SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — The surviving brother of Grant Amato -- the Seminole County man accused of killing his parents and brother -- testified in court Friday.
Jason Amato took the stand Friday morning as part of his brother’s triple-murder trial.
Grant Amato is accused of killing his parents, Chad and Margaret Amato, and his brother, Cody Amato, in their Chuluota home in January.
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Prosecutors said Grant Amato fatally shot his parents and his brother after a fight over $200,000 he sent to a Bulgarian call girl.
Jason Amato testified about the family dynamic in the Amato household as the three brothers were growing up.
He was overcome with emotion while talking about his late mother, father and brother.
Jason Amato said that when his mother remarried, Chad Amato adopted him as his son.
He recounted the "scary" moment he learned of the deaths of his mother, his father and his brother.
Jason Amato said investigators traveled to his place of employment in Maitland.
"The whole building got shut down, and there were police officers everywhere," he said. "They took me into a room and questioned me later -- gave me very general info that there was a woman and two males in their 30s found in the house, so I just tried to answer their questions as best as possible."
Jason Amato said he was quickly ruled out as a suspect.
He said that after the trio were killed, he found a contract his father wrote on a legal pad between himself and Grant Amato regarding the rules Grant Amato was to follow after he returned home from an internet addiction facility in South Florida.
Jason Amato said those rules included Grant Amato not being able to be on the internet after midnight and limited TV and internet use.
The contract also dictated that Grant was to pay off the debts he racked up from paying for time with an internet call girl.
Testimony will continue next week.
Watch Eyewitness News for continuing coverage.
#RightNow: Jason Amato broke down describing the moment he learned his parents and brother were found dead.#WFTV pic.twitter.com/otf5lsHLdk
— Jeff Levkulich (@jlevkulichWFTV) July 26, 2019
#RightNow: Jason read the contract he found after the murders between #GrantAmato and his father Chad. Very detailed list of rules including no contact with Bulgarian webcam girl.#WFTV pic.twitter.com/Tkqd2aCyFm
— Jeff Levkulich (@jlevkulichWFTV) July 26, 2019
#RightNow: Jason Amato talking about the list of rules he found involving #GrantAmato in his fathers legal pad after the murders. #WFTV pic.twitter.com/x8MylhWlqp
— Jeff Levkulich (@jlevkulichWFTV) July 26, 2019
#RightNow:Jadon Amato began to cry as he was asked questions about his late mother Margaret. Testified that everything of value was still in the house after the murders. Nothing appeared stolen. #WFTV #GrantAmatoTrial pic.twitter.com/TRpkvrj9M7
— Jeff Levkulich (@jlevkulichWFTV) July 26, 2019
#RightNow: Jason Amato is taking the witness stand. Jason is the surviving brother of Grant. #GrantAmatoTrial #WFTV pic.twitter.com/WQyacMBsFh
— Jeff Levkulich (@jlevkulichWFTV) July 26, 2019
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