Grant Amato sentenced to life in prison

SANFORD, Fla. (FOX 35 ORLANDO) - Grant Amato was sentenced to life in prison late Monday, with no possibility of parole.

Amato, 30, was convicted of killing his father, Chad, mother, Margaret, and brother, Cody, at their Chuluota home in January. Prosecutors said Amato killed his family members after a dispute over his addiction to a Bulgarian woman he met online.

Seminole County deputies say Amato had stolen $60,000 and guns from his brother to talk to a Bulgarian woman he met online. Investigators say Grant also stole $150,000 from his father, including a loan taken out on his parents' house. Authorities say Amato sent the woman over $200,000 in a three-month period.

Amato's surviving brother, Jason, was in attendance during the sentencing and did not make any comment following the verdict.

The twelve jurors who found Amato guilty of first-degree murder on July 31 had deliberated for roughly three hours; however, they were unable to reach a unanimous verdict that would have been required for the death penalty. Amato's defense team said they are grateful they saved his life. Next, they will appeal for a lesser sentence.

“We thought because the jurors were out so long in the guilt phase, is that there must’ve been some residual doubt, as to whether or not he was innocent,” said Amato’s defense attorney. “We’re going to file the appellate work. We think we have some valid viable appellate issues in this case.”

Meanwhile, prosecutors who were seeking the death penalty believe their case is airtight. They believe jurors didn’t go for the death penalty out of sheer mercy.

“I think it was a matter of pure mercy. If you noticed, every single one of their findings was a yes. And the very last one was a no,” said Stewart Stone. “It’s very difficult to get 12 people to agree to impose the death penalty. It’s a very difficult decision to do.”

Authorities say Amato sent the woman over $200,000 in a three-month period.