OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – A jury has been seated in the trial of a man accused of killing his family in Celebration in January 2020 set to begin next week.
Comprising of eight women and six men, jurors were selected and sworn in Wednesday afternoon after two days of jury selection.
[TRENDING: Seats of Orlando thrill ride where teen fatally fell were adjusted to fit larger patrons, attorney says | Alligator breeding season arrives: 4 safety tips from Gatorland experts | Become a News 6 Insider (it’s free!)]
Anthony Todt, 46, is accused of killing his wife and their three children. He is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of animal cruelty in the killings of Megan Todt, 42, and their children, Alek, 13, Tyler, 11, and Zoe, 4. The family’s dog, Breezy, was also killed. The victims were wrapped in blankets and had stab wounds and toxic amounts of Benadryl in their bodies, according to autopsy reports.
Attorneys looked at a group of 150 people over the course of the selection process. Throughout the process, potential jurors were asked questions to gauge whether they could serve in the case.
Initial questions from the judge to potential jurors regarded medical appointments that could not be rescheduled, any work-related conflicts, or if the juror is responsible for the care of someone else. The second round of questions came from attorneys asking jurors if they had seen any news coverage surrounding Todt, or if they had religious beliefs that could interfere with them remaining impartial.
The judge ruled the federal investigation cannot be brought up during the trial. During a final status hearing last week, the judge also said Todt’s mental health history cannot be discussed.
The judge also partially excluded Todt’s confession to law enforcement after his defense argued he was not informed of his Miranda rights before talking to detectives.
While Todt is facing four counts of first-degree murder and one count of animal cruelty, the former Orange Osceola State Attorney, Aramis Ayala, at the time, said they would not be seeking the death penalty in this case.
Todt’s trial was initially scheduled for last year, however, it was rescheduled after Todt had a medical issue and because his lead attorney died unexpectedly.
The trial is scheduled to begin Monday, April 11, at 9 a.m., and the judge indicated it is expected to last two weeks.