The dismembered remains of a 71-year-old Florida man were discovered buried in the backyard of a suspect who authorities say had been systematically draining the victim’s bank accounts before killing him.
Joseph Romano, a resident of Riverview, Florida, was reported missing on January 16, 2025, after last being seen alive at his apartment on January 12. What began as a missing person case turned into a homicide investigation that spanned from Tampa, Florida, to New York City, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Following a month-long investigation, detectives made a gruesome discovery on February 13 when they executed a search warrant at the Valrico, Florida home of Joseph Schiliro, 45. Romano’s dismembered body was found buried in Schiliro’s backyard.
Police identified two suspects who were involved in Romano’s murder.
“The actions of these two men are despicable and deeply disturbing. Through deceit and violence, they exploited and took the life of another individual,” stated Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister in a press release.
The case took a significant turn when investigators observed Schiliro attempting to retrieve Romano’s mail from his apartment complex after the victim had been reported missing. This suspicious behavior prompted detectives to dig deeper into the relationship between Romano and Schiliro.
What they uncovered was evidence of what authorities described as an “ongoing financial fraud scheme” allegedly orchestrated by Schiliro. Investigators discovered large sums of money had been transferred from Romano’s accounts to fraudulent accounts linked to Schiliro.
A second suspect, Silviano Christman, 31, was also connected to the crime. Detectives learned that Christman had flown from New York to Tampa on January 3, 2025, and was with Schiliro during that time. January 3 was also the last day Romano had contact with anyone he knew, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
The investigation culminated in the arrests of both men in February. Christman was apprehended in New York City on February 20 by the New York Police Department’s Regional Fugitive Task Force. The following day, Schiliro was arrested in Pinellas County, Florida, by a U.S. Marshals Task Force.
Both suspects face multiple serious charges. Christman has been charged with premeditated first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit premeditated first-degree murder, burglary with battery, abuse of a dead body, and fraudulent use of personally identifiable information of a deceased person.
Schiliro faces an even longer list of charges: premeditated first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit premeditated first-degree murder, burglary with battery, fraudulent use of personally identifiable information of a deceased person, fraudulent use of personally identifiable information, money laundering, and exploitation of a disabled adult.
The case has left residents in the neighborhood unsettled. One local resident told reporters that the community had been waiting for answers until the arrests were made. “This case is horrific, and we are committed to seeking justice for the victim and his loved ones,” a spokesperson for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.
Authorities have not specified the exact amount of money allegedly stolen from Romano, but described it as “large sums.” The relationship between the suspects and the victim remains unclear, though investigators have confirmed they all knew each other.
The investigation remains active as detectives continue to gather evidence and build their case against the two suspects. Both men are currently in custody awaiting trial.
