A man from Florida has been apprehended and charged with the murder of a family of four, including two children, who resided in his home. The accused, Rory Atwood, 25, was arrested after police discovered the burnt remains of Rain Mancini, 26, Phillip Zilliot II, 25, and their children, Karma Zilliot, 6, and Phillip Zilliot III, 5, at his residence in Hudson, Florida.
Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco stated that Atwood, a high school acquaintance of the victims, initially denied having any idea about their location. But, after a friend reported to the police that Atwood had confessed to the murders over a phone call, he admitted to the crime. Sheriff Nocco said in a press conference, “If there weren’t evil in this world, we wouldn’t have to pray as much. And when I talk about this story today, you’ll hear about evil.”
The family was reported missing by Mancini’s mother after her daughter ceased daily communication. An affidavit from the Clark County Clerk’s office reveals that Pasco County deputies started their search for the missing family following a request for a welfare check on June 13, 2024.
Upon initial investigation of Atwood’s property, officers noticed an active fire pit in the backyard. However, they found no immediate signs of criminal activity.
The police received a call from a distressed resident whose brother was approached by Rory Atwood for help to burn trash. He had seen a pool of blood and what appeared to be bodies of adults and children during a video call with Atwood.
Acting on this information, the police revisited Atwood’s home the next day. A cadaver dog was deployed, which led to the discovery of skeletal remains, soft tissue, and two human vertebrae in the fire pit.
Atwood claimed that Mancini and Zilliot, armed with knives, stormed his home following an eviction due to unpaid rent on June 12. He added that Zilliot attempted to attack him with a knife, and later with physical force when disarmed. Atwood alleged that he shot both adults in self-defense after Zilliot brandished a firearm. He initially did not reveal the location of the children but eventually admitted that they were also in the fire pit, while denying any involvement in their deaths.
Despite Atwood’s claim that the parents murdered their children before he defended himself, the sheriff’s office has charged him with the murders based on his admission and the physical evidence found at the scene.
A strong scent of chlorine on the rear patio suggested attempts to sanitize the crime scene. Atwood pleaded not guilty on Monday and is currently held without bond. His public defender declined to comment on the case. Forensic experts continue to work on identifying the remains found in the fire pit, as the investigation progresses.
Atwood’s past criminal history includes charges of evading law enforcement, stalking, and battery. Though these past charges pointed towards a troubled individual, they did not foreshadow the severity of the crimes he now stands accused of.
