Select by gender or name

Murder of Michelle Smith

According to WCHSTV, Andres Torres was low on cash in January 2023. While visiting Fayette County, West Virginia from Elkhart, Indiana, he sold or pawned a watch to Michelle Smith for $50. Torres’ girlfriend, Amanda Soultz had lived in the area and was a friend of Smith.

Torres planned to get it back when he got his finances together. It’s unclear if Smith was aware he would want the watch back in the future.

She listed it for sale on Facebook Marketplace, and after Torres saw the listing, he demanded that she return the item, but she refused.

On February 16th, 2023, Torres and Amanda Soultz went to Smith’s home and told her to return the watch.

She told them she pawned it and didn’t have it anymore. They handcuffed her, then Torres punched her and pistol-whipped her.

The duo searched the home for the watch. After finding it, Torres put a bullet in Smith’s head as punishment for lying.

She was found alive 12 hours later. The 41-year-old died weeks later at the hospital.

Soultz and Torres left the area and tried to cover their tracks, but they were eventually arrested with three guns on them and some of Smith’s credit cards. According to WVVA, Smith confessed to shooting Smith because she “disrespected” him.

While they were in jail, they communicated, discussing marriage and a plan for Torres to take the blame for the crimes so Soultz could walk free.

That plan never came to fruition.

Legal Proceedings

Soultz pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, and in February 2025, she was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years.

According to WVVA, Torres was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, robbery. and conspiracy in October 2024. In January 2025, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.