A Florida couple and their two children’s remains were found in a fire pit off Nottingham Trail in Hudson, Florida days after they mysteriously vanished.
A woman alerted police to the gruesome crime after the suspect, Rory Atwood, called her brother asking for help burning “some trash.”
The brother could see the bodies of two adults and two children during the video call along with a pool of blood.
Following his arrest, Atwood admitted to burning Rain Mancini, 26; Phillip Zilliot II, 25; 6-year-old Karma Zilliot, 6; and 5-year-old Phillip Zilliot.
“We believe it may be this family, but at the same time, I can’t give a definitive until…the [medical examiner] gives us final confirmation that it is,” Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said on Saturday.
Atwood, who claimed that the couple attacked him and his daughter first, was charged with first-degree murder.
“The defendant burned the two victims and evidence within the fire pit and repeatedly lied to patrol deputies and detectives,” police said.
“[He] admitted to knowing both juveniles…also burned in the same fire pit.”
