Burned human remains found in a backyard fire pit are believed to be a young family of four allegedly murdered by their landlord.
Rain Mancini, 26, Phillip Zilliot II, 25, and their children Karma, 6, and Phillip III, 5, went missing on June 12 in Pasco County, Florida.
Rory Atwood, 25, has since been charged with first-degree murder after they found remains charred beyond recognition at his home.
The family was last seen in the Nottingham Trl area of Hudson on June 12 at around 12.30pm.
On June 14, police conducted a welfare check on the family after a woman told officers her brother had seen bodies during a FaceTime call with Atwood, ABC Action News reported.
Rain Mancini, 26, Phillip Zilliot II, 25, and their children Karma, 6, and Phillip, 5, went missing on June 12
Atwood had reportedly called the brother to ask for help burning what he believed was trash.
But during the conversation, the man reportedly saw “bodies of adults and children.”
When police first went to Atwood’s home in Hudson, he had them search the property, but they found nothing suspicious.
The next day, police received a call from a man claiming Atwood “admitted to killing his roommates and their children,” according to an affidavit.
It was only when officers returned for a second search with cadaver dogs that they discovered the remains.
According to USA TODAY, a dog found “small skeletal remains” containing soft tissue in a fire pit.
They are also said to have found human bone fragments and vertebrae.
“We think it could be this family, but at the same time I can only make a definitive statement… [medical examiner] gives us definitive confirmation that this is so,” Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said Saturday.
Florida police have charged 25-year-old Rory Atwood with first-degree murder after finding remains in his home
Atwood told police he had gotten into an argument with the parents over a gun leading up to their deaths, according to a criminal complaint seen by USA TODAY.
He allegedly used ‘adrenaline’ to drag their bodies to the fire pit.
Sheriff Chris Nocco said at a press conference: ‘Around 4:30 in the afternoon (Friday) our officers observed Rory Atwood, we see him out there, he gives us permission to go back to the property, which is what else we’re going to do. Advanced search.
“We have human dogs, bloodhounds, aviation, sheriff’s deputies; The search will allow us to find human remains.
“This, along with several confessions, led to Rory Atwood being charged with first-degree murder.”
Atwood told officers that he evicted the family on June 1 for failure to pay rent, and that they returned unexpectedly on June 12.
Police discovered the remains when they searched Atwood’s property with cadaver dogs
The family was last seen in the Nottingham Trl area of Hudson on June 12 at around 12.30pm.
Atwood had rented his home to the family and claimed the father entered his bedroom with a knife and the two argued before all three adults wrestled over a knife and a gun.
During the fight, he said the parents were shot multiple times.
The remains have not yet been formally identified, so Atwood has only been charged once with murder of a “John Doe” at the time of publication.
He has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bond.