A 67-year-old retired nurse was stabbed to death by his former roommate, who is 19, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Tuesday, December 16.
John Joseph Torneo has been identified as the murder victim, according to a news release. He was found by a friend the afternoon of Sunday, December 14, in the bathroom of his home. The bathroom was covered in blood when the friend found Torneo’s body, police said
The friend told detectives that he last saw Torneo on Thursday, December 11. After he noted that he hadn’t heard from him since, the friend said he used a key he had to Torneo’s residence to check on him. The friend also shared that Torneo had recently changed the locks at his home after he kicked out his former roommate.
Torneo’s ex roommate, Julian Andre Trevino, was then arrested after an investigation revealed that the suspect used the victim’s bank card at a nearby pizza restaurant as well as a convenience store following the brutal murder.
Authorities explained in the news release that the victim’s vehicle was missing from his property. The vehicle was seen traveling on U.S. 27 south on Monday, December 15, after Torneo was already dead.
Once deputies were able to find the car, they followed the vehicle into the Ridge neighborhood. The vehicle then crashed into a ditch, though Trevino managed to get out of the car and fled on foot.
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Authorities were eventually able to catch up with Trevino, and they found that he had Torneo’s bank card on him.
“The suspect admitted to my detectives that he broke in through a window and was confronted by Mr. Torneo. The suspect grabbed a knife from the kitchen then intentionally attacked and fatally cut Mr. Torneo,” Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement. “He was then hit multiple times over the head with a wine bottle. The suspect’s motive for the burglary was to steal money, and his actions resulted in Mr. Torneo suffering a very painful death.”
After Trevino fatally attacked Torneo, the suspect got rid of the knife and stole the victim’s bank card and phone before fleeing the scene in the stolen vehicle.
Trevino has since been booked at the Sheriff’s Processing Center and is still behind bars. He was charged with first degree murder, armed robbery, tampering with evidence in a felony, armed burglary of a dwelling, burglary of an occupied dwelling, obtain property by force, criminal use of personal identification, tampering with a victim, grand theft from a dwelling, grand theft motor vehicle, fleeing to elude, theft of bank card, fraudulent use of a bank card, resisting without violence, petit theft and driving without a valid license.
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Authorities further opened up about the incident during a news conference on December 16.
At one point, Judd explained that Torneo was “a super human being who always wanted to help people.”
“John had a history of helping those less fortunate,” Judd continued. “John had a history of wanting to provide and make a positive difference.”
Judd went on to note that there was “no reason” the murder had to happen. “It’s just vicious and violent and should have never occurred,” he said.
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