A Florida man accused of murdering a family of four and burning their bodies reportedly told a friend he killed a young boy because he “felt bad” after seeing him “convulsing.”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Rory Atwood, 25, faces four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Rain Mancini, 26, Phillip Zilliot II, 25, and their children, Karma Zilliot, 6, and Phillip Zilliot III, 5.
According to Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies, Atwood allegedly killed the family at his Hudson home on June 13, following an argument with Phillip Zilliot II. The incident happened on Atwood’s 10-acre property on Nottingham Trail in Hudson.
A recently filed probable cause arrest affidavit revealed a June 17 interview with one of Rory Atwood’s friends, according to Law& Crime.
According to the affidavit, the friend told deputies that Atwood had asked him to bring a bottle of bleach to his place on June 13. Upon arrival, he found the defendant inside the home, sleeping on a recliner. The friend said he noticed the front porch had been recently washed.
The friend said that Atwood claimed Rain Mancini and Phillip Zilliot II attacked their own children and then tried to attack him. Atwood allegedly admitted he killed the couple with a 9 mm handgun, claiming self-defense.
He then went to the backyard and saw Mancini’s body near the fire pit, wrapped in a rug with her legs sticking out. He also saw a child’s foot in the debris.
“The witness looked at the fire pit and observed a juvenile’s foot sticking out of the debris with pink and purple nail polish on the toe nails,” the affidavit said.
On June 20, the friend had another interview and told investigators that Atwood said he found the two children around two hours after he shot their parents.
“The witness stated while he spoke with the defendant he admitted to locating the children lying in the laundry room with the male juvenile convulsing and the female juvenile lying still,” the affidavit stated.
“The defendant admitted, to the witness, he shot the male juvenile in the head because he ‘felt bad.’”
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Initially, Atwood gave conflicting information to investigators, suggesting that if they found bones on his property, they were from a horse. He also allegedly asked how long it takes human flesh to decompose.
Atwood said he evicted the family on June 1 for not paying rent. He said they later returned to the property to collect their belongings. The family ended up staying for a few hours, Atwood said.
During their subsequent search, deputies found the victims’ possessions at the property. Atwood claimed the family left those particular items because they “did not have time to take them.”
Witnesses told police that Mancini and Zilliot were drinking with Atwood at the home. Their children were there, along with Mancini’s friend and Atwood’s 4-year-old daughter.
The 4-year-old told detectives she saw Rain Mancini get into an argument at her father’s home.
At around 6 a.m. the following day, Atwood dropped the girl off at her mother’s home. The mother told detectives Atwood seemed unusually agitated.
Atwood allegedly said that Phillip Zilliot II and Mancini walked into his bedroom with knives on the night in question. Atwood said he disarmed Zilliot and threw the knife out of the room, while Zilliot punched him in the head. He said he also saw Mancini threatening his daughter with a knife.
During the struggle, Zilliot purportedly grabbed a handgun from the room. Atwood claimed he wrestled for the gun and fired two shots into Zilliot’s head. He said Mancini was also shot several times in the torso and head.
Atwood then dragged the bodies from the living room to a fire pit, which he said was already lit, then hid the firearm and burned his bloodstained couch.
Investigators, however, noted that Atwood had no signs of injuries consistent with a fight.
“The defendant burned the two victims and evidence within the fire pit and repeatedly lied to patrol deputies and detectives,” the affidavit stated, adding that he also “admitted to knowing both juveniles…also burned in the same fire pit.”
Atwood pleaded not guilty in his initial court appearance earlier this month. He remains behind bars without bond at Land O’ Lakes Jail.
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with information on the case to call them at 727-847-8102, option 7, or submit tips online at PascoSheriff.com/tips.
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[Feature Photo: Rain Mancini, Karma and Phillip Ziliott III. Inset: Phillip Zilliot II/Pasco County Sheriff’s Office]
