GUILTY FL – Chad, 59, Margaret, 61, & son, Cody Amato, 31, fatally shot by other son, Chuluota, 25 Jan 2019

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  • #161
SeesSeas said:
Perhaps the defense will call Cody's girlfriend (Sloan) as a witness?
The testimony about the phones (FBI agent Rienerth) was confusing. IMO
Here is some more media reporting that I found about the phone testimony:
Brother, friend of man accused of killing 3 members of his family expected to testify Thursday
Updated: Jul 26, 2019 - 9:13 AM
[...]
Jurors also heard from FBI agent George Rienerth, who testified about Cody Amato and Chad Amato’s cellphone usage the hours leading up to their deaths.

"Based on that arc, you can see the crime scene in the map," he said.

Bienerth said that based on records, Cody Amato's cellphone was last turned on at 2:05 a.m. Jan. 25.

He said that between 9:12 a.m. and 9:16 a.m. Jan. 24, there were several phone calls made by Cody Amato to his father and the home's landline.

One call was 23 minutes long, but it is unknown to whom Cody Amato was talking, Bienerth said.

"Past 2:05:57, there were no more network events or interactions with the network that were on this phone," he said.
[...]

Jerry Askin‏Verified account @JerryAskinNews6 Jul 25
FBI agent said there was a 23-minute call made by Cody Amato's phone at 9:16pm on the day prosecutors say #GrantAmato killed him and their parents.

Jerry Askin‏Verified account @JerryAskinNews6 Jul 25
FBI agent said he didn't check cellphone records for #GrantAmato

Jerry Askin‏Verified account @JerryAskinNews6 Jul 25
Rienerth now telling jurors about his expertise in cellphones and cellphone towers. He's also about to go over Verizon phone records associated with the case #GrantAmato

Jerry Askin‏Verified account @JerryAskinNews6 Jul 25
The state’s 6th witness is FBI special agent George Rienerth
Click to expand...

Thanks again for your help. So far we have heard about Margaret's phone and SOME of Cody's phone info...no info on any calls from Chad's phone as of yet. I wonder if we will get to hear that? Also am having doubts that Cody's girlfriend, Sloan, will testify.
 
  • #162

  1. Jerry Askin‏Verified account @JerryAskinNews6 27m27 minutes ago
    Prosecutors call next witness: Nicholas Stewart, a Seminole County Sheriff's Investigator with the Digital Forensic Unit.
  2. Jerry Askin‏Verified account @JerryAskinNews6 35m35 minutes ago
    The defense now cross examining the forensic investigator from the Seminole County Sheriff's Office.
  3. Jerry Askin‏Verified account @JerryAskinNews6 35m35 minutes ago
    The detective said there wasn't any activity on Margaret Amato's laptop after about 4:45pm on January 24th. She's Grant's mom. Prosecutors maintaining their timeline that #GrantAmato killed his mom first at their home.
  1. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 38m38 minutes ago
    Forensics Investigator Blay says last user activity on Margaret Amato's computer was at around 4:45P on 1/24. #GrantAmato @MyNews13 #News13Seminole
  2. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 56m56 minutes ago
    Another pic on #GrantAmato's thumb drive is a picture of what appears to be 6 different assault rifles and one hand gun. @MyNews13. Investigator Blay now going over Grant's laptop. #News13Seminole
  3. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 58m58 minutes ago
    Jury now seeing more photos found on #GrantAmato's thumb drive. Pictures of his parents checkbook, drivers licenses, brother Cody's credit cad, and other debit and credit cards showing the front and back of the cards. @MyNews13 #News13Seminole
 
  • #163
Wishbone said:
Thanks again for your help. So far we have heard about Margaret's phone and SOME of Cody's phone info...no info on any calls from Chad's phone as of yet. I wonder if we will get to hear that? Also am having doubts that Cody's girlfriend, Sloan, will testify.
Click to expand...
There was some testimony about Chad's phone. . . although it was minimal information.
FBI agent George Rienerth testified:
Re: Chad Amato phone 407-416-1344
01/24/2019 12:03:05 PM Data Session
01/24/2019 05:32:39 PM Data Session
01/24/2019 05:51:52 PM Data Session
Timestamp 12:50 to 18:00 -
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  • #164
Michael Williams‏ @michaeldamianw 12m12 minutes ago
To those following the #GrantAmato trial: As some of the more salacious details are presented in court today, please remember the victims, whose deaths have left a void in this small community and continue to agonize those who knew the family. Here’s a bit about each of them:
  1. Michael Williams‏ @michaeldamianw 5m5 minutes ago Chad Amato was immensely proud of his sons. On his personal website, he wrote of his wife, Margaret: "I consider myself fortunate to have a soul mate of the same spiritual wavelength. She is the moon to my sun."
    EAqEByAX4AIeZVR.png


