Missing family in Florida: burned remains found in fire pit, suspect arrested
Pasco County, Florida – In a chilling twist, authorities charged Rory Atwood, 25, with first-degree murder after human remains, believed to be those of a missing family, were found in a backyard fire (backyard fire pit). The Pasco Sheriff’s Office made the disturbing announcement during a press conference Saturday, shedding light on a complex investigation spanning June 12-13.
Sheriff Chris Nocco revealed that this case is likely linked to the disappearance of Rain Mancini, 26, Phillip Zilliot II, 25, Karma Zilliot, 6, and Phillip Zilliot III, 5. According to a criminal report, Atwood admitted to detectives that a fatal altercation took place with the adults, involving a struggle over a gun that resulted in their deaths. He allegedly used “adrenaline” to move their bodies to a home on his property.
Despite his arrest, Atwood pleaded not guilty Monday and remains incarcerated without bail, court records confirm. The court-appointed lawyer assigned to his defense declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
The search for the missing family intensified after secondary sources raised suspicions about Atwood’s involvement, prompting a thorough inspection of her residence in Hudson, Florida. Initially, no incriminating evidence was found during the first police visit. However, subsequent searches, including those led by a sniffer dog, uncovered what authorities described as “small skeletal remains” with soft tissue in a hearth 10 feet in diameter. Forensic experts also recovered fragments of long bones and vertebrae, pointing to a grisly conclusion.
In her statements to law enforcement, Atwood claimed to have evicted Mancini and the Zilliots on June 1 due to unpaid rent, only to have them return unexpectedly on June 12. He claimed Phillip Zilliot II entered his room with a knife, leading to a violent altercation involving the two adults. Atwood argued that Mancini and Phillip Zilliot II were shot during the struggle, claiming self-defense.
Disturbingly, Atwood suggested to investigators that he believed Mancini and Phillip Zilliot II had killed their own children before the fatal altercation began. He claimed the home was already active on his property and that he had not seen the children after the confrontation with their parents. Nonetheless, Atwood admitted to knowing that the children’s remains were in the home. Additionally, he revealed that he burned a couch containing traces of blood and the firearm allegedly used in the fatal incident.
As authorities continue to piece together this disturbing puzzle, questions persist about the sequence of events and the tragic fate of Rain Mancini, Phillip Zilliot II, Karma Zilliot and Phillip Zilliot III. The community is in shock and anxiously awaits further developments in this heartbreaking case.
Source : USA Today
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