Florida home owned by man who 'killed woman' pictured

March 2024 · 3 minute read

These pictures taken by police give a look into the home of accused killer Russell Tillis before it was demolished.

Tillis, 54, from Jacksonville in Florida, is still in prison awaiting trial for the murder of Jodi Lynn Gunter.

Her dismembered remains were found in his front yard by police in 2016.

This is the house that accused killer Russell Tillis lived in before it was demolished. He is accused of killing and burying a body of 31-year-old Joni Gunter in his backyard

This is the house that accused killer Russell Tillis lived in before it was demolished. He is accused of killing and burying a body of 31-year-old Joni Gunter in his backyard

This is the bedroom inside the property dubbed the 'House of Horrors' in Southside

This is the bedroom inside the property dubbed the 'House of Horrors' in Southside

Authorities have condemned the house and it has been torn down

Authorities have condemned the house and it has been torn down

Weapons were found inside Tillis' house, included this selection of razors 

Weapons were found inside Tillis' house, included this selection of razors 

Further weapons, such as hammers and an ax were also found in the property 

Further weapons, such as hammers and an ax were also found in the property 

Tillis, 54, from Jacksonville in Florida, is still in prison awaiting trial for the murder of Jodi Lynn Gunter Tillis, 54, from Jacksonville in Florida, is still in prison awaiting trial for the murder of Jodi Lynn Gunter

Tillis, 54, (left) is still in prison awaiting trial for the murder of Jodi Lynn Gunter (right)

Pictures from the State Attorneys Office give an insight into Tillis' home, which neighbors dubbed the 'House of Horrors'.

Photos obtained by First Coast News showed cramped and untidy rooms inside the property.

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Weapons, including knives, chains, chemicals and an ax were also discovered in the house.

According to a police report from Tillis' May 2015 arrest, officers were worried about entering Tillis' property to serve a warrant because it was booby trapped with the dangerous objects.

Tillis is accused of killing and burying a 31-year-old woman in his backyard

Tillis is accused of killing and burying a 31-year-old woman in his backyard

Tillis is accused of killing and dismembering Joni Gunter. Her body was found February 2016 dismembered and buried on his property

This is the house that was referred to as the 'House of Horrors' by Tillis' neighbors

This is the house that was referred to as the 'House of Horrors' by Tillis' neighbors

A year later excavators dug up the front yard where they discovered the body.

Tillis is accused of kidnapping, killing, dismembering and burying a woman in the yard of his Southside home.

He will face trial on those charges in November next year.

Tillis, 54, has been in jail on charges of aggravated assault on law enforcement officers, resisting arrest and battery of an officer since May 2015, when police said two officers were attacked with knives while they were serving Tillis with arrest warrants for violating injunctions neighbors had obtained against him.  

Neighbors said the ramshackle buildings that made up Tillis’ 1,880-square-foot home were nicknamed a “house of horrors” where they heard screams some nights

Neighbors said the ramshackle buildings that made up Tillis' 1,880-square-foot home were nicknamed a 'house of horrors' where they heard screams some nights

Tillis’ private investigator, Janis Eldridge, bought and demolished the Bowden Circle house a few months ago after city inspectors had condemned it

Tillis' private investigator, Janis Eldridge, bought and demolished the Bowden Circle house a few months ago after city inspectors had condemned it

The inside of the house that was filled with clutter, old boxes and furniture 

The inside of the house that was filled with clutter, old boxes and furniture 

The kitchen in the property that has since been demolished 

The kitchen in the property that has since been demolished 

Photos taken by police show an inside look at the home of Russell Tillis before it was torn down

Photos taken by police show an inside look at the home of Russell Tillis before it was torn down

 

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