TAMPA, FL – A disturbing case has unfolded with the discovery of a missing Florida man found dismembered and buried in the backyard of a man accused of orchestrating both his murder and an elaborate financial scam.

Joseph Romano, 71, was last seen alive on Jan. 12 and reported missing four days later. The search for Romano reached a grim conclusion on Feb. 13 when authorities discovered his remains buried at a property linked to Joseph Schiliro, 45.

Both Schiliro and an accomplice, Silviano Christman, 31, now face multiple charges following their arrests.

Investigators traced Christman to New York City, where he was apprehended by the NYPD’s Regional Fugitive Task Force on Feb. 20. The following day, Schiliro was detained by a U.S. Marshals Task Force in Pinellas County, Florida.

The investigation revealed that Schiliro and Christman had traveled from New York to Tampa on Jan. 3, coinciding with the last known contact Romano had with others. Schiliro, after Romano was reported missing, was seen attempting to collect the victim’s mail, raising suspicions about his involvement.

Authorities discovered that Romano had fallen victim not only to homicide but also to an elaborate financial ruse. The investigation found that substantial amounts of money had been funneled from Romano’s accounts into fraudulent accounts associated with Schiliro.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister expressed his outrage, stating that the crimes reflected both deceit and violence against a vulnerable individual. He described the actions as heartbreaking and emblematic of the worst in human behavior.

Christman faces serious charges, including premeditated first-degree murder, conspiracy, and abuse of a corpse, alongside accusations of financial fraud related to Romano’s identity.

Schiliro is also charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy, multiple counts of fraud, and exploiting an elderly person.