ORLANDO, Fla. _ Grant Amato was lavishing the Bulgarian webcam model he had met online with gifts and compliments, spending thousands of dollars to send her clothes and sex toys _ which she would model for him in provocative, and often sexually explicit, photos and videos.
Evidence released by the Seminole-Brevard state attorney's office Wednesday provided an intimate look into the relationship between Amato and the model, Silviya Ventsislavova, in the months leading up to the January killings of Amato's parents, Chad and Margaret Amato, and brother, Cody Amato.
Authorities say Grant Amato had stolen about $200,000 from family members to fund the online relationship, angering his family and provoking his father to issue an ultimatum: Stop talking to the model, or get out of the house.
Though Grant Amato initially agreed, his father later found out his son was still talking with Ventisislavova, causing a fight at the family's Sultan Circle home Jan. 24.
The next morning, Chad, Margaret and Cody Amato were found shot to death in their home. Grant Amato is facing three counts of premeditated first-degree murder. He faces the death penalty if he's convicted.
Included in Wednesday's release were hundreds of photos and videos _ many of them pornographic _ as well as text messages sent between Grant Amato and Ventsislavova.
Those images and texts were among nearly 20 gigabytes of data found on a flash drive seized by the Seminole County sheriff's office during its investigation, according to Todd Brown, a spokesman for the state attorney's office. The agency also released various investigative records related to the case, including autopsy reports for Chad, Margaret and Cody Amato.
Also included were videos apparently recorded by Grant Amato during airsoft competitions, which simulate combat between teams armed with guns that fire plastic pellets. In the videos, Amato could repeatedly be heard calling out to a teammate named Cody, though it was unclear whether that person was his brother.
