A Florida landlord has been arrested after allegedly murdering a family of four, including two young children, and burning their remains in a fire pit, according to authorities. The suspect, identified as 25-year-old Rory Atwood, admitted to carrying out the crime after getting into a dispute with the victims, who he had been friends with since high school.
The incident began when the family, described as “transients,” was reported missing by the mother of 26-year-old Rain Mancini, who failed to maintain regular contact with her. Police initially questioned Atwood, who denied any knowledge of the family’s whereabouts.
“If there wasn’t evil in this world, we wouldn’t have to pray as much. And when I talk about this story today, you’re going to hear about evil.” Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco
However, investigators noticed an active fire pit emitting smoke in Atwood’s backyard during a search of the property. The landlord permitted cadaver dogs to search the area, and they discovered skeletal remains, soft tissue, and vertebrae in the fire pit. Additionally, a strong chlorine odor was detected on the back patio.
Under further questioning, Atwood’s story began to unravel. He eventually confessed to killing the family, claiming self-defense. According to his account, the parents arrived at his home armed with knives, leading to a physical altercation. Atwood alleges that he saw Mancini “poking” his own 4-year-old daughter’s throat with a knife, which triggered him to use a firearm in self-defense, ultimately resulting in the deaths of both parents.
While Atwood did not initially disclose the location of the children during the struggle, he later implied that their bodies were also in the fire pit. However, he did not admit to killing them himself. Authorities are currently working to establish a definitive connection between the family and the remains recovered from the scene.
Atwood was charged with the deaths of the family members based on his confession, although he pled not guilty during his court appearance. He is currently being held without bond.