The man arrested over the murder of eight-year-old Mylee Billingham in Walsall on Saturday has been named by locals as her father, Bill Billingham.
The 54-year-old is the brother of Mark Billingham, a former bodyguard of Brad Pitt who shot to fame as one of the stars of Channel 4’s show SAS: Who Dares Wins, where he is an instructor to the recruits.
The little girl was rushed to hospital suffering from knife wounds on Saturday evening, but medics were unable to save her and she died shortly after arriving.
According to news reports Mylee’s mum Tracey Taundry was heard screaming “they stabbed my baby” as police raced to the bungalow.
A friend of Bill told The Sun: “I just can’t believe he would do something like this. It’s completely out of character.
“Him and Tracey were split, but he completely doted on all five children.
“I just don’t understand how it’s happened.”
Police confirmed the youngsters identity. Billingham also suffered a stab-wound to the stomach and is believed to be fighting for his life in hospital under police guard.
He had posted a picture of little Mylee on Facebook just 59 minutes before police were called with the caption: “Pitza on bed lv moo x [sic].”
The little girl’s uncle Mark was a private bodyguard to stars including Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Tom Cruise before signing up for the Channel 4 show last year.
The decorated war hero spent 27 years in the SAS, got an MBE for leading the mission in Iraq to rescue a Brit hostage and won the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery after capturing an IRA sniper by using himself as bait.