A Florida landlord has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly killing a family of four, including two young children, and burning their bodies in a backyard fire pit, police revealed on Thursday.

Rory Atwood, the landlord, allegedly killed his tenants—26-year-old Rain Mancini, 25-year-old Phillip Zilliot II, and their children, 6-year-old Karma and 5-year-old Phillip III—after a dispute over unpaid rent. Discovered through a tip from a friend, the grisly crime scene included a fire pit with human remains. Atwood initially claimed self-defense and denied knowledge of their disappearance but is being held without bond as the investigation progresses and additional charges are considered.

Authorities were alerted to the situation on June 13 when a friend of Atwood's called the police, reporting that Atwood had confessed to killing his roommates and their children and burning their bodies in his backyard. The family had been reported missing earlier in the day after a welfare check had been requested.

Upon arriving at Atwood's property, police discovered a fire pit filled with burned debris. Further investigation using a cadaver dog led to the discovery of small skeletal remains, soft tissue, and two human vertebrae within the charred remnants. Additionally, officers noticed a strong odor of chlorine around the front porch of Atwood's home.

During initial questioning, Atwood told police that the family had left the property on June 12 and that he had no knowledge of their whereabouts. He later provided a different account, stating that he had evicted the family on June 1 for failing to pay rent, but they unexpectedly returned on June 12 and attacked him with knives. Atwood claimed he had fought back and in the course of the struggle had shot Mancini and Phillip Zilliot II.

Atwood's narrative then took a gruesome turn as he alleged that the parents might have killed their own children. However, he later admitted that he had burned the bodies of the children, along with their parents, in the backyard fire pit.

The family was identified as 26-year-old Rain Mancini, 25-year-old Phillip Zilliot II, and their children, 6-year-old Karma Zilliot, and 5-year-old Phillip Zilliot III. Their bodies were discovered in the state of Florida, following a welfare check request and subsequent tip-off from a friend.

Atwood has been charged with first-degree murder and additional charges are pending as the investigation continues. He pleaded not guilty and is currently being held without bond. This case has shocked the local community as details of the alleged crimes come to light.