Arrest Made In Cab Driver’s Slaying

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A 27-year-old St. Petersburg man faces first-degree murder charges in the Thursday stabbing death of a United Taxi of Clearwater driver. According to police, Juan Carlos Juares was brought into custody late Thursday evening.

Juares, police say, was found at a home in unincorporated Pinellas County. The home was not far from where police found John Andrew Hutchens’ cab abandoned.

Juares was established as a suspect shortly after the discovery of Hutchens’ body, police said. Witness statements and evidence left behind led investigators to Juares, an email from the agency said.

The case against Juares began to unfold around 1 a.m. June 1 when police were called to the parking lot of a Citgo gas station on the corner of 38th Avenue North and 28th Street. When they arrived, they found Hutchens, 59, of Pinellas Park suffering from stab wounds. Hutchens was on the ground in the parking lot of the closed station, police said.

Officers began lifesaving measures, but Hutchens died at the scene.

Police said Hutchens’ cab was missing from the scene. It was later recovered near 47th Avenue North and 71st Way.

Juares was booked into the Pinellas County Jail Thursday night. He was being held without bond Friday morning.

Further information is not yet available.

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Booking photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Jail