Jury selection started Monday for a man accused of a horrific domestic violence crime in Pasco County.
- Jury selection begins in 2014 Pasco quadruple murder trial
- Adam Matos accused of killing ex-girlfriend, her parents and her new boyfriend
- If found guilty, Matos could face death penalty
- RELATED: Previous stories on this case
Adam Matos is accused of killing his former girlfriend, her new boyfriend and her parents in 2014.
On Monday, about 50 people who were pre-screened for possible jury placement were asked to stay for further questioning. The judge said there is a chance the entire jury could be seated from that group.
Matos was in court Monday, clean shaven and wearing a suit.
According to investigators, Matos, 30, shot and killed his former girlfriend Megan Brown on Aug. 28, 2014 at their Hudson home.
Brown and her father, Greg Brown, had been shot to death. Her mother, Margaret, had a plastic bag over her head, which has been bashed in. Nicholas Leonard, Megan's new boyfriend, died from blunt force trauma to his head.
Matos and three of the four victims lived in the same rented waterfront house in Hudson. Days before the four bodies were discovered in a nearby field, deputies had responded to the home to investigate a report of domestic violence.
Deputies said Matos had threatened Brown and cut her finger with a knife. They wanted to talk to Matos, but he was gone.
Matos was arrested after a brief manhunt. Authorities found him at a hotel in downtown Tampa, where he had checked in with his 4-year-old son. The boy was unharmed and turned over to family members.
Pasco sheriff Chris Nocco said he believed the motive for the slayings was "anger and rage."
Matos has denied any involvement in the murders.
However, the sheriff's office said Mators sold furniture from the family home and the family's dogs.
On top of that, neighbors are expected to testify they saw Matos cleaning out the family garage with a hose and broom in the days after the murders.
Prosecutors have said they will push for the death penalty. If Matos is found guilty, the 12 jurors will need to unanimous in a recommendation for the death penalty.
The trial is expected to last three weeks.