In a disturbing turn of events in Pasco County, Florida, Rory Atwood, 25, faces charges of first-degree murder following a harrowing discovery. The Pasco Sheriff’s Office made the announcement after uncovering remains in a fire pit outside Atwood’s residence in Hudson, just north of Tampa.
The missing family, comprised of Phillip Zilliot II, 25, Rain Mancini, 26, and their two young children, 5-year-old Phillip Zilliot III and 6-year-old Karma Zilliot, were believed to have been former roommates of Atwood.
While the identities of the remains await confirmation by the medical examiner, investigators strongly suspect they belong to the missing family. Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco emphasized that conclusive identification hinges on the pending report from the medical examiner.
Details emerging from an affidavit released on Monday shed light on the investigation’s trajectory. It began with a welfare check request on Thursday, prompting deputies to delve into Atwood’s activities.
A disturbing revelation unfolded when Atwood allegedly enlisted someone’s help in burning trash, leading the witness to witness distressing scenes via video call, including blood and bodies of adults and children.
Atwood initially claimed the Zilliot family had departed from his property on Thursday evening. However, the discovery of an active fire pit in Atwood’s backyard raised suspicions during the investigation.
A pivotal moment occurred on Friday when a tipster informed authorities that Atwood had admitted to killing the missing family members. Subsequent interrogations unveiled a chilling narrative. Atwood purportedly evicted the Zilliot family from his residence two weeks prior due to rental payment issues.
According to Atwood’s account, Mancini intended to seek refuge with her children at a women’s shelter, while Phillip Zilliot II planned to camp in a nearby park. Atwood alleged that a confrontation ensued, during which Phillip Zilliot II brandished a knife, and Mancini allegedly menaced Atwood’s daughter with a knife.
In a later interrogation on Saturday, Atwood confessed to incinerating the bodies of the entire Zilliot family in the fire pit.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are working diligently to confirm the identities of the remains and unravel further details surrounding this tragic saga.