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

  • #101

  1. Michael Williams‏ @michaeldamianw 1h1 hour ago
    Amato's lawyer Jeff Dowdy is now grilling Rubart about his crime-scene processing. Asking why he din't process door handles, garage door key pads, etc. Rubart's answer: The main suspect lived in the home. But Dowdy repeatedly points out Amato was not a suspect the 1st day
  2. Michael Williams‏ @michaeldamianw 1h1 hour ago
    Rubart says it appears all of the marijuana was for personal use. No scales, no baggies, nothing to indicate marijuana was being sold out of the home.
  3. Michael Williams‏ @michaeldamianw 1h1 hour ago
    Rubart is now detailing the marijuana he found in the house: script bottle with marijuana in Margaret's car. Three mason jars in closet and two chocolate mint containers, all with marijuana. There was also a growing system in the closet, but it did not appear to be active.
  4. Michael Williams‏ @michaeldamianw 3h3 hours ago
    Rubart says he didn't find any debit or credit cards in Cody Amato's backpack. Grant Amato told detectives Cody gave him his cards the last time he saw him. Prosecutors say Grant Amato used his brother's card to pay the webcam model shortly after the family was killed.
 
  • #102
Florida allows JUROR QUESTIONS

Chanley Shá Painter‏ @ChanleyCourtTV 33m33 minutes ago
#Amato Judge is allowing jurors to submit questions at the conclusion of each witness. EVERY Juror has a question for the Sr. Crime Scene Analyst...WATCH Now @CourtTV!

  1. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 13m13 minutes ago
    #GrantAmatoTrial Jurors questions now being asked to Crime Scene Analyst Arthur Rubart: If the analyst was not aware of any suspects would he have processed the crime scene differently? Possibly. @MyNews13
  2. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 14m14 minutes ago
    #GrantAmatoTrial Jurors questions now being asked to Crime Scene Analyst Arthur Rubart: Did Chad's body appear to be moved after he was shot? Yes, it did appear to be moved. @MyNews13
  3. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 15m15 minutes ago
    #GrantAmatoTrial Jurors questions now being asked to Crime Scene Analyst Arthur Rubart: Did Cody's body appear to be moved? Yes it did appear to be moved. @MyNews13
  4. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 15m15 minutes ago
    #GrantAmatoTrial Jurors questions now being asked to Crime Scene Analyst Arthur Rubart: Is there any blood on the gun of exhibit 73 (gun near Cody Amato)? No blood was found on that gun @MyNews13
  5. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 18m18 minutes ago
    #GrantAmatoTrial Jurors questions now being asked to Crime Scene Analyst Arthur Rubart: Please clarify, you found two cell phones near Margaret and were they were heres? Yes and best to my knowledge they were Margaret's. @MyNews13
  6. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 19m19 minutes ago
    #GrantAmatoTrial Jurors questions now being asked to Crime Scene Analyst Arthur Rubart: Why doesn't the state keep looking for more suspects after one is cleared? We had developed a suspect that lived in the home, so finger prints wouldn't tell when they were deposited @MyNews13
  7. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 21m21 minutes ago
    #GrantAmatoTrial Jurors questions now being asked to Crime Scene Analyst Arthur Rubart: What is the clear bag in the gun case of Cody's closet? A bag that appeared to have spare parts. @MyNews13
  8. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 22m22 minutes ago
    #GrantAmatoTrial Jurors questions now being asked to Crime Scene Analyst Arthur Rubart: Was there suspected tissue or blood found on the gun near Cody Amato? No there was not. @MyNews13
  9. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 22m22 minutes ago
    #GrantAmatoTrial Jurors questions now being asked to Crime Scene Analyst Arthur Rubart: How many bullets were loaded in Cody's Magazine and full capacity? 17 capacity magazine, 1 live round in chamber, and 4 live round in the magazine @MyNews13
  10. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 24m24 minutes ago
    #GrantAmatoTrial Jurors questions now being asked to Crime Scene Analyst Arthur Rubart: Exhibit 30 the amazon profile why was no audio samples collected? There was an attempt, but I don't know the extent. @MyNews13
  11. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 25m25 minutes ago
    #GrantAmatoTrial Jurors questions now being asked to Crime Scene Analyst Arthur Rubart: At what point was the suspect named? I believe the second day. @MyNews13
  12. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 26m26 minutes ago
    #GrantAmatoTrial Jurors questions now being asked to Crime Scene Analyst Arthur Rubart: What did Kristen record on day 1? She scanned the home and took notes inside the home @MyNews13
  13. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 26m26 minutes ago
    #GrantAmatoTrial Jurors questions now being asked to Crime Scene Analyst Arthur Rubart: An Amazan Echo is on the desk was it considered for evidence with sounds? Was collected. @MyNews13
 
