Man sells watch to woman for $50, then shoots her dead in argument, WV officials say
An Indiana man is sentenced in the death of a West Virginia woman whom officials say he handcuffed, beat and shot during an argument over a watch.
Andres Torres Jr., 29, will serve a life sentence in prison without parole, the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for Fayette County said in a Jan. 31 news release. He was also sentenced to a consecutive term of one to five years and a fine of $10,000 for conspiracy.
Torres and his partner, Amanda Soultz, came to Fayette County — where Soultz had previously lived — in January 2023, according to prosecutors.
Torres needed money, so he pawned a watch to Michelle Smith, whom Soultz knew, for $50, prosecutors said. But Torres later learned Smith listed the watch for sale on Facebook and became angry.
On Feb. 16, the couple went to get the watch back, but Smith said she didn’t have it, prosecutors said.
Then, Torres and Soultz tied Smith down with handcuffs, and Torres “beat Smith with his fists and a pistol” beforesearching Smith’s house for the watch, prosecutors said.
Eventually, they found the watch, which made Torres even more upset, and he shot Smith in the head, prosecutors said.
Smith’s adult son found her alive about 12 hours after the incident, prosecutors said. She was taken to a hospital for medical treatment but died March 31 due to the gunshot wound.
Torres and Soultz told police they had been over for dinner and drinks with Smith Feb. 16 but later said they were involved in the shooting, prosecutors said.
“Torres admitted to police that he shot Smith because she ‘disrespected’ him,” prosecutors said.
He was found guilty of first-degree murder Oct. 31 after a three-day trial, prosecutors said. Soultz pleaded guilty to first-degree murder Dec. 6; she will be sentenced Feb. 11, according to the release.
Smith, 41, was a wife and mother of two whom loved ones described as “friendly” and hospitable, according to her obituary.
“She is so very missed and no one can fill that spot,” one person said.
Fayette County is in southwestern West Virginia, about a 55-mile drive southeast from Charleston.
