Connecticut man convicted of killing wife, 3 kids, and dog at home near Disney World
04/15/2022 1:42 pm PDT
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (TCD) -- A 46-year-old man faces life in prison after a jury found him guilty of killing his wife, their three kids, and their family dog in 2020.
According to The Associated Press, Anthony Todt was convicted on four counts of first-degree murder and one count of animal cruelty for the deaths of his 42-year-old wife Megan, his 4-year-old daughter Zoe, 11-year-old son Tyler, 13-year-old son Alek, and family dog Breezy.
Prosecutors in the case reportedly did not seek the death penalty for Todt, so he will serve a mandatory life sentence.
In a Jan. 15, 2020, press conference, Osceola County Russ Gibson said deputies responded to a home at 2002 Reserve Place on Jan. 13 to assist federal agents from the Department of Health and Human Services, who were serving an arrest warrant for Anthony Todt. He was detained without incident and reportedly confessed to killing his family.
WKMG-TV reports the HHS officials wanted to take him into custody for health care fraud charges in Connecticut.
While conducting a safety check that day, deputies reportedly found the bodies and obtained a search warrant to look through the rest of the house. Gibson said the medical examiner determined the Todts were killed "at the end of December."
One of Anthony Todt’s family members reportedly called the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 29, 2019, and asked deputies to conduct a well-being check. The family member reportedly had not heard from the Todts in several days and was worried because "she had been told they all had the flu."
Deputies went to the home but were unsuccessful in contacting anyone inside. Federal agents reportedly contacted the Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 9 to conduct another check, but deputies once again could not make contact with anyone inside the home.
During the trial, Todt reportedly recanted his confession and said he was "covering for my wife," The Associated Press reports.
Assistant State Attorney Danielle Pinnell reportedly said during the trial and Anthony and Megan agreed to kill their children in order to "pass over" when the apocalypse came. The family members who died reportedly all had high levels of Benadryl in their bodies, as well as stab wounds.
MORE:
