ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Prosecutors will seek the death penalty against a man accused of killing his wife's family in Tarpon Springs.

Shelby Nealy faces three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Laura, Richard, and Nicholas Ivancic.

Police believe Nealy killed his wife, Jamie Ivancic nearly a year before, and buried her body at a home in Port Richey, Florida.

Police say Shelby would keep in contact with the family by texting using Jamie Ivancic's cell phone, but the family got suspicious because they hadn't heard her voice in so long.

According to court documents, Richard and Laura Ivancic were killed on December 15, 2018, and Nicholas was killed on December 16, all using a hammer. The bodies were found New Year's Day.

Police also believe Shelby killed the family's pets. He's charged with 3 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.

Nealy was found in Ohio a few days later, and extradited to Florida earlier this month.