  2. Michael Williams‏ @michaeldamianw 8m8 minutes ago
    Cody Amato was a dedicated certified registered nurse anesthetist at ORMC, who showed up to work early every day and formed bonds with his patients.
    EAqDLHkX4AE-hyK.png


  3. Michael Williams‏ @michaeldamianw 13m13 minutes ago
    Margaret Amato felt most at home while caring for and riding horses. She adopted a neglected ex-racehorse named Lady about 10 years ago, and spent every day training and cherishing the mare. She made several friends at the barn where she boarded Lady. They all miss her very much.
    EAqCI0nXUAA0UeP.jpg
 
  • #165
  • #166
  • #167
  1. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 2m2 minutes ago
    Defense now cross examining. Point out that #GrantAmato's father's (Chad) cell phone also searched how to reset passwords for a computer and devices on 1/19 and 1/20. Other searches all related to, "how to reset a password," for other types of software- again 1/19. @MyNews13
  2. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 12m12 minutes ago
    On #GrantAmato's father's cell phone there was a search performed on 1/24 on how to erase an i-phone. IF you recall, this morning Investigator Blay testified that she believed Cody's phone was connected to Grant's computer in his bedroom to be erased. @MyNews13
Jeff Levkulich‏ @jlevkulichWFTV 10m10 minutes ago
#RightNow: Digital forensic analyst says web activity on Chad Amato’s cellphone show an entry for how to wipe an iPhone around 6:30 on Jan. 24th. Prosecutors allege that Chad Amato was killed around that time. #WFTV #GrantAmatoTrial
 
  • #168
Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 16m16 minutes ago
Two calls that came in to Chad's phone that appeared to be deleted from the phone. Calls came from Cody Amato. Calls were placed on the night of 1/24 around 9:30P

Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 21m21 minutes ago
On 1/24 at 11:29P Chad Amato's cell phone did a search on "If you forget your iphone password." #GrantAmato @MyNews13 Investigator Blay also says it appears someone erased the call log on the phone as well.

Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 25m25 minutes ago
Investigator Blay was called back in to testify once again. #GrantAmato took photos of his parents check book, their driver licenses, and his brothers credit card in October of last year. Another credit card photographed in Dec. of 2018. @MyNews13 #News13Seminole
 
  • #169
  • #170
Jerry Askin‏Verified account @JerryAskinNews6 2h2 hours ago
Forensic investigator said the night of the murders, there were at least 2 calls deleted from Chad Amato's phone. #GrantAmato trial.
  1. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 10m10 minutes ago
    During his interrogation, #GrantAmato stated he did a search of a "Chuluota Shooting" and "Chuluota" news to know something was going on near his home. However, according to forensic data from his computer, no search was ever found by investigators. @MyNews13 #News13Seminole
  2. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 1h1 hour ago
    Not only is the electronic forensic team showing when and for how long Chad Amato's phone was last used and what it searched for, it can also show how many steps it took and logged. As in, if someone were walking with the phone on them. @MyNews13 #GrantAmato #News13Seminole
  3. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 2h2 hours ago
    On 12:10A on 1/25 a note on Chad Amato's iPhone was accessed. Six hours after the phone was last used. The subject was how to block theft of your debit card. #GrantAmato @MyNews13 #News13Seminole
 
  • #171
Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 1m1 minute ago
Fine testifies that the gloves investigators found in #GrantAmato's hotel room in Orlando where they found him are the same gloves he wore while on their trip to Japan.

Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 4m4 minutes ago
December of 2018, Jericho Fine went to Japan with Cody & #GrantAmato for a trip the friends talked about for years. Fine says while on the trip Grant wore black leather gloves because it was cold. @MyNews13

Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 12m12 minutes ago
Jericho Fine is now on the stand. He says he was best friends with Cody & #GrantAmato. @MyNews13 #News13Seminole
 
  • #172
  1. Chanley Shá Painter‏ @ChanleyCourtTV 3m3 minutes ago
    Fine: owned a Jericho 941 semi-automatic handgun - a gun a “main character used” in Anime. Fine sold it to Blake Turpin.
  2. Chanley Shá Painter‏ @ChanleyCourtTV 8m8 minutes ago
    Fine: Noticed 3 unauthorized charges on his Discover card for My Free Cam Tokens while in Japan. $149.99 $149.99 $299.99 These charges froze Fine’s account. #GrantAmato #courttv
  3. Chanley Shá Painter‏ @ChanleyCourtTV 14m14 minutes ago
    Fine: #GrantAmato seemed depressed towards the end of the trip to Japan
 
  • #173

 
  • #174
Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 1m1 minute ago
Turpin told OCSO he believes this gun was used in the Amato murders. Also says he last used & saw gun in June of 2018. Jurors have not asked questions yet. We are in recess until tomorrow. Trial resumes at 8:30A tomorrow & judge states it will be a long day. @MyNews13 #GrantAmato

Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 5m5 minutes ago
#GrantAmato defense is cross examining Blake Turpin. He reported his gun stolen a month before the trial to OCSO. Public Defender Dowdy states no murder weapon has been found then asks if he knows that Jason Amato can’t collect the family estate until this case ends. @MyNews13

Chanley Shá Painter‏ @ChanleyCourtTV 11m11 minutes ago
On Cross: Turpin reports his missing gun on June 11,2019 - a month before trial started. Defense has him admit he Initially told police it was missing since June 2018.
^^ My note: I heard Turpin testify that he last used and saw the gun June 2018; and that he noticed the gun missing from his closet in June 2019.
In the police report (June 2019 when Turpin reported the gun missing), LE wrote that the gun was "missing since June 2018". Turpin testified that he did not tell LE that the gun was "missing since June 2018".
 
  • #175
SeesSeas said:
Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 1m1 minute ago
Turpin told OCSO he believes this gun was used in the Amato murders. Also says he last used & saw gun in June of 2018. Jurors have not asked questions yet. We are in recess until tomorrow. Trial resumes at 8:30A tomorrow & judge states it will be a long day. @MyNews13 #GrantAmato

Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 5m5 minutes ago
#GrantAmato defense is cross examining Blake Turpin. He reported his gun stolen a month before the trial to OCSO. Public Defender Dowdy states no murder weapon has been found then asks if he knows that Jason Amato can’t collect the family estate until this case ends. @MyNews13

Chanley Shá Painter‏ @ChanleyCourtTV 11m11 minutes ago
On Cross: Turpin reports his missing gun on June 11,2019 - a month before trial started. Defense has him admit he Initially told police it was missing since June 2018.
^^ My note: I heard Turpin testify that he last used and saw the gun June 2018; and that he noticed the gun missing from his closet in June 2019.
In the police report (June 2019 when Turpin reported the gun missing), LE wrote that the gun was "missing since June 2018". Turpin testified that he did not tell LE that the gun was "missing since June 2018".
Click to expand...

I'm surprised that testimony about the stolen gun is even being allowed. Talk about a hostile witness with a grudge.

And to bring this issue to the court's attention a month before trial and after becoming buddies with Jason is

suspicious. He does have a reason to hate Grant for putting those charges on his friend's, Jericho Fine, credit card

while they were in Japan but to blame Grant for stealing the gun without proof just shouldn't be admitted. Also, where

is the proof that this gun is the murder weapon? I believe the judge made a bad call by allowing this issue in her

court. I'm not saying that Grant is innocent, but I just don't think the judge should have allowed the gun testimony to come in.
 
  • #176
Grant Amato trial: Jurors see Bulgarian webcam model at center of triple-homicide case
JUL 29, 2019 | 6:20 PM
Jurors in the Grant Amato case got their first glimpse Monday morning of Silvie, the mysterious webcam model at the center of the prosecution’s case against the Chuluota man accused of killing his family.
[...]
Videos and pictures of the woman were presented during the testimony of Geraldine Blay, a Seminole County Sheriff’s Office forensic investigator who processed several electronic devices found in the family’s Sultan Circle home shortly after the Jan. 24 killings.
[...]
During her testimony, Blay said a thumb drive with many of the explicit pictures was connected to Grant Amato’s computer at 11:32 p.m. the night of the killings. That was after prosecutors said each of the family members was killed.

