TAMPA, Fla. — A Florida man who was reported missing in January was found dismembered and buried in the backyard of a suspect now accused of murdering him and stealing large sums of money, authorities said.
Joseph Romano, 71, was last seen alive at his apartment on Jan. 12 and reported missing four days later. Following an extensive investigation, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office announced that Romano’s dismembered remains were discovered on Feb. 13 on the property of Joseph Schiliro, 45.
Schiliro and an alleged accomplice, Silviano Christman, 31, have been arrested and charged with murder. Christman was taken into custody in New York City on Feb. 20 by the NYPD’s Regional Fugitive Task Force, while Schiliro was arrested the next day in Pinellas County by a U.S. Marshals Task Force.
Authorities say Schiliro was seen attempting to collect mail from Romano’s apartment after his disappearance. Investigators also found that Christman traveled from New York to Tampa on Jan. 3 with Schiliro—the same day Romano last had contact with anyone he knew.
A missing persons case turned into a grisly homicide investigation after police found the victim’s remains buried in the suspect’s backyard.