Crime & Safety

Parents, Coworkers Remember Stabbing Victim Jason Paul

Jason Taylor Paul's parents pleaded to the community to help find the Dunedin High grad's attacker Monday evening near Crest Lake Park in Clearwater.

Renee and John Langfritz have no idea who would have killed their only child.

Their son Jason Taylor Paul liked to skateboard and ride his bike. He had his own place and minded his own business. He worked two jobs but recently was cut to just one at Tiger Direct.

He worshiped the ground on which Marley, his boxer mix, walked. They spent their free time at Crest Lake Park. His parents said Paul was getting his life together and saving to go to school to become a veterinary technician.

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Paul, 22, a 2008 Dunedin High grad, was found stabbed to death in the early morning hours Sunday near Crest Lake Park in Clearwater.

“This coward, truly a coward, who would leave a young innocent man to die alone in the dark in the middle of the street must be caught,” Renee Langfritz said during a press conference near the scene of the crime Monday evening.

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Detectives, family members of the victim, police volunteers and AmeriCorps members walked the Sky Crest neighborhood handing out fliers after the press conference Monday, in an attempt to identify a suspect and motive.

David Hires came out to see what he could do to help. Hires was Paul’s supervisor at Tiger Direct. He hired Paul in November.

He said Paul made an impression on him because he was eager and personable. Paul was the type to make others laugh.

"A genuinely nice guy who would give you the shirt off his back," Hires said.

Paul typically rode his bike with his headphones on. He had a special water proof attachment on it for his phone.

Hires said he once gave Paul a ride home when it was raining. Some of the other employees did, too. 

Josh Davidson worked with Paul on Saturday night. He said Paul was happy because he just had gotten back together with his girlfriend.

He was never late for work. If he was running behind he would send Hires a text to let him know.

“I wouldn’t believe that it happened until he didnt show up for work the next day,” Hires said. “That would have been the only thing that would have kept him.”

Both Davidson and Hires talked about Paul's devotion not only to work but his dog, too.

Hires said Paul’s password at work was “I love Marley.”

To Help:

Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect.

Anyone with information can contact Clearwater Police's Tip Line at 727-562-4422. Send tips anonymously to 847411 (tip411) or online at the police website www.clearwaterpolice.org or Facebook page.


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