Episode 65: The Amato Family Murders

With a population slightly over 2000, Chuluota, FL offers a peaceful lifestyle with close-knit community vibes. Just a short 30 minute drive from Orlando, residents of Chuluota enjoy the quiet environment, minimal traffic, and low crime rate making it an ideal family-friendly location. Margaret and Chad Amato chose Chuluota to raise their 3 sons: Jason, Cody and Grant. A seemingly picture perfect family would prove otherwise on a fateful day. In January 2019, authorities discovered the bodies of Chad, Margaret, and Cody Amato. Suspicion quickly fell on the other member of the family living in the home, who had not been located: Grant. Grant had had recently been kicked out of the house after stealing money from family members and being sent to rehab to deal with an obsession and his depression. After an intense interview, Grant maintained his innocence, even though the circumstantial evidence was overwhelming. Despite the lack of physical evidence, authorities arrested Grant for the triple homicide and took him to trial. This case proves obsessions can turn to madness, making even the most unsuspecting people commit brutal acts of violence.

 

Sources:

“Did Amato try to Pin Killings on Kin?” by Michael Williams in The Orlando Sentinel on July 24, 2019

“Grant Amato Murdered His Family for a Webcam Model He Never Met” by Sarah Kuta on A&E True Crime Blog on October 19, 2021 (https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/amato-family-murders)

“Deputies: Man Killed Family over Money Sent to ‘Call Girl’” by Sara Nealeigh in The Bradenton Herald on January 30, 2019

“Grant Amato found guilty of killing mother, father and brother” by ClickOrlando.com Staff on ClickOrlando on August 1, 2019 (https://www.clickorlando.com/news/2019/08/01/grant-amato-found-guilty-of-killing-mother-father-and-brother/)

“Man arrested for killing family, stealing $210K to send to woman he met on porn site” by Associated Press on NBC News on January 29, 2019 (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/man-arrested-killing-family-stealing-210k-send-woman-he-met-n963901)

“Prosecutors to Seek Death Penalty for Chuluota Man” by Michael Williams in The Orlando Sentinel on February 15, 2019

“Where Is Grant Amato Now? All About the Convicted Murderer at the Center of Ctrl+Alt+Desire” by Jessica Sager on People Entertainment on April 16, 2024 (https://people.com/where-is-grant-amato-now-8634157)

“Victims In Chuluota Triple Homicide ID'd; Person of Interest Released” by Spectrum News Staff on Spectrum News 13 on January 27, 2019 (https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/crime/2019/01/27/victims-in-chuluota-triple-homicide-idd-person-of-interest-released)

“Man who Killed Seminole County Family Accused in Hitman Plot to Murder Reality TV star” by Senait Gebregiorgis on Wesh 2 News on March 13, 2025 (https://www.wesh.com/article/seminole-county-man-hitman-plot-to-murder-tv-star/64178214)

“Crime Scene Analysts Testify” by Michael Williams in The Orlando Sentinel on July 25, 2019

“Grant Amato Found Guilty of Murdering Parents, Brother” by Asher Wildman on Spectrum News 13 on July 31, 2019 (https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2019/07/31/grant-amato-reverses-course--decides-not-to-testify-as-defense-rests)

“Grant Amato gets life for killing parents, brother over Bulgarian webcam model” by Jeff Weiner on The Ledger on August 12, 2019 (https://www.theledger.com/story/news/crime/2019/08/13/grant-amato-gets-life-for-killing-parents-brother-over-bulgarian-webcam-model/4411093007/)

“Murder and the Sex Cam Model” on Killer Cases season 2 episode 2 on HULU