Exclusive interview with man accused of murder who owned Jacksonville 'House of Horrors'

Action News Jax sat down with the man who owned the so-called ‘house of horrors’ in Jacksonville for an exclusive face-to-face interview.

Russell Tillis is awaiting trial, charged with the murder of a young Jacksonville woman.

Police say he buried her remains on his Southside property.

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Action News Jax's Bridgette Matter spoke to Tillis at the Duval County Jail. He was calculated with his responses and said he reads out of a Florida rule book all day long.

No cameras were allowed during the visitation

Tillis is accused of killing Joni Gunter, whose body was found dismembered on his property.

He admits he’s no saint but said he’s not the monster his neighbors describe.

We asked Tillis if he knew Gunter.

“I didn’t know her and I didn’t do it. You can print that,” Tillis said.

We asked, “Do you know who did?”

Tillis said, “Yes, but I’m not going to give you a name.”

Tillis is described by those who know him as a monster, a terror, running a house of horrors.

His past is riddled with violent crimes dating back to the 1980s.

His most recent prison stint was in 2008 for child abuse.

Tillis was adamant about not killing Gunter.

“The story is crazy but it’s the truth,” he said.

We pressed him for his side of this bone-chilling accusation, but he wouldn’t go into detail.

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He did speak at length about his chances in court, for both the murder charge and aggravated assault on a police officer.

“I think I can beat the cop case, but my lawyer isn’t getting what I need on the murder case and I’ll end up with the death penalty,” Tillis said.

Tillis recently motioned to represent himself but withdrew that at his last hearing.

So, for now, Tillis remains locked up, waiting for trial.

Tillis said he is willing to do an on-camera sit-down interview in the future, but he wants his first case to be settled before doing so.

Cox Media Group