SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. (Court TV) — A Florida man has been sentenced to a life in prison without parole after being found guilty of murdering three of his family members following an argument over a Bulgarian webcam model.
On July 31, 2019, 30-year-old Grant Amato was convicted in the fatal shootings his father, mother and older brother. The bodies of 59-year-old Chad Amato, 61-year-old Margaret Amato and 31-year-old Cody Amato were found in their Seminole County home on January 25.
Grant Amato apperas in court. (Court TV)
During a police interview, Grant said he and his father got into an argument the night of January 24. Chad was upset Grant was still communicating with a webcam model identified as Silvie, whom he met in June 2018, and had sent around $200,000 of his family’s money.
Court TV’s Trial Archives | Porn Obsession Murder Trial (FL v. Grant Amato 2019)
Grant told police his father gave him an ultimatum: enter an addiction program and stop talking to Silvie or leave home. Grant said he chose the latter.
The bodies of the three victims were found the next day after a co-worker of Cody called police to conduct a welfare check when he didn’t show up for work. Grant was arrested three days later on three counts of murder, which he pleaded not guilty to. Prosecutors sought the death penalty.
Prior to the murders, Grant was facing charges of theft and improperly administering drugs to patients at a nursing job he was fired from.
On Aug. 12, 2019, the jury voted to sentence Grant to three life sentences without parole.
