South Carolina Woman Accused of Murdering Her Family in 2015

Amy Vilardi is on trial for allegedly slitting the throats and shooting her mother, grandmother, stepfather, and step-grandmother.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Amy Vilardi is charged with four counts of murder in the 2015 deaths of her mother, Cathy Scott, 60, stepfather, Terry Michael Scott, 59, grandmother Violet Taylor, 82, and step-grandmother Barbara Scott, 80. Three of the victims had their throats slit and were then shot post-mortem, while Amy's mother was stabbed in the chest and shot while still alive. After the killings, Amy made appearances on local news shows pleading for information, but investigators later found she and her husband were having financial troubles and discovered over $65,000 in cash in their trailer.

Why it matters

This case highlights the devastating impact of family violence and the complexities involved when a family member is accused of such a horrific crime. The gruesome nature of the killings and the fact that the suspect initially portrayed herself as a grieving daughter have added to the public's fascination and concern over the case.

The details

According to investigators, three of the victims had their throats slit and were then shot post-mortem, while Amy's mother was stabbed in the chest and shot while still alive. Authorities initially thought the crime might be a murder-suicide until they got a closer look at the injuries. Investigators later learned that Amy's stepfather would exchange cash for gold, something that was not widely known, and that Amy and her husband were having financial troubles, with their cars about to be repossessed and them facing eviction. A search of Amy's trailer uncovered over $65,000 in cash, but the weapons found did not match the ones used in the crime, delaying the arrests until eight years later.

  • The killings occurred in 2015.
  • Amy Vilardi and her husband were arrested in 2023.
  • Amy's trial began on Monday, February 23, 2026.

The players

Amy Vilardi

A South Carolina woman charged with four counts of murder in the deaths of her mother, grandmother, stepfather, and step-grandmother.

Rosmore "Ross" Vilardi

Amy Vilardi's husband, who is also charged with four counts of murder and is being tried separately.

Cathy Scott

Amy Vilardi's mother, who was stabbed in the chest and shot while still alive.

Terry Michael Scott

Amy Vilardi's stepfather, who had his throat slit and was shot post-mortem.

Violet Taylor

Amy Vilardi's grandmother, who had her throat slit and was shot post-mortem.

Barbara Scott

Amy Vilardi's step-grandmother, who had her throat slit and was shot post-mortem.

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What they’re saying

“Once we found out the extent of their injuries and the fact that their throats were cut, and then they were shot post-mortem, it seemed very, very aggressive and personal, and somebody full of rage and hate. I've never seen anything like it before or since.”

— Scotty Hill, Anderson County Sheriff's Office Detective (Unsolved Mysteries podcast)

“Their cars were about to be repossessed, they were about to be kicked out of the building they rented for their business.”

— Scotty Hill, Anderson County Sheriff's Office Detective (Unsolved Mysteries podcast)

What’s next

A date has not yet been set for Amy Vilardi's husband's trial.

The takeaway

This case highlights the devastating impact of family violence and the complexities involved when a family member is accused of such a horrific crime. The gruesome nature of the killings and the fact that the suspect initially portrayed herself as a grieving daughter have added to the public's fascination and concern over the case.