Two individuals were arrested in Valrico, Florida, after detectives discovered the body of a missing man buried in the backyard of one of the suspects’ homes. The victim, Joseph Romano, was reported missing on January 16, and the investigation quickly pointed to foul play.
Hillsborough County detectives say 45-year-old Joseph Schiliro was spotted trying to take mail from Romano’s apartment complex during the investigation. Further probing revealed large sums of money had been transferred from the victim’s accounts to fraudulent accounts linked to Schiliro.
Authorities later found that the second suspect, 31-year-old Silviano Christman, had flown from New York to Tampa on January 3, where he was seen with Schiliro during the time of the victim’s disappearance.
On February 13, detectives executed a search warrant at Schiliro’s residence, where they uncovered dismembered human remains buried in the backyard. Authorities were horrified by the extent of the crime.
“This is a horrific case where an elderly individual was taken advantage of, and ultimately, he lost his life to two suspects who committed a heinous crime,” said Caitlin Wilson of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Both Schiliro and Christman have been arrested and charged with various crimes, including:
Joseph Schiliro:
Pre-meditated first-degree murder
Conspiracy to commit pre-meditated first-degree murder
Burglary with battery
Fraudulent use of personally identifiable information of a deceased person
Money laundering
Exploitation of a disabled adult
Silviano Christman:
Pre-meditated first-degree murder
Conspiracy to commit pre-meditated first-degree murder
Burglary with battery
Abuse of a dead body
Fraudulent use of personally identifiable information of a deceased person
Sheriff Chad Chronister expressed his determination to see justice served: “The actions of these two men are despicable and deeply disturbing. Through deceit and violence, they exploited and took the life of another individual,” he said. “Thanks to the determined efforts of our detectives and law enforcement partners, they are both now behind bars. We remain committed to seeking justice for the victim and his loved ones.”
The relationship between the suspects and the victim remains unclear, but authorities confirm that they all knew each other. Investigators are continuing their efforts to piece together the full scope of the case.
The discovery has left neighbors uneasy, as forensic teams were spotted in the area for nearly two weeks before the arrests brought some closure to the community. One resident shared, “It’s just been very unsettling the past couple of weeks, not knowing and the uncertainty – and to know that this could happen in your neighborhood. But no one really knew him, he kept to himself. Now that there has been an arrest, it has given a little bit of closure.”
The investigation is ongoing as authorities seek to determine more details regarding the motive behind this tragic crime.
