Florida – In a shocking and violent case out of Florida, a 19‑year‑old man, identified as J. Trevino, has been charged with first‑degree murder and numerous other felonies and misdemeanors in the death of a 67‑year‑old man, identified as J. Torneo, whom he had been living with until just days before the fatal attack. Prosecutors say Trevino’s actions went far beyond a simple argument, as the teenager stabbed the older man and then struck him in the head with a wine bottle “to make sure he was dead” just because he was kicked out of Torneo’s home.
In total, Trevino was charged with 14 felonies and seven misdemeanors tied to Torneo’s death. Among the felony counts is first‑degree murder, the most serious charge in Florida’s criminal code. Other charges stem from allegedly stealing Torneo’s cash, credit cards, and vehicle, and then trying to flee law enforcement before his arrest. Authorities have said Trevino will be held without bond at the county jail, and his arraignment is scheduled for January 20, 2026.
The disturbing sequence of events came to light after a concerned neighbor reported not having seen Torneo in several days at his residence. According to Sheriff G. Judd, deputies first went to Torneo’s home after the neighbor called police. The neighbor said Torneo had allowed Trevino to stay at his home since September but had kicked him out on December 10 after Trevino failed to pay rent or help with household tasks. When deputies first checked the house, they mistakenly thought Torneo wasn’t home and left the scene. The neighbor, worried after continued failed attempts to contact Torneo, along with others, returned to the house and went inside. There, they made the horrifying discovery: Torneo was dead on the floor,” according to details released by the sheriff’s office.
Deputies immediately began their investigation, and it wasn’t long before they had leads. Investigators learned that Torneo’s credit card had been used at a local store. Sheriff Judd noted that Trevino also used one of the victim’s cards at a pizza restaurant where he worked as a dishwasher, leaving a trail that investigators were able to follow. The manhunt continued when deputies located Torneo’s stolen vehicle early on Monday morning. At about 4:42 a.m., officers saw Trevino get into the stolen car and attempted to take him into custody. Trevino allegedly took off in the vehicle, crashing it and then trying to flee on foot. Despite his efforts, deputies quickly caught up with him and placed him under arrest.
While in custody, Trevino reportedly confessed to killing Torneo. According to Sheriff 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.” Investigators said Trevino admitted to breaking into Torneo’s home through a bathroom window on the night of the murder and hiding in a closet until the victim was asleep. When Torneo woke up and found Trevino inside his home, he is alleged to have said, “You’re not supposed to be here.” According to authorities, Trevino then shoved Torneo onto his bed, went to the kitchen to get a knife, and stabbed him. After the stabbing, Trevino reportedly took a “bottle of wine from a cooler in Torneo’s bedroom and beat him in the head with it “to make sure he was dead.”
Trevino allegedly told investigators that he took the knife and wine bottle with him when he left the home, throwing both alleged murder weapons in a creek. Law enforcement later recovered both items during their search. The charges against Trevino encompass a wide range of offenses tied to the killing, theft, and his actions while fleeing from law enforcement. In addition to first‑degree murder, he faces counts that could carry significant prison time if convicted.
Trevino’s arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 20, 2026, and he remains in custody without bond as the case unfolds. The severity of the charges and the details surrounding Torneo’s death have left friends, neighbors, and community members grappling with the violent loss of a man known locally as a retired nurse who opened his home to someone in need—only to meet a brutal end at the hands of the very person he had allowed to stay with him. As investigators and prosecutors prepare for what is sure to be a lengthy legal process, the story of Torneo’s death remains a stark and tragic reminder of how quickly a relationship of trust can turn deadly.
