Martin County - Thursday December 1, 2022: The search continues for the suspect wanted in connection with the fatal stabbing of a Port St. Lucie man last Saturday.
Robert Tyler Meadows was stabbed to death late in the afternoon, on November 26, within The Preserve, a gated Community in Hobe Sound. Meadows was living with his girlfriend in this exclusive community, but he was just one of a number of renters in the home where he died.
“Because there were so many people in the house, including the victim’s girlfriend, the suspect of course was there with his girlfriend, and at least three other people, we knew right away who we were looking for," said Martin County Chief Deputy John Budensiek. "That person, we’re still looking for (him), his named is Jared Diaz and he was living, or was supposed to be living in Jupiter.”
30-year-old Diaz and his girlfriend fled from the home, but not long after Jupiter police spotted the getaway car and stopped it. However only Diaz’s girlfriend was inside.
"She had just dropped Diaz off at a gas station down off of Indiantown Road in Jupiter," said Chief Deputy Budensiek. “When the traffic stop was occurring between her and the Jupiter Police Department, Jared Diaz was on the phone and was listening, so he knew at that point that law enforcement was on to him."
Meadows and Diaz didn’t know each other well, said Chief Deputy Budensiek. They met through their girlfriends. What brought them to blows, he said, is not yet clear. “We don’t really know a motive other than there was a verbal altercation, followed by physical altercation and Mr. Diaz had a knife and he took lethal action against Mr. Meadows. Mr. Diaz we would ask everyone to presume that he is still armed. Instead of taking action on their own, let law enforcement handle the situation.”
Anyone with information about Diaz’s whereabouts is asked to call the Martin County Sheriff’s Office at 772-220-7000, or you can remain anonymous by calling Crime-stoppers.