Man charged with stabbing co-worker to death while they were painting Bradenton condo
A Holmes Beach man has been arrested after police say he stabbed a co-worker to death Friday morning while they were painting a downtown Bradenton condominium.
At 10:08 a.m., the two men were up on a scissor lift painting the exterior of the condominium building at 210 Third Ave. W. when the stabbing occurred, according to police spokesman Captain Brian Thiers. The suspect, Jessie Hernandez, 41, lowered the lift to the ground, left it running and called 911 to admit to what he had just done, police said.
Hernandez then walked and met police halfway between the condominium building and their downtown headquarters, which is about half a mile away.
Rene Escobedo Balditt, 48, was already dead from the multiple stab wounds to his upper body by the time officers arrived at the scene. His body was still in the lift.
“Don’t really know what led to it, but Mr. Hernandez stabbed Mr. Balditt and subsequently killed him,” Thiers said a news conference on Friday afternoon.
There were several witnesses to the stabbing. Police said that Hernandez used a 6-inch-long blade knife he had to kill the victim.
Before being taken to the Manatee County jail, Hernandez was taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital to have cuts on his hand treated.
He was charged with second-degree murder and ordered to be held without bond until he makes his first appearance before a judge Saturday morning. Police worked with prosecutors from the State Attorney’s Office, who were at the scene, to determine what charges were appropriate, according to Thiers.
Hernandez’s criminal history includes multiple battery convictions.
Most recently, Hernandez was granted an early termination of his probation last August for charges of obtaining food with intent to defraud and resisting an officer without violence, according to court records. On Jan. 19, 2019, Bradenton Beach police were called to the Wicked Catina because Hernandez was drunk, trying to leave without paying his bill and had attacked a staff member.
When police arrived, the officer said that Hernandez became belligerent, lunged at him and said, “What are you going to do about it (expletive).” Hernandez had to be pepper sprayed before police could place him in handcuffs.
Hernandez has been charged with battery numerous times in which the State Attorney’s Office dropped the case.
Anyone with information about this case can call Bradenton police detective Jay Gow at 941-932-9373 or email information to crimetips@cityofbradenton.com. To be remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward up to $3,000, information can also be submitted to Manatee Crime Stoppers by calling 1-866-634-8477 (TIPS) or send an anonymous E-Tip thru the web at manateecrimestoppers.com.
This story was originally published February 14, 2020 at 11:53 AM.
