Lee County deputies are investigating a homicide of a woman that happened Monday night in Lehigh Acres.
According to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a home in the 3100 block of 56th Street West at approximately 9:20 p.m. The woman was found dead with several stab wounds in the garage, and the suspect fled the scene.
LCSO said the victim had a "domestic relation" to the suspect. Detectives were able to locate the suspect, later identified as 23-year-old Lukas Carlton, in Hillsborough County.
Carlton was taken into custody in Pasco County on an out-of-county warrant after the Florida Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop.
John Barnett discovered his wife, Stephanie Barnett, with a stab wound to her neck in their garage.
John believes he was the next target, as he said his stepson, Lukas Carlton, returned to the house asking for rubbing alcohol, walked around, and then left. John expressed his desire to see Lukas "rot in prison for what he did to his mom."
Carlton is charged with second-degree murder, but John wants the charges to be premeditated.
John said he has been married to Stephanie for 16 years, and they have two high school teenage daughters together. Stephanie has two sons from a previous relationship, including Lukas and another son in the Navy.
John said Lukas threatened to kill him in 2020 with a baseball bat.
He is devastated and found it too difficult to go on camera but wanted to share this information. He is trying to stay strong for their daughters while making funeral plans and calling family across the country. He also thanked everyone for their prayers during this time.
LCSO said the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Pasco County Sheriff's Office and Florida Highway Patrol helped them with the investigation.
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