DAVENPORT, Fla. – A 19-year-old man is facing first-degree murder charges after Polk County detectives say he broke into a Davenport home and brutally killed his former roommate for cash.
The investigation began Sunday afternoon in the Polo Park neighborhood when a friend of the victim, 67-year-old John Joseph Torneo, went to check on him. The friend told detectives he hadn’t heard from Torneo since Thursday. Upon entering the home with a spare key, he discovered Torneo’s body in the bathroom, surrounded by blood.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the friend had recently helped Torneo change the locks on his home specifically to keep out a former roommate, Julian Andre Trevino, who was no longer allowed to live there.
Despite the new locks, detectives say Trevino returned.
Authorities tracked the suspect after finding that Torneo’s stolen bank card had been used at a local pizza restaurant and a convenience store shortly after the murder.
The manhunt ended early Monday morning when deputies spotted the victim’s missing vehicle traveling south on US 27. When units attempted to follow, the car sped into the Ridge neighborhood before crashing into a ditch near Tank Toad and Teacher Lane. Trevino attempted to flee the crash site on foot but was quickly captured.
During questioning, Trevino reportedly admitted to breaking into the home through a window. When Torneo confronted him, the situation turned violent.
READ: Green Light For No. 19: Appeals Court Rejects Bid To Halt Record-Breaking Florida Execution
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd provided a grim account of the attack, stating that Trevino grabbed a kitchen knife and intentionally cut the victim before bludgeoning him repeatedly 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,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Investigators say that after the attack, Trevino disposed of the knife and fled with the victim’s phone, bank card, and car.
Trevino is now being held at the Sheriff’s Processing Center. He faces a litany of felonies, including First Degree Murder, Armed Burglary, Tampering with Evidence, and Grand Theft Motor Vehicle.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
