A retired nurse was stabbed to death by his roommate over the weekend in Florida

A retired nurse was stabbed to death by his roommate over the weekend in Florida, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said.

On December 14, 2025, jnvestigators said the murder happened in Davenport.

The victim, who was identified as 67-year-old John Joseph Torneo, was found stabbed to death in his bathroom by a friend that afternoon. A large amount of blood was also found in the bathroom.

The friend told detectives that he last saw Torneo on December 13 and hadn’t heard from him since. He had keys to Torneo’s home, so he decided to check on him.

The friend said Torneo recently changed his home’s locks because a roommate was no longer allowed to live there.

Investigators said that Torneo’s vehicle was missing from the property and learned that his bank card had been used by his former roommate at a nearby pizza restaurant and a convenience store.

“I mean, I got to tell you, Helen Keller could have followed the leads that this guy left,” Judd said. This is what we call a slow-pitch criminal investigation.”

On December 15, investigators said the victim’s vehicle was seen traveling south on US 27.

Deputies began to follow behind the vehicle as it entered The Ridge neighborhood. As the vehicle exited the neighborhood, the driver crashed into a ditch near Tank Road and Teacher Lane.

The suspect and former roommate, 19-year-old Julian Trevino, was captured after a short foot pursuit.

Investigators also found Torneo’s bank card in Trevino’s possession.

“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. He was then hit over the head with a wine bottle multiple times. The suspect’s motive for the burglary was to steal money, and his actions resulted in Mr. Torneo suffering a very painful death,” Sheriff Grady Judd said.

After the attack, investigators said Trevino disposed of the knife, a wine bottle and his shoe. They said he also stole Torneo’s vehicle, bank card and phone.

Judd said investigators found the knife on December 16.

Trevino was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, armed robbery, tampering with evidence and several other charges.