Julian Antonio Romero | St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office
Julian Antonio Romero | St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office
A 58-year-old Honduran illegal immigrant has been arrested in connection with the 25-year-old double homicide of Robert Hardwick, 77, and his fiancée, 57-year-old Vernice Reese, in Fort Pierce.
Julian Antonio Romero, who is serving a life sentence in Broward County for kidnapping and rape stemming from a 2002 case, was charged earlier this month with two counts of first-degree murder after DNA evidence linked him to the crime scene.
Hardwick and Reese were found dead in their home at the 3800 block of North Kings Highway on October 22, 2000, after a fire was reported at the property. Investigators determined that both victims had been stabbed before the fire was set.
Their vehicle, a gold Oldsmobile Alero, was also stolen shortly after the murders.
Romero was arrested two weeks later for sleeping in the stolen vehicle in Wilton Manors, Florida. Romero claimed that he was only taking a nap in the vehicle and the case went cold soon after this discovery.
In 2023, investigators with the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office revisited the case and uncovered new evidence. While sorting through the case file, detectives came across a photo of a keychain recovered from the ignition of the Oldsmobile when Romero was initially arrested. Attached to the keychain was a photograph of a child identified as Romero’s daughter.
Additionally, authorities confirmed Romero’s DNA at the crime scene, leading to his indictment for the double homicide.
Romero, who is in the U.S. illegally, has been transferred to the St. Lucie County Jail to face the new charges. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer has been placed on him, meaning he will be deported if ever released from prison.
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