FAYETTE COUNTY, W.Va. (TCN) — A 29-year-old man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for his role in the kidnapping, robbing, and fatal shooting of a 41-year-old woman over the sale of a pawned watch.
The Fayette County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced that on Jan. 30, a judge sentenced Andres Torres Jr. to life in prison without the possibility of parole in connection with the death of Michelle Smith. Torres pleaded guilty in October 2024 to first-degree murder, kidnapping, robbery, and conspiracy.
Prior to his trial, Torres was serving a two- to 10-year sentence for malicious assault of another inmate at the Southern Regional Jail. Torres’ co-defendant, Amanda Soultz, pleaded guilty in December 2024 to first-degree murder and is set to be sentenced on Feb. 11.
In January 2023, Torres and Soultz reportedly went from Indiana to Fayette County, where Soultz had previously resided. Prosecutors said Soultz knew Smith before the defendants’ arrival, and Torres pawned a watch to her for $50. Torres became upset after learning Smith had listed the watch for sale on Facebook.
On Feb. 16, 2023, Torres and Soultz went to Smith’s residence to get the watch, where she was kidnapped, robbed, and killed. According to the prosecuting attorney’s office, Soultz and Torres initially told police they had dinner and drinks with Smith on the night of Feb. 16. However, investigators obtained evidence from the scene, suggesting that this was not a “friendly gathering.”
Smith reportedly told the defendants she no longer had the watch, and Soultz and Torres then handcuffed the victim. Torres allegedly used his fists and a pistol to hit Smith. Prosecutors said Soultz and Torres went through Smith’s home and located the watch, causing Torres to become “even more enraged.” Torres then shot Smith in the head and “left her for dead.” Torres told authorities he shot the victim “because she ‘disrespected’ him.”
Smith’s adult son wasn’t able to reach his mother and went to check on her approximately 12 hours after the shooting and found her still alive with a gunshot wound to her head. Smith succumbed to her injury on March 31 and “was never able to speak about what had happened the night she was shot.”
According to the prosecuting attorney’s office, Soultz admitted she helped Torres but claimed he forced her, and she agreed “out of fear.”
Following the shooting, Soultz and Torres worked together to leave the area and evade arrest. They continued their relationship with jail calls after their arrests and even planned to get married. Prosecutors said Torres intended to take responsibility for their crimes “to allow Soultz to go free.”
MORE:
- Andres M. Torres Jr. Sentenced to Life in Prison Without Parole for Murder – Fayette County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
- Woman and man kidnapped, robbed, and killed victim who tried selling defendant’s watch on Facebook, 12/9/2024 – TCN
Source: True Crime Daily