Seven minutes later, Cody Amato’s iPhone was connected to Grant Amato’s computer, Blay said. The trusting process was not completed on the computer, indicating whoever connected the phone may have not been able to enter a passcode.

At 11:42 p.m., the phone was put into “recovery mode,” Blay testified.

“Based on everything else that I examined, I believe the person was trying to wipe the phone,” she said.

During a cross-examination, Amato’s lawyer Jared Shapiro asked Blay whether she was present at the house the night of the killings. Her answer was no. Shapiro then asked whether Blay knew who plugged the phone in, the answer again being no. When Shapiro asked whether Blay was speculating as to the intention of the person who plugged the phone into the computer, Blay said her testimony was formed by her years of experience as a forensic analyst.

“So you’re engaged in mind-reading, is that correct?” Shapiro asked. Leo, the prosecutor, objected to that question.
[...]
At 4:41 p.m. Jan. 24, Chad Amato was listening to Sean Hannity while driving home from work. At 5:24, the phone was unplugged from his car, and at 5:25, he took 67 steps, apparently walking into his home.

Around this time, prosecutors said Chad Amato was shot dead.
[...]
Turpin testified that Grant Amato was in his room, where the gun was stored, unsupervised for about 10 minutes in early January, just two weeks before the killings. He said he noticed the gun was missing early this June.

But Amato’s lawyer, Jeff Dowdy, implied during his questioning that Turpin reported the gun missing because he knew the murder weapon hadn’t been recovered.

He also asked whether Turpin knew that Jason Amato, Grant and Cody’s surviving brother, could not receive benefits from his family’s estate until after the case was resolved.

“So just out of nowhere, six months later, 30 days before the trial starts, you can’t find a firearm that you haven’t seen in 12 months,” Dowdy said. “Would you call that responsible gun ownership?”

Turpin said the gun had sat safely in his closet for years.
 
  • #177
Jury not present. Text message read by defense attorney Shapiro – arguing admissibility.
Threat by Chad against Margaret two weeks before the murders.
Judge said not permissible as evidence.

Text message from Margaret to Chad on January 9, 2019; 10:53 AM

I have spent the last thirty years of my life except for the few years we were separated trying to meet your expectations. You have spent the last fifteen trying to meet mine. We are different but together I thought we had found peace and appreciation for each other’s strengths that made us a solid team. One week ago in the space of three hours you vehemently told me how much you hate me and what a loser I am, that I am responsible for ruining your life, that I think of you as a meal ticket and fixer so I can sit back and do nothing, that you want to kill me, and most hurtful that you regret not choosing _ _ _ _ _ (name?). I am to recover and not lose my job, keep Cody feeling good by not perpetuating a depressive atmosphere, and move Grant in a meaningful direction. I will support whatever you need to do for you. At this point I don’t care what that means for me. I’m tired of fighting. You can have everything.

Timestamp 9:10
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  • #178
Grant Amato Trial - YouTube
Grant Amato Trial
21 videos


51:05NOW PLAYING
Grant Amato Day 5 Witnesses: Geraldine Blay - Digital Forensic Examiner Part 1
Law & Crime Network


1:12:32NOW PLAYING
Grant Amato Day 5 Witnesses: Digital Forensic Examiners Geraldine Blay & Nicholas Stewart
Law & Crime Network


1:41:16NOW PLAYING
Grant Amato Day 5 Witnesses: Digital Forensic Examiners Nicholas Stewart & Geraldine Blay
Law & Crime Network


2:11:25NOW PLAYING
Grant Amato Day 5 Witnesses: Digital Forensic Examiners Geraldine Blay, Nicholas Stewart
Law & Crime Network
 
  • #179
  • #180
  1. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 15m15 minutes ago
    #GrantAmato jury asked Blake Turpin a few questions about the relationship between Grant & Cody Amato. Turpin says the two were very close and didn't think there was any tension. @MyNews13 #News13Seminole
  2. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 20m20 minutes ago
    #GrantAmato resumes with testimony of Blake Turpin. He believes his stolen gun is the murder weapon for this case. Reminder- gun hasn't been found. Jury now asking Turpin questions. Defense questioned the timing of his willingness to come forward days before the trial. @MyNews13
Jerry Askin‏Verified account @JerryAskinNews6 23m23 minutes ago
The state is trying to prove that Turpin's weapon that was stolen from his home is perhaps the missing murder weapon in this case. Turpin said #GrantAmato knew where he kept his guns in his house. @news6wkmg
 
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