A 19-year-old from Florida faces charges in the killing of a 67-year-old retired nurse who had previously offered him a place to stay. The arrangement soured when the man was evicted for failing to pay rent or contribute to household chores.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd revealed during a press conference that John Joseph Torneo was discovered disemboweled in his residence on Sunday. This information was presented differently from an earlier press release issued by the sheriff’s department.

The official statement mentioned that Torneo was discovered deceased in a bathroom on Sunday afternoon by a friend. However, Judd clarified that the body was actually found in a locked bedroom after an initial investigation by a deputy failed to uncover it.

A concerned neighbor contacted 911, noting that Torneo had been out of sight for several days. The deputy on the scene initially remained outside while allowing the neighbor to search inside, who was unable to locate Torneo. The deputy concluded the call, assuming Torneo was simply absent.

Persistent, the neighbor continued efforts to find him and later returned with others. They managed to remove a locked door, revealing Torneo’s body. Authorities then returned to the scene to conduct a thorough investigation into the murder.

They neighbor told deputies that Torneo had recently changed the locks because he had kicked out his 19-year-old roommate, Julian Trevino. And now, the neighbor said, Torneo’s vehicle was 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.