Charred human remains believed to belong to a young family of four were discovered in a backyard campfire in Pasco County, Florida. The family, Rain Mancini, 26, Phillip Zilliot II, 25, and her children Karma, 6, and Phillip III, 5, were reported missing on June 12.
Rory Atwood, 25, has been charged with one count of first-degree murder following the gruesome discovery on his property. The family was last seen in the Nottingham Trail area of Hudson on June 12 around 12:30 am. On June 14, police conducted a welfare check after a woman reported that her brother had seen dead bodies during a Face to face Call Atwood. Atwood had reportedly He called his brother for help burning what he claimed was garbage.
However, during the call, the man saw “bodies of adults and children.” When police initially visited Atwood’s home, he allowed them to search the property, but they found nothing suspicious. The next day, police received a call from a man who claimed Atwood had “admitted to killing his roommates and his children,” according to an affidavit. Only during a second search with cadaver dogs did agents discover the remains.
A cadaver dog found what appeared to be “small skeletal remains” with soft tissue in a campfire. The backyard was also drenched in a strong smell of chlorine. Police also reportedly found fragments of human bones and vertebrae. Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco declared Saturday: “We believe it may be this family, but at the same time I can’t give a definitive answer until… the (medical examiner) gives us definitive confirmation that it is.”
According to a criminal complaint seen by USA TODAY, Atwood confessed to police that she had an altercation with her parents over a firearm before her death. He allegedly admitted to using “adrenaline” to drag their bodies into the fire pit. At a press conference, Sheriff Nocco revealed: “Around 4:30 p.m. (Friday), our deputies observed Rory Atwood, we saw him out there and he gave us permission to return to the property, which we began to do. do. more extensive search.
We have human remains dogs, bloodhounds, aviation and deputies; Thanks to the search, we can find human remains. This, along with several confessions, is what led Rory Atwood to be charged with first-degree murder.” Atwood informed officers that he had evicted the family on June 1 due to nonpayment of rent and that they had returned unexpectedly on June 12.
Atwood, who rented her property to the family, claimed the father entered her room with a knife, leading to a fight between the three adults over a knife and a gun. During the fight, he said the parents were shot several times. Investigators are still working to identify the bodies found at the scene, but have charged Atwood with their deaths based on his testimony, Nocco said. Atwood pleaded not guilty Monday and is being held without bond, court records show.
