Reginald House Found Guilty of 2022 Murder of Philip Curtiss

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that a Duval County jury found Reginald House guilty of Second-Degree Murder and Abuse of a Dead Body. The Honorable Anthony Salem sentenced House to life Florida State Prison followed by an additional 15 years during an Oct. 8, 2026, hearing.

On Nov. Nov. 25, 2022, Phillip Curtiss was reported missing to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Investigators were informed that Curtiss lived in a boat behind House’s residence about the time he went missing. Curtiss was believed to have been killed; House was a suspect, but there was not enough evidence to arrest him and the case remained unsolved.

In May 2023, House was arrested on unrelated charges and interviewed again about Curtiss, but he continued to deny any involvement. In November and while still incarcerated, House was interviewed about an unrelated issue. The next day, an informant told police House had confessed to killing Curtiss and burying his remains. When subsequently interviewed, House admitted to law enforcement he confronted Curtiss in his house about an alleged theft and beat him inside his bathroom. He admitted he punched Curtiss several times and poured bleach on his body. House then said he burned his remains in a barrel and buried them in an empty lot. House agreed take police to the location, where they found the remains and some of Curtiss’ belongings. A witness who was in the bathroom when House beat Curtiss also was located and provided details to police.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Trey Atkinson and Lauren Anderson.