Update — July 31, 10:42 p.m.: Amato was found guilty. Learn more here.
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Grant Amato, 30, stands trial in Seminole County, Florida. Prosecutors say he killed his mother Margaret Amato, 61, father Chad Amato, 59, and his brother Cody Amato, 31, after they confronted him for stealing about $200,000 to fund an obsession over a Bulgarian cam girl. Charges are three counts of first-degree premeditated murder. If convicted, he faces the death penalty.
The three victims were found dead at home last January 25, according to records obtained by Law&Crime. They’d been having problems with the defendant, investigators said. He previously stole about $50,000 from his brother Cody, and $150,000 from their father. Things became so bad that their dad laid down an ultimatum, authorities said: take a 60-day Internet and sex addiction rehab program or leave home. He only took just shy of two weeks, but was allowed to stay at the residence anyway. He had to follow certain rules–he had to stop communicating with the cam girl, authorities said.
Thing allegedly came to a head when the father kicked Grant Amato out of the residence after learning he was stilling keeping in touch with the cam girl.
The defendant did not admit to the crime when speaking to authorities.
Towards the end of the interview, while viewing crime scene photos of his dead family members, GRANT AMATO was asked if he had any remorse for the killings of his mother, father and brother. GRANT AMATO’s response was his family had been blaming him for months for ruining their lives, stealing and not following the rules of the home, so he might as well be blamed for this too.
Note: This article has been updated to reflect that the trial began.
[Mugshot via Seminole County Sheriff’s Office]
