A Florida landlord has been charged with murder after he allegedly massacred a family of four, including two children aged 5 and 6, and burned their bodies in a fire pit in his backyard.
Pasco County deputies first began searching for 26-year-old Rain Mancini, 25-year-old Phillip Zilliot II, 6-year-old Karma Zilliot and 5-year-old Phillip Zilliot III on June 13, according to testimony obtained from the Clark County Clerk’s Office. After a welfare check.
The concerned resident called police after his brother said 25-year-old Rory Atwood called him and asked him to help burn the rubbish.
The brother told the caller he saw a pool of blood and could see “the bodies of adults and children” through the video call, the affidavit said.
Man may have killed missing Florida family of four after human remains found on his property: Sheriff
Rain Mancini was last seen on June 12. (Pasco County Sheriff’s Office)
When law enforcement officers arrived at Atwood’s home in Hudson, Florida, he allegedly assured police he had “no knowledge” of the family’s disappearance.
He told police the family left the property on June 12, the affidavit states.
The next day, law enforcement received a call from a man who said Atwood “admitted to killing his roommate and their children,” the affidavit states.
Karma and Phillip Zilliot and their parents were last seen on June 12 in Hudson, Florida. (Pasco County Sheriff’s Office)
Investigators spoke with Atwood again, who said he had kicked the family out of their home due to unpaid rent, although the family’s belongings were still in the rental home.
While searching the property, officers discovered a fire pit in the backyard with various charred debris in the bottom.
Florida family removes teen from UC after losing thousands of cars in car robbery
A cadaver dog pulled “small skeletal remains,” soft tissue and two human vertebrae from the fire pit, officials said.
There was also a “strong chlorine smell” surrounding the front porch, the affidavit said.
Atwood later told detectives that he kicked the family out of their home on June 1 because they didn’t pay rent, but the family arrived at the home “unexpectedly” on the night of June 12, the affidavit said.
Atwood claimed the couple entered the bedroom where he and his 4-year-old daughter were, armed with knives. He said he got into an argument with Philip Zigliot II when Mancini stabbed his daughter in the neck, the affidavit states.
Phillip Zilliot II and his family were last seen on June 12 in Hudson, Florida. (Pasco County Sheriff’s Office)
During the fight, Atwood claims Philip Zigliot II pulled out a gun and Mancini was shot multiple times during a struggle for the weapon.
Investigators said Atwood claimed he turned the gun on Phillip Zigliot II and pulled the trigger, killing him.
Atwood “did not disclose” how the children died, but claimed that Philip Zigliot II and Mancini killed their two children, the affidavit said.
Atwood then allegedly dragged the family of four, along with a blood-stained couch and the gun used in the incident, to his fire pit and burned the contents.
“The defendant told your deponent that he did not recall cleaning the interior of the residence, but if he had, then he would have thrown towels and/or cleaning items into the fire,” the affidavit states.
Rory Atwood has been charged with murder after police searching for a missing family discovered human remains at his property. (Pasco County Sheriff’s Office)
Despite Atwood’s story of self-defense, detectives said their investigation led them to believe Atwood intentionally murdered Philip Zigliot and Mancini and then tried to cover it up by discarding evidence.
“In interviews following the Miranda incident, the defendant admitted to participating in the deaths of the two adult victims, and he admitted to knowing that the two juveniles [Phillip Zilliot III and Karma Zilliot] Also burned in the same fire pit,” the affidavit states.
Click here to get the Fox News app
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office said Atwood was charged with first-degree murder and other charges are pending as the investigation continues.
The remains have not yet been formally identified.
Atwood has pleaded not guilty. He is being held without bail, according to court records.
