John Andrew Hutchens was stabbed to death Thursday (June 1) morning.

ST. PETERSBURG – A Pinellas Park man was arrested late Thursday (June 1) and charged in connection with the murder of a taxi cab driver, St. Petersburg police said.

Juan Carlos Juares, aka Juan Carlos Juarez, 27, of Pinellas Park, was charged with one count of first degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of John Andrew Hutchens, 59, also of Pinellas Park.

Mr. Hutchens was found in the parking lot of a closed Citgo station at 38th Avenue N and 28th Street about 1 a.m. Thursday. St. Petersburg police said they tried to save him but were unable to do so. Police said he was stabbed. He worked for United Taxi of Clearwater.

Officers said the killer escaped in Mr. Hutchens’ cab. It was found abandoned near 47th Avenue N and 71st Way.

St. Petersburg police said they Juares as a suspect based on witness interviews and evidence, and were able to establish probable cause to get an arrest warrant. Officer spent the afternoon trying to find Juares. They asked for help from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s violent offender warrant unit.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested Juares shortly after 9:15 p.m. at a house in unincorporated Pinellas County not far from where Hutchens’ cab was found. He did not resist deputies.

St. Petersburg Police | Murder | Stabbing | Cab Driver | Crime | Arrests | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

#StPetersburgPolice #Murder #Stabbing #CabDriver #Crime #Arrests #TampaBayNews #TBReporter