUNTINGDON VALLEY, Pa. (AP) — The head of a private suburban Philadelphia swim club on Friday defended its cancellation of the memberships of dozens of minority children, saying safety, not racism, was the reason.

"We deeply regret this whole situation," John Duesler, president of the board of directors of The Valley Club, told reporters Friday afternoon at the entrance to the club in the leafy suburb of Huntingdon Valley.

The Creative Steps camp had arranged for 65 mostly black and Hispanic children to swim each Monday afternoon at the club this summer. But director Alethea Wright said that shortly after they arrived for their first visit, some children reported hearing racial comments, and the camp's $1,950 was refunded a few days later.

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Duesler said the number of children in the shallow section of the pool, many of them unable to swim, convinced officials that there was a problem. "It was definitely an unsafe situation," he said.

The club's actions have prompted an investigation by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. Much of the attention has focused on a statement by Duesler voicing concern that so many children would "change the complexion" or atmosphere of the club, which he acknowledged was "a terrible choice of words."

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