The family was last seen with Rory Atwood, who has since been arrested in connection with remains found on his property
Pasco Sheriff’s Department.
Rain Mancini. Karma Zilliot and Phillip Zilliot III
Authorities in Florida are searching for a family of four they say went missing after the parents had an argument with a friend. Days after they disappeared, the friend was arrested when authorities reportedly found human remains on his property, believed to be those of members of the missing family.
Police have identified the missing family members as Rain Mancini, Phillip Zilliot II, Karma Zilliot and Phillip Zilliot III, who were last seen on Wednesday, June 12, in the town of Hudson, Florida, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office said in a statement last week.
On June 14, authorities found human remains on a Hudson property while “investigating multiple homicides” and arrested a man they believe “committed multiple murders,” the sheriff’s office said in a follow-up statement.
Pasco Sheriff’s Department.
Phillip Zilliot II (left), and his family Rain Mancini, Karma Zilliot and Phillip Zilliot III
The statement did not name the detained man, but Sheriff Chris Nocco identified him as Rory Atwood, WFLA, ABC Action News and the Tampa Bay Times reported.
As of Monday morning, police had not yet confirmed the nature or quantity of remains found on the property, WFLA reported. But Nocco said they likely belong to members of the missing family, according to ABC Action News.
Atwood, 25, was charged with first-degree murder of a ‘John Doe’ in connection with the remains found, WFLA, ABC Action News and the Tampa Bay Times reported, citing Pasco County authorities.
“We believe [the family members] It is possible that the deceased died on the property, but we do not know definitively,” Nocco told WFLA and ABC Action News. “And we will do everything we can to track them down.”
Mancini, 26, and Phillip, 25, were reportedly drinking with Atwood Wednesday night when an argument ensued, a friend told Pasco County sheriff’s officials, according to WFLA.
“Before Rain’s friend leaves, he hears someone say, ‘Because the last time this happened you pulled a gun on us,’ referring to Rory,” Nocco said, according to WFLA. “We have no police reports on that.”
Pasco Sheriff’s Department.
Rory Atwood has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with remains found on his property
Early Thursday morning, a friend of Atwood’s received a call in which Atwood reportedly sounded panicked and said he had shot someone, Nocco said, according to WFLA and ABC Action News. (Nocco said the sheriff’s office received this tip about Atwood from third- or fourth-hand sources.)
Police conducted an initial search of Atwood’s property and found nothing Tampa Bay Times and ABC Action News reported citing authorities.
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On Friday, relatives of the Mancini and Zilliot families told police they had not heard from the family, which was strange to them.
Nocco said the family was “transient and moving from one place to another,” according to ABC Action News.
“Their living situation was never the best,” he said, adding that “they stayed with Rory for a while and something happened. This led to an argument.”
Atwood, who was convicted of assault in 2022, has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge and has been assigned a public defender, online court records show. PEOPLE could not immediately reach its attorney.
A missing persons investigation remains open. Pasco County Sheriff asks anyone with information to contact the Pasco Sheriff’s non-emergency line at 727-847-8102, option 7, or report tips online at PascoSheriff.com/tips.
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