A Florida landlord has been charged with murder after allegedly slaughtering a family of four, including two young children, and burning their bodies in a backyard fire pit. The incident came to light when Pasco County deputies initiated a welfare check on 26-year-old Rain Mancini, 25-year-old Phillip Zilliot II, 6-year-old Karma Zilliot, and 5-year-old Phillip Zilliot III on June 13.
Concern arose when a resident reported seeing a puddle of blood and what appeared to be adult and child bodies during a video call with his brother, who had been asked by 25-year-old Rory Atwood to help burn trash. Atwood initially denied any knowledge of the family's whereabouts, claiming they had left the property on June 12.
However, a subsequent call to law enforcement alleged that Atwood had confessed to killing his roommates and their children. Investigators discovered burned debris in a fire pit at Atwood's residence, where cadaver dogs found small skeletal remains and human vertebrae. A strong chlorine odor was also detected near the front porch.
Atwood later claimed he evicted the family due to unpaid rent but said they returned unexpectedly on June 12, leading to a violent altercation in which he alleged self-defense. Atwood stated that he shot Mancini and Zilliot II during a struggle for a gun, but did not disclose how the children died.
Despite Atwood's version of events, detectives believe he premeditated the murders and attempted to conceal the crime by burning evidence. Atwood has been charged with first-degree murder and is currently held without bond, with additional charges pending as the investigation progresses. The remains have yet to be formally identified, and Atwood has pleaded not guilty.
