A teenager from Florida, aged 19, is facing murder charges following the death of a 67-year-old retired nurse who had previously offered him shelter. The nurse later evicted him due to his failure to pay rent or contribute to household chores.
The victim, John Joseph Torneo, was discovered gruesomely killed in his home on Sunday. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd shared these details during a press conference, which provided a narrative that differed from the initial department statement.
As per the official release, a friend discovered Torneo’s body in the bathroom on Sunday afternoon. However, Judd explained that the body was actually found in a locked bedroom after a deputy initially overlooked it while responding to the scene.
A concerned neighbor alerted authorities after not seeing Torneo for several days. The deputy initially remained outside as the neighbor searched the house but reported it clear, assuming Torneo was not at home.
Determined to find him, the neighbor returned later with others, and upon removing a locked door, they found Torneo’s body, leading deputies to launch a murder investigation.
According to the neighbor, Torneo had recently changed the locks after evicting his 19-year-old roommate, Julian Trevino. Additionally, the neighbor noted that Torneo’s vehicle was now missing.
Deputies soon discovered that someone — Trevino — was using Torneo’s credit cards.
“He had used the victim’s credit card at the pizza restaurant that he worked at as a dishwasher,” Judd shared. “I got to tell you, Helen Keller could have followed the leads this guy left. This is what we call a slow-pitch criminal investigation.”
Investigators spotted the vehicle and kept an eye on it, eventually seeing Trevino get inside. But when they tried to take him into custody, he drove away.
“In his urge to get away from us, he ran into a ditch, crashed the car, jumped out and ran on foot,” Judd said.
Officers quickly caught up to him, and Trevino reportedly confessed, telling detectives that he was “really angry” when Torneo kicked him out.
“So, about 3-4 a.m. on Sunday, he goes back to John’s house and he breaks in,” Judd says. “He breaks into the bathroom window and hides in the closet. When he hears our victim, John, settle in for the night, then he goes to stealing cash, credit cards and what happens then — our victim wakes up. ”
Torneo confronted Trevino, who told detectives he shoved him down and ran to the kitchen for a knife, where he stabbed his former roommate then beat him with a wine bottle until he was dead. He said he dumped the knife and bottle in a nearby creek, where deputies found them both.
Trevino has been charged with first degree murder, armed robbery, tampering with evidence, armed burglary, burglary, obtaining 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 a bank card, fraudulent use of a bank card, resisting without violence, petit theft, and driving without a valid license.
Judd said the deputy who initially responded to the neighbor’s call has been taken off patrol and sent for more training.
