Person of interest found in investigation into triple homicide
CHULUOTA, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - UPDATE: (01/27): The victim have been identified as 59-year-old Chad Amato, 61-year-old Margaret Amato, and 31-year-old Cody Amato. Chad and Margaret were married. Cody and Grant were their sons.
Grant Amato is no longer in investigative detention but is cooperating. He is still considered a person of interest.
UPDATE (01/26): Seminole County deputies say a Honda Accord was found Saturday morning at a hotel in Orange County.
They say Grant Amato was found inside the room and taken into "investigative detention" without incident.
ORIGINAL STORY (01/25): Authorities are searching for a person of interest in the investigation into the shooting deaths of two men and a woman at a Florida home.
Seminole County deputies said Grant Amato, 29, may be driving a 1996 white Honda Accord DX, with Florida tag number L1GH7. He should be considered armed and dangerous, they said.
Deputies found the bodies Friday morning after an employer of one of the victims called the sheriff's office to request a well-being check.
“His boss became concerned; he made a couple of calls,” Sheriff Dennis Lemma Lemma said. “That prompted the Sheriff's Office responding.”
Lemma said there were no signs of a break-in at the Chuluota home, located on Sultan Circle in the Pickett Downs subdivision, just off of Fort Christmas Road.
During an afternoon news conference, the sheriff said deputies found the three people dead in the garage, kitchen and a home office, and he indicated that investigators believe the victims knew the killer.
“It looks like this wasn’t a random act of violence. It looks like the person responsible for these murders was known to the family, and we’re going to do everything we can to get this person in custody very, very soon,” Lemma said.
Authorities didn't immediately name the victims, but they said the woman appeared to be in her 50s, and the men were in their 30s. Sheriff Lemma said they'd been called to this house before.
“A call I am aware of back in December, a person suffering from depression, etc.,” he added.
Neighbors were alarmed at the discovery. One said he knew the family and believed the incident to be a first in the area.
“It is shocking, unbelievable actually in this neighborhood,” he said.
Other neighbors had trouble getting to their homes, as the investigation had most of Sultan Circle blocked off.
“We got the phone call and immediately left work and came home, to not be able to get into the neighborhood and had to go around,” a resident said.
Deputies were looking for the Honda Accord, that was missing from the house. Officials believe the car might be in the Orlando area, possibly around State Road 408, he said. Lemma asked anyone who sees the car to call 911.
Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call the Seminole County Sheriff's Office at 407-665-6650 or Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477). Calls made to Crimeline remain anonymous, and tips that lead to the felony arrest of suspects and/or the recovery of stolen property and drugs are eligible for cash rewards of up to $1,000