Murder Suspect Moved To Highlands

AVON PARK - A suspect in the 2001 stabbing murder of a Lake Placid man remained in Highlands County Jail without bond Monday after he was extradited from Madison County.

Juan Tirso Perez, now 26, also known as Juan Tirso Marin and Juan Tirso Marin-Perez, was booked in at 9 p.m. Friday on a charge of second-degree murder as a suspect in the stabbing death of Sergio Jose Morales, according to sheriff's central records.

According to the arrest narrative, it was about 12:30 a.m. Feb. 19, 2001, when Morales was stabbed to death in his trailer home at 303 Highlands Blvd., in Lake Placid.

A witness to the crime told investigators that he was there when Perez argued with Morales. He returned later that night "intoxicated" and threw a bottle at Morales then threatened to kill him.

The witness reportedly saw Perez kick and punch Morales while his father, Tirso Marin-Medina, now 48, allegedly stabbed Morales. Marin-Medina was picked up in Martin County during a traffic stop, but had not yet arrived in Highlands County by press time.

The witness reported he had seen Marin-Medina earlier with a double edged dagger, which he usually carried in his waistband, the incident report stated.

A second witness reported he was sleeping when he heard yelling. He reported he got up and went to the area inside the trailer where the yelling was coming from. He saw one man kicking Morales while a second man was stabbing Morales, the report stated.

He believed Morales was stabbed about seven times, the report stated. He further reported seeing Medina with a black folding knife.

A third witness reported he also lived at the trailer and he had heard the Morales and Perez arguing earlier, but was asleep when the stabbing occurred. He was told by the first witness that Morales had been stabbed and came out to try to help him, the report stated.

A fourth witness reported that he also lived at the trailer. He told investigators that earlier in the day Perez and Morales had argued about Morales cutting a telephone line and Perez was mad at Morales, according to the report.

The witness told investigators he was also asleep and when he got up the suspects were gone and Morales had already been stabbed.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by Highlands County Emergency Medical Services personnel. Morales was 37 years old when he died.

The suspects, who worked as migrant laborers, had been sought on warrants in connection with the homicide since 2001.