Last edited:
  • #103
Link to each JUROR QUESTION should be available at the court website by the next day.
Below docket reflects 3 juror questions yesterday 07/23/2019.

https://www.seminoleclerk.org/records-online/
Criminal
Case Number: 2019CF000337A
View Status: PUBLIC
Case Style: STATE OF FLORIDA VS AMATO, GRANT TIERNAN

DATE DOC# / PG# DOCKET CODE DESCRIPTION PAGES VIEW
07/24/2019 613 / 279 RFJN REQUEST FOR JUDICIAL NOTICE 3
07/23/2019 612 / 278 JUQU JUROR QUESTION STATE WITNESS 2 1
07/23/2019 611 / 277 JUQU JUROR QUESTION STATE WITNESS 2 1
07/23/2019 610 / 276 JUQU JUROR QUESTION STATE WITNESS 2 1
07/23/2019 589 / 275 MNF View Minutes MINUTES FOR TRIAL BEFORE JUDGE JESSICA J RECKSIEDLER 2
07/23/2019 588 / 274 NOTC NOTICE OF EXPIRATION OF SPEEDY TRIAL TIME 2


07/23/2019 610 / 276 JUQU JUROR QUESTION STATE WITNESS 2 1
upload_2019-7-24_13-44-26.png
 
  • #104
  • #105
Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 4m4 minutes ago
After state and defense question Crime Scene Supervisor Christine Snyder the jury asked her 29 questions! Most about Chad Amato’s cell phone and asked if appeared anyone did cleaning at the scene, answer was no. @MyNews13 #GrantAmato #News13Seminole

Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 2h2 hours ago
Christine Snyder, the Crime Scene Supervisor at SCSO for 16 years is now talking about footwear impressions. She says no shoe prints were found in the blood near Chad Amato's body that was found on the (tiled) Kitchen Floor. #GrantAmato @MyNews13 #News13Seminole
 
  • #106
Grant Amato trial: Crime scene investigators testify in case against Chuluota man accused of killing family
ORLANDO SENTINEL | JUL 24, 2019 | 5:33 PM
Grant Amato sat in a Seminole County courtroom teary-eyed this morning as he looked at close-up images of his dead brother.
[...]
Jeff Dowdy, another lawyer on Amato’s team, grilled Rubart about his processing of the crime scene. Dowdy asked Rubart whether he had processed a garage door keypad, phones, door handles and other items for fingerprints.

Rubart said he didn’t: “The main suspect that we felt in the case lived at the home, so his fingerprints on that surface would not be of evidentiary value.”

Dowdy went on to question Rubart about a safe found in Chad and Margaret Amato’s bedroom. He said he also didn’t process that safe for forensic evidence.

“Wouldn’t it be important to process this?" Dowdy asked, referring to the safe.

“Possible,” Rubart replied.

“But it wasn’t done?” asked Dowdy.

“It wasn’t done,” the analyst responded.

Dowdy asked another analyst, Christine Snyder, many of the same questions about why certain items of evidence weren’t processed. Snyder admitted the analysts didn’t realize the significance of some evidence, including a safe in the master bedroom and Chad Amato’s cell phone.
[...]
 
  • #107
Grant Amato Day 2 Witness: Arthur Rubart - Crime Scene Analyst Part 2
Law & Crime Network
Published on Jul 24, 2019
 
  • #108
Grant Amato Day 2 Witness: Arthur Rubart - Crime Scene Analyst Part 3
Law & Crime Network
Published on Jul 24, 2019
 
  • #109
Grant Amato Day 2 Witness: Christine Snyder - Crime Scene Analyst
Law & Crime Network
Published on Jul 24, 2019
 
  • #110
Thursday, July 25th:
*Trial continues (Day 3) (@ am ET) – FL – Chad Amato (59) father, Margaret Ann (61) mother & Cody Winston (31) bro (Jan. 25, 2019, Choluota) - *Grant Tiernan Amato (29) arrested & charged (1/26/19) & arraigned (3/26/19) with 3 counts of 1st degree premeditated murder. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. $750K bond granted (4/25/19). DA will seek DP.
Trial started 7/23/19. Jury selection started 7/15/19 & ended 7/22/19. Jury is 8 women & 4 men. All 3 alternates are men.
Court hearings from 1/28/19 thru 6/19/19 & Jury Selection Day 1 thru 6 (7/15/19 thru 7/22/19) reference post #81 here:
FL – Chad, 59, Margaret, 61, & son, Cody Amato, 31, fatally shot by other son, Chuluota, 25 Jan 2019

