Kissimmee Man Arrested for Fatal Thanksgiving Stabbing of Roommate
KISSIMMEE, FL – A man has been arrested and charged with premeditated murder after allegedly stabbing his roommate to death on Thanksgiving Day in Kissimmee, police said.
The suspect, Romeo Florez-Perez, 25, appeared before a judge in Osceola County on Wednesday following his arrest in December. Authorities say Florez-Perez fatally stabbed Jhovany Hernandez, 21, during an altercation before the victim fled. Hernandez was later found dead in a ditch, approximately 350 feet from the home they shared on North Emory Avenue.
Investigators initially struggled to identify the victim, as he was found without any identification. However, police discovered a receipt and credit card in his wallet, which led them to La Mexicana Supermarket. Surveillance footage from the store helped detectives confirm Hernandez’s identity and narrow their search for a suspect.
Another roommate of Florez-Perez played a crucial role in the investigation. According to court documents, when the roommate arrived at their shared room on Thanksgiving night, he noticed blood on the door handle and droplets on the floor, along with smears on the wall. Fearing for his safety and his immigration status, he did not immediately contact authorities.
A second roommate later told investigators that Florez-Perez had threatened to kill him if he spoke to the police about the incident.
Florez-Perez was apprehended in San Antonio, Texas, in December while allegedly attempting to flee the country. He was extradited to Osceola County, where he is now being held without bond.
The investigation remains ongoing.