Detectives from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office made an arrest following a stabbing death at a home in Madeira Beach.
According to detectives, deputies responded to a 911 armed person call at about 2:57 a.m. on Friday, January 10, 2020.
When deputies arrived, they located the caller, 28 year-old Justin That of Clearwater, who advised deputies he had stabbed 48 year-old John Forest. Deputies found Forest deceased in his residence, located at 14054 Miramar Avenue Unit 1 in Madeira Beach.
That advised detectives he met Forest at a local bar earlier that night. That described how they returned to Forest’s residence to smoke marijuana and got into a verbal argument.
Detectives say the argument between That and Forest turned physical. During the physical altercation, That obtained a switch blade style knife, which belonged to the victim, and stabbed Forest ten times in the face and neck. Afterwards, That fled the scene, disposed of the knife and called 911.
Through various investigative techniques, detectives determined Forest’s death was a murder committed by That.
Detectives arrested That on Friday, March 6, 2020. That was charged with one count of Second Degree Murder and transported to the Pinellas County Jail.
The investigation continues.