7/23/19 Day 1: Opening statements by both sides. State witnesses: Chris Sisco (was Cody Amato's coworker at Orlando Regional Medical Center and called police to request a welfare check). SCSO Deputy Todd Moderson (who performed the well-being check). The State is now showing body cam footage from a Seminole County Sheriff Deputy when entering the Amato home and finding three dead bodies in the home. SCSO crime scene analyst Arthur Rubart. Trial continues on 7/24.
7/24/19 Day 2: State witnesses: Arthur Rubart (crime scene analyst for the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office) continues his testimony. Christine Snyder (crime scene supervisor for the Seminole County Sheriff's Office). Trial continues on 7/25.
 
  • #111
  • #112
Proffer testimony:
  1. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 24m24 minutes ago
    State called Jericho Fine to stand to testify his credit card was stolen in Japan & charged to a web-cam service. Blake Turpin who has known Grant since HS testified he reported a stolen gun to OCSO & believed it was connected to the #GrantAmato case. @MyNews13 #News13Seminole
  2. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 29m29 minutes ago
    Before jury has come in for #GrantAmato trial, state called two friends of Grant Amato to establish a gun that was stolen from one of their homes as well as a few bullets. One claims that they believe the gun is connected to this case.
 
  • #113
More details about the proffer testimony of two of Grant's friends:

Jeff Levkulich‏ @jlevkulichWFTV 41m41 minutes ago
Jury was not in room as this testimony and testimony by Jericho Fine was conducted. Judge will rule if testimony can be used after lunch. #WFTV

Jeff Levkulich‏ @jlevkulichWFTV 47m47 minutes ago
Says his gun and one of 2 magazines was not in the case when he cleaned the closet in June. Called Orange County Sheriff to report it stolen. Testified that Grant Amato was in his room for 10 minutes. Judge will determine if this testimony can be used as evidence. #WFTV

Jeff Levkulich‏ @jlevkulichWFTV 46m46 minutes ago
#RightNow: Another friend of Cody and #GrantAmato testifying about a firearm Jericho Fine sold him. Says Amato was at his home 2 weeks before murders. Says Grant had knowledge of where he kept his guns. Testified that Grant went into his bathroom in his bedroom.

Jeff Levkulich‏ @jlevkulichWFTV 1h1 hour ago
#RightNow: Fine testified that he noticed unauthorized charges on his credit card. He says the charges were for tokens for Myfreecams. #GrantAmatoTrial #WFTV

Jeff Levkulich‏ @jlevkulichWFTV 1h1 hour ago
#RightNow: Jericho Fine a friend of Cody and #GrantAmato is testifying. Fine went to Japan with Cody and Grant a month before the murders. #WFTV
 
  • #114
Jeff Levkulich‏ @jlevkulichWFTV 13m13 minutes ago
#RightNow: Investigator Anderson testifying that he interviewed #GrantAmato before his arrest. Prosecutors are about to play that interview for the jury. #WFTV

Jeff Levkulich‏ @jlevkulichWFTV 15m15 minutes ago
#RightNow: Deputy Dan Anderson a Major Crimes Investigator is on the stand testifying about the murders.#GrantAmatoTrial #WFTV

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 50m50 minutes ago
FBI agent testified that he did not conduct any analysis on #GrantAmato’s phone. @MyNews13

Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 53m53 minutes ago
FBI agent on the stand testifies that Cody Amato’s cell phone stop supplying data on at 2:05 am on January 25th. Agent says likely because phone lost power, destroyed, or lost connection. #GrantAmato @MyNews13 #News13Seminole

Jeff Levkulich‏ @jlevkulichWFTV 33m33 minutes ago
#RightNow: FBI Agent told jury that Cody’s cellphone was last on around 2:05am on January 25th. In the area of the crime scene. One of the last calls was a 23 minute call made to the home’s landline on Sultan Circle at 9:16pm on Jan 24th. #GrantAmatoTrial #WFTV

Jeff Levkulich‏ @jlevkulichWFTV 1h1 hour ago
#RightNow: FBI Agent George Rienerth reviewing cell phone data for Cody Amato’s cell phone the day of the murders.#GrantAmatoTrial #WFTV
 
