Florida man confessed to burning missing family of 4 at home, doctors say

A Florida man has been charged with murder after authorities discovered human remains in his home that they believe belong to a missing family – including children aged 5 and 6.

Phillip Zilliot II, Rain Mancini and their two children, Karma Zilliot, 6; and Phillip Zilliot III, 5, were last seen alive June 12 in Hudson County, according to a release from the Pasco Sheriff's Office.

The next day, a woman asked authorities to conduct a welfare check at their home, telling them that her brother had received a disturbing video call from Rory Atwood, who was living with the family at the time, according to a criminal complaint affidavit got. by WFLA on Wednesday. He told her he could see what appeared to be bodies and a pool of blood during his video call with Atwood, who claimed he needed help burning trash.

When officers arrived at Atwood's residence in Hudson, they found nothing suspicious, but a fire pit in her backyard was “actively smoldering and smoking” at the time. They returned home Friday, after receiving a call from another person, who told them that Atwood had confessed to killing the family of four.

This time, Atwood told authorities that he had evicted the family for non-payment of rent and that they took up to two weeks of belonging with them when they left earlier in the week, according to the affidavit. Officers then searched the property and inspected the home, where a cadaver dog discovered “small skeletal remains,” “fragments of human long bones” and “exposed human vertebrae,” according to documents obtained by Tampa Bay 10 .

In subsequent interviews with law enforcement, Atwood initially denied harming the family before confessing to killing Zilliot and Mancini, both of whom he had known since high school. He said Zilliot first attacked him with a knife, then they struggled over a handgun, which went off and fatally struck Mancini. He told police he then shot Zilliot twice in the head.

Atwood, however, did not hesitate to kill the children. Instead, he alleged the couple killed them, but admitted he was the one who brought them to the home, according to the affidavit.

As of Wednesday, the remains found in the home had not yet been formally identified, although authorities believe they belong to the missing family.

On Monday, Atwood pleaded not guilty to the murder of John Doe. He is currently behind bars and held without bail.