Clearwater Police Search for Clues in Crest Lake Park Stabbing

Renee and John Langfritz have no idea who would have killed their only child Jason Taylor Paul.

“This coward, truly a coward, who would leave a young innocent man to die alone in the dark in the middle of the street must be caught,” Renee Langfritz said during a press conference near the scene of the crime Monday evening.

Clearwater Police detectives are looking for evidence, motive and witnesses to help solve the first homicide this year.

Detectives say Paul, 22, was riding his bike home from work at Sunset Point and U.S. 19. He stopped at Walmart and bought some items. He was about a block from his house when he was found stabbed to death at 12:40 a.m. on Glenwood Avenue.

“A life has been lost,” Clearwater Police Detective William Hodgson, lead investigator, said. “We’re certainly pulling out all the stops. Everything we can.”

Hodgson said investigators are still collecting evidence and looking for information regarding the crime. Every indication is that Paul was riding his bike and then got into some kind of confrontation, he said.

Paul was found with his property on him and with his bike, still investigators do not have enough information to rule out if he was stabbed during a robbery.

Hodgson said investigators still are looking for the murder weapon, which could be a knife or other sharp object. He said if a neighbor finds it to call police immediately and not to touch it.

To help:

Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect.

Anyone with information can contact Clearwater Police's Tip Line at 727-562-4422. Send tips anonymously to 847411 (tip411) or online at the police websitewww.clearwaterpolice.org or Facebook page.

Related coverage:

• Parents, Coworkers Remember Stabbing Victim Jason Paul
• Clearwater Police Investigate Homicide Near Crest Lake Park
• Clearwater Police Ask Public for Help to Solve Homicide Near Crest Lake Park