A woman’s 911 call in rural Pasco County, Florida sounded too scary to be true, even for seasoned officers. The caller claimed to have seen “the burning body parts of adults and children” on the screen during her brother’s video call with an acquaintance. She hadn’t imagined it. Now Rory Atwood has been arrested on suspicion of four murders. He is said to have murdered his four housemates, including two children, in cold blood and then burned them in the garden.
Originally, police could not gain access to Atwood’s property without direct evidence of a crime. According to a report in the Tampa Bay Times, the woman’s brother dismissed her statement as a fantasy. Until family members filed a missing persons report about the disappearance of Rain Mancini (26), Phillip Zilliot II (25) and their children Karma Zilliot (6) and Phillip Zilliot III (5).
The suspect became involved in contradictions
The young family lived in the same house as Atwood. When questioned by police, he initially claimed that he had evicted the family from their home on June 1 due to high rent arrears. But then the 25-year-old became embroiled in contradictions, leading to a search warrant.
The argument apparently ended fatally
The officers then discovered a fireplace in the garden that was still burning. According to the police report, cadaver dogs discovered “the charred remains of two human spines and other skeletal fragments” after the fire was extinguished. During questioning, Atwood then admitted, according to a police spokesperson, that these were the remains of the four missing people. He then claimed that Zilliot threatened him with a gun. During a struggle, he grabbed the gun and then shot Zilliot twice in the head and Mancini in the chest. He then burned the two bodies with the bodies of the two children. Police say Atwood insists the children were not killed by him, but by their own parents.
The coroner has yet to officially identify the burnt skeletal remains. Once that happens, prosecutors want to try Atwood for quadruple murder. The suspected killer insists he is innocent but must remain in custody with no chance of bail.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
