Background: The Polo Park community in Davenport, Fla. (Google Maps). Inset: Julian Trevino (Polk County Sheriff’s Office).
In a tragic incident in Florida, a retired nurse lost his life after a 19-year-old he had previously sheltered allegedly murdered him. The unfortunate event unfolded after the nurse asked the teenager to leave his home.
Julian Trevino, 19, was arrested on Monday and charged with a pile of felonies in connection with the homicide of 67-year-old John Torneo. During a press conference, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd provided details about what led up to Trevino’s arrest and how law enforcement came upon the grisly scene at Torneo’s home in Davenport, Florida.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd shared that a deputy was dispatched following a report from a concerned neighbor who hadn’t seen the nurse, Robert Torneo, for several days. The neighbor informed the deputy that Torneo had allowed the teenager, later identified as Trevino, to stay at his house since September. However, due to Trevino’s failure to pay rent or contribute to household chores, Torneo had asked him to leave the previous week.
The neighbor, who had access to Torneo’s home, told the deputy that Torneo had instructed Trevino to vacate the premises on December 10. The neighbor, having a key, helped the deputy track Torneo’s car, which was noted traveling south. Unfortunately, the deputy mistakenly concluded that Torneo was not at home.
After the deputy left, the neighbor continued trying to reach Torneo without success. Growing concerned, he, along with other neighbors, entered Torneo’s home and made the horrifying discovery of Torneo’s lifeless body, which had been brutally dismembered and left on the floor.
The sheriff’s office launched an investigation and traced Torneo’s credit card, which Trevino allegedly used at a Circle K convenience store. Sheriff Judd noted that Trevino also used another of Torneo’s cards at the pizza restaurant where he worked as a dishwasher. Judd quipped about the ease of the investigation, remarking, “Even Helen Keller could have followed the leads this guy left. This is what we call a slow-pitch investigation.”
As the investigation progressed, deputies located Torneo’s stolen vehicle. In the early hours of Monday, officers observed Trevino entering the car and attempted to apprehend him. Trevino allegedly fled in the vehicle, eventually crashing before trying to escape on foot. Deputies quickly apprehended him, bringing the volatile situation to a close.
Judd stated that while Trevino was in custody, he admitted to the alleged murder. According to Judd, Trevino told police, “I was really angry when he put me out of the house. And now I’m having to live in a shed by a friend’s house. I didn’t want to go away from my girlfriend.”
Trevino allegedly told police that on Sunday, he broke into Torneo’s house through a bathroom window and hid in a closet. When he thought Torneo had settled in, he allegedly stole Torneo’s cash and credit cards. Torneo reportedly woke up and found Trevino in his house, then told him, “You’re not supposed to be here.” Trevino allegedly shoved Torneo onto his bed then went to the kitchen to get a knife. After allegedly stabbing Torneo, Trevino got a bottle of wine out of the cooler in Torneo’s bedroom and “beat him in the head with it to make sure he was dead,” authorities say.
Trevino allegedly told police that he took the knife and the bottle with him when he left Torneo’s home and threw both alleged murder weapons in a creek. Both items were recovered.
Trevino was charged with 14 felonies and seven misdemeanors in connection with Torneo’s death, including first-degree murder. He is being held at the South County Jail without bond. His arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 20, 2026.
