A Colchester man has been charged with homicide after confessing to killing wife, children and their dog in their rental home in Celebration, Florida, near Walt Disney World, according to authorities in Florida.
Deputies from the Osceola County Sheriff's Office detained Anthony Todt, of Colchester, Monday at the family's home, where they went to assist in serving a warrant connected to an investigation in Connecticut, according to sheriff's office officials.
While searching the house, deputies found four bodies.
Authorities are waiting on positive identifications of the victims, but believe they are Anthony's 42-year-old wife, Megan; their three children, 13-year-old Alek, an 11-year-old Tyler and 4-year-old Zoe; and the family dog.
Officials said during a news conference on Wednesday that the victims might have been killed at the end of December and that Anthony Todt is cooperating with the investigation.
He has been charged with four counts of premeditated homicide and one charge of animal cruelty.
Dec. 26: Eviction Summons Issued
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Just before Christmas, an eviction notice was filed in a Florida court for the same address as the death investigation. The documents list Megan and Anthony Todt as living in the home at the time.
According to the documents, the Todts signed a one-year lease in May 2019 but missed a December payment of more than $4,000. The lease agreement also lists an email for Anthony Todt connected to a physical therapy practice he runs in Colchester, Family Physical Therapy.
According to the documents, the Todts signed a one-year lease in May 2019 but missed a December payment of more than $4,000. The lease agreement also lists an email for Anthony Todt connected to a physical therapy practice he runs in Colchester, Family Physical Therapy.
Dec. 29: Family Member Requested Well-Being Check
On Dec. 29, one of Anthony Todt's family members contacted law enforcement in Florida to check on the family's well-being. She said she'd been told they all had the flu and had not heard from then in two days.
Deputies did respond that day, but couldn't reach anyone in the home or see anything suspicious.
Authorities noted that the family was known to travel, so it wouldn't be uncommon for them to be away.
Anthony worked as a physical therapist, Monday through Friday, in Connecticut and traveled to Florida on weekends to be with his family, who lived there for a few years, according to the sheriff's office.
According to state records, Todt’s license to practice physical therapy lapsed in September. Megan Todt’s license is still active.
Jan. 9: Federal Agents Contact Authorities in Florida
On Jan. 9, federal agents contacted the Osceola County Sheriff's Office about an investigation that authorities in Connecticut were conducting involving Anthony Todt. Deputies made several attempts to contact him and his family over the weekend, but they weren't able to reach anyone. Then they went back Monday.
The Osceola County Sheriff's Office didn't have any additional information on the Connecticut investigation.
According to Connecticut’s Office of the Attorney General, there is an open False Claims Act investigation into Anthony Todt and his business, Performance Edge Sports, which also operates under the name Family Physical Therapy. They could not comment further.
Jan. 13: Todt Family Found Dead
Deputies from the Osceola County Sheriff's Office went to the family's home on Monday, Jan. 13 to assist in serving Anthony Todt with a warrant connected to an investigation in Connecticut, according to sheriff's office officials. They detained him and found four bodies. Authorities believe the four victims are Anthony's wife, Megan, and their three children -- 13-year-old Alek, an 11-year-old Tyler and a 4-year-old Zoe.
After the arrest, deputies took Anthony Todt to the hospital. They said he had taken some allergy pills and they were not sure how much he'd taken. He also made comments about possibly harming himself, authorities said. He was released from the hospital on Wednesday.
Colchester Community Reacts
According to the Colchester Soccer Club, Anthony Todt used to coach soccer in the community.
“He was a family guy. I coached with him,” said Tim Daniels, President of the Colchester Soccer Club board. “It is absolutely shocking. I know there was money trouble, but this does not make sense.”
Austin O’Brien said he first started seeing Todt when he was a junior in high school. He was seeing him up until Thanksgiving. O’Brien said that Todt was always kind and treated him respect, but noticed him act differently in November.
“He was just there less and less,” said O’Brien. “The last couple of times I saw him he was not himself.”
A Todt family friend from Florida said that their community will never be the same.
“Meg was always smiling, always offering help, everything she did was to create a wonderful life for Alek, Tyler and Zoe. She was a supportive friend with a beautiful smile,” said Candi Clark, in an email to NBC Connecticut. “We can only hope to be as good as they were in their honor.”
Officials said the investigation is ongoing.
