Human remains found during search for missing Pasco County family, deputies say
HUDSON, Fla. - The Pasco Sheriff's Office says human remains were found during a search for a missing family in Hudson.
Deputies say Rain Mancini, Phillip Zilliot II, Karma Zilliot and Phillip Zilliot III were all last seen on June 12 around 12:30 a.m. in the Nottingham Trl. area of Hudson.
Pictured: Rain Mancini Courtesy: Pasco County Sheriff's Office
According to the sheriff's office:
- Rain Mancini, 26, is 5'7", around 240 lbs., with auburn hair and brown eyes.
- Phillip Zilliot II, 25, is 5'10", around 238 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes.
- Karma Zilliot, 6, is 3'6", around 65 lbs., with blonde hair and blue eyes.
- Phillip Zilliot III, 5, is 4 feet, around 65 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes.
Officials say they do not know what Mancini, Zilliot II, Zilliot and Zilliot III were last seen wearing.
According to Sheriff Chris Nocco during a news conference on Saturday afternoon, Rory Atwood, 25, was charged with first-degree homicide on John Doe.
"It's John Doe because we do not know exactly the human remains that we found, but because of the statements he made, because of the information we gathered, he's been charged with first degree homicide," explained Nocco.
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On Wednesday evening around 11:30 p.m., the sheriff says Mancini got picked up at her mother's house by a friend who drove her to Atwood's house located on Nottingham Trail in Hudson.
"This was the last time that Rain saw her mother and her mother saw her, which is unusual as we'll find out later in the investigation," said Nocco.
Courtesy: Pasco Sheriff's Office
Mancini, her friend, Zilliot II, and Atwood, were all at the house together with Mancini and Zilliot's two children and Atwood's daughter, according to officials. Nocco says the adults were drinking.
Around midnight on Thursday, Zilliot II spoke to his mother by phone.
"Per Rain's friend, Rain, Phillp and Rory were all drinking alcohol, and they started arguing. Before leaving, Rain's friend hears someone say, ‘This is the last this happened you pulled a gun on us,’ referring to Rory," said Nocco.
According to the sheriff's office, there were no police reports about the incident.
Around 2 a.m., officials say a friend of Atwood's got a call from him saying that he was really upset and had shot someone.
Around 3 a.m., Nocco says Atwood called his baby's mother and said he wanted to drop their daughter off. He didn't drop the child off until around 5:45 a.m.
"At approximately two in the afternoon, this is the first time that we, the Pasco Sheriff's Office got information. We received third and possibly fourth party information that the suspect may have killed somebody," said Nocco.
Pictured: Phillip Zilliot II. Courtesy of Pasco County Sheriff's Office
Officials searched the property and did not find anything suspicious. However, on Friday, deputies say they went back to Atwood's property to search after Mancini and Zilliot II's family hadn't heard from them.
During the second search, the sheriff's office says they found human remains.
"This along with several admissions is what led to Rory Atwood being charged with first degree homicide," Nocco said.
The sheriff's says the missing persons case will remain active until everyone is identified.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of these individuals is asked to please call 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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