Investigators said Reginald House previously confessed to killing 44-year-old Philip Curtiss, burning his body and burying the remains.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Nearly four years after a man was first reported missing in Jacksonville, his killer has been convicted.
After a two-day trial and just 15 minutes of deliberation, a Duval County jury found Reginald House, 48, guilty of murdering 44-year-old Philip Curtiss and abusing his remains.
His sentencing date was scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 8.
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The investigation began as a missing person case in November 2022. Curtiss had not been seen in several weeks, and his family was getting worried. Months later, detectives handed the case over to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit after learning that he may have been beaten to death and buried by Reginald House. The two lived on the same property on Starratt Road.
In an interview with police on Nov. 3, 2023, House admitted to confronting Curtiss at his home for allegedly stealing from him, according to the arrest report. He also told investigators that he killed Curtiss and burned the body.
Prior to his arrest in the case, House brought detectives to an empty lot off Elm St. in the Brooklyn neighborhood, where Curtiss’ remains were discovered.
In an interview with First Coast News following the arrest, Sharon Fowler remembered her son-in-law, Philip, as someone who “would’ve given you the shirt” off his back.
House is also awaiting trial in a separate criminal case. He was charged with two counts of attempted murder prior to his arrest in Philip’s murder.