Florida Landlord Accused of Killing Family of 4, Burning Bodies in Backyard Fire Pit: Police Report
A landlord in Florida has been charged with murder for allegedly killing a family of four, including two children aged 5 and 6, and burning their bodies in a fire pit in his backyard.
According to an affidavit from the Clark County Clerk’s office, Pasco County deputies 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 after a welfare check was requested on June 13.
A concerned resident contacted the police after his brother mentioned that 25-year-old Rory Atwood had asked for help burning trash.
The brother reported seeing a puddle of blood and what appeared to be “adult and child bodies” during a video call, the affidavit noted.
When police arrived at Atwood’s residence in Hudson, Florida, he allegedly claimed he had “no knowledge” of the family’s whereabouts.
Atwood told police the family had left the property on June 12, the affidavit indicated.
The following day, a man called law enforcement, alleging Atwood had “admitted to killing his roommates and their children,” according to the affidavit.
Investigators re-interviewed Atwood, who claimed he had evicted the family for not paying rent, despite their belongings remaining in the rented home.
During a property search, deputies discovered a fire pit in the backyard containing various burned materials.
A cadaver dog retrieved “small skeletal remains,” soft tissue, and two human vertebrae from the fire pit, officials reported.
A “strong odor” of chlorine was also detected near the front porch, the affidavit stated.
Atwood later told detectives he had evicted the family on June 1 for unpaid rent but that they returned unexpectedly on the evening of June 12, the affidavit revealed.
Atwood claimed the couple entered his bedroom, where he and his 4-year-old daughter were, armed with knives. He said he fought with Phillip Zilliot II while Mancini threatened his daughter’s neck with a knife, according to the affidavit.
During the altercation, Atwood alleged Phillip Zilliot II drew a gun and that Mancini was shot multiple times during a struggle for the weapon.
Atwood said he then turned the gun on Phillip Zilliot II and shot him, investigators stated.
The affidavit noted Atwood “did not disclose” how the children died but claimed Phillip Zilliot II and Mancini had killed their own children.
Atwood allegedly dragged the four bodies, along with a blood-soaked couch and the gun used in the incident, to the fire pit where he burned the evidence.
The defendant told detectives he didn’t remember cleaning the house but if he had, he would have disposed of the cleaning items in the fire, the affidavit stated.
Despite Atwood’s self-defense claim, detectives concluded their investigation pointed to Atwood committing premeditated murder of Phillip Zilliot and Mancini and attempting to cover it up by burning the evidence.
“During a post-Miranda interview, the defendant admitted to involvement in the deaths of both adult victims and acknowledged that both children [Phillip Zilliot III and Karma Zilliot] were also burned in the fire pit,” the affidavit stated.
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office charged Atwood with first-degree murder, with additional charges pending as the investigation continues. The remains have not yet been formally identified.
