Missing Family's Bodies Found In Firepit Of Pasco Man's Home: Report

HUDSON, FL — Remains recently found at a Pasco County man's home may belong to a family of four whose bodies were possibly tossed into a firepit, WFTS Tampa Bay reported.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office began searching last week for 26-year-old Rain Mancini, 25-year-old Phillip Zilliot II, 6-year-old Karma Zilliot and 5-year-old Phillip Zilliot III.

Considered endangered, they were last seen around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Nottingham Trail area of Hudson, authorities said.

A day after issuing a missing persons alert, authorities said Friday that multiple homicides were being investigated in the Nottingham area.

Authorities said deputies interacted around 3:15 p.m. with a man who "may have committed multiple homicides."

Human remains were located after a cadaver dog was requested and alerted, authorities said without naming where specifically the remains were found.

However, WFTS reported authorities said the remains were found at the home of 25-year-old Rory Atwood, who reportedly evicted the family for not paying to rent before engaging in a dispute that involved a firearm and a knife.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said Atwood called a friend and franticly told the person that he had shot someone and that he needed assistance with burning trash, WFTS reported, citing an affidavit.

"The friend noticed a puddle of blood and could see adult and child bodies over the video phone call, according to court records. Detectives returned to the home on Nottingham Trial in Hudson on June 14," WFTS said.

Deputies did not initially find anything suspicious during the first search of Atwood's home, WFTS reported; but, when they returned, the cadaver dog seemingly pulled small skeletal remains from a burn pit.

After being granted permission to return to the property, Nocco said a search that included bloodhounds and aviation turned up human remains, WFTS reported.

While authorities did not identify the remains, Atwood reportedly acknowledged to deputies that the bodies belonging to Mancini and the Zilliots were in his fire pit.

"Until the (medical examiner) comes back, it's still a missing persons case," Nocco told WFTS. "We were able to find human remains at the crime scene, and we believe it may be the family."

Mancini and Phillip Zilliot II reportedly suffered gunshot wounds, but official cause of deaths are unknown for the family.

Authorities said a suspect is in custody but did not identify the suspect.

Pasco County Jail records show Atwood was booked Saturday into the jail and was being held without bond Tuesday on a premeditated murder/homicide charge.