  • #115
  1. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 9m9 minutes ago
    #GrantAmato mentions in his interrogation he and his brother Cody were close. “People thought we were weird because we were so close.” “He was always there for me.” “We did everything together.” @MyNews13 #News13Seminole
  2. Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 13m13 minutes ago
    #GrantAmato trial jurors now watching Grant’s 4 hour interrogation with the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. Video includes muted (redacted) portions. The random audio cut outs appears to confuse jurors. Some look very tuned in, others, not so much. @MyNews13 #News13Seminole
 
  • #116
  1. Michael Williams‏ @michaeldamianw 7m7 minutes ago
    We're now getting to the part where Amato is talking about Silvie, the Bulgarian webcam model. Jurors seem very interested in this portion, again taking lots of notes.
  2. Michael Williams‏ @michaeldamianw 9m9 minutes ago
    Jurors seemed to have been taking a lot of notes during the portion where Amato describes how his dad disciplined him as a child.
  3. Michael Williams‏ @michaeldamianw 9m9 minutes ago
    Prosecutors are now playing video of the 4-hour interview Amato did with detectives the morning after his family's bodies were discovered. Portions where Amato talks about losing his job as a nurse and getting arrested after he was accused of stealing medicine are redacted.
 
  • #117
  • #118
Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 2m2 minutes ago
Judge informed the jury that they will be staying late tonight. Right now jurors are watching #GrantAmato’s brother Jason asking him questions at the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. State says they’ll be another 30 minutes. Defense cross will be at least an hour. @MyNews13

Jeff Levkulich‏ @jlevkulichWFTV 12m12 minutes ago
#RightNow: Jury is now watching recorded conversation between #GrantAmato and his brother Jason. It was recorded at the Sheriff’s Office the day after the bodies were found. Grant has still not been arrested at this point. #WFTV

Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 2h2 hours ago
All 12 jurors are absolutely locked in currently to #GrantAmato’s interrogation video. @MyNews13 #News13Seminole

Jeff Levkulich‏ @jlevkulichWFTV 4h4 hours ago
#RightNow: #GrantAmato’s brother Jason will not testify today. #WFTV
 
  • #119
Spectrum News Asher Wildman‏ @AsherWildman13 1m1 minute ago
Jurors are asking SCSO Investigator why Jason Amato was not considered a person of interest during the investigation. Anderson explains Jason had a solid timeline of where he was. #GrantAmato @MyNews13 Court adjourned for the day.

Law & Crime Network‏Verified account @LawCrimeNetwork 12m12 minutes ago
#GrantAmato - Jury ? You didn't find the conversation between Jason & Grant strange, like Jason was setting him up? Has Jason's financials been gone through? A: We looked at everybody involved in this investigation. We can account for Jason's time during the time of the deaths
 
  • #120
Grant Amato trial: Friend says accused killer may have stolen gun weeks before family’s slayings
JUL 25, 2019 | 6:21 PM
Jericho Fine noticed something strange as he ate at a restaurant in Japan during a trip he took with his two best friends, Grant and Cody Amato, in December.
[...]
Fine and another friend of Grant and Cody’s, Blake Turpin, took the stand outside the presence of the jury Thursday morning as Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler considered whether to let the jury hear allegations of theft made by Fine and Turpin. After lunch, she ruled the evidence admissible.
[...]
Authorities have not found the gun used in the killings, but Assistant State Attorney Domenick Leo said an FDLE expert will testify that markings found on the bullets that killed the family are similar to the handgun’s rifling.

Two crime-scene analysts took the stand Wednesday, describing and showing graphic crime-scene pictures taken from the scene. Amato’s defense team grilled the analysts, asking why they didn’t process more evidence at the scene or consider alternate suspects.
[...]
Phones were a topic of discussion again today, as FBI Special Agent George Rienerth testified about cell phone triangulation. Rienerth said data from Cody Amato’s phone indicated he placed a 23-minute phone call to the landline at his house around the time he left for work, just before he was killed.

Rienerth said Cody’s phone pinged cell phone towers multiple times after 10:45 p.m.

The last activity from Cody’s phone was at 2:05 a.m. — after investigators said he died.

The jurors also saw an hours-long video of the interview Amato conducted with Sheriff’s Office investigators Daniel Anderson and EvaMarie Multari on Jan. 26.
[...]
Testimony continues 8:30 Friday morning.
 

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