Dad Kills Girlfriend in Front of Children, Leaves Them to Go to School

Farel Torres, 38, in Florida faces life in prison for killing the mother of his children after she broke up with him, then leaving her body while taking their kids to school.

A Seminole County jury deliberated just 14 minutes before finding Torres guilty of second-degree murder in the death of 34-year-old Vanessa Santiago, authorities said.

According to the 18th Judicial Circuit State’s Attorney’s Office, the fatal attack occurred on May 29, 2024, inside the couple’s apartment on Winter Woods Boulevard off State Road 436. Prosecutors said Torres appeared to plan the attack, grabbing a large steak knife from the kitchen and disabling a security camera in the bedroom.

Sheriff’s deputies responded around 9 a.m. after Torres called 911, admitting, “I stabbed my girlfriend” and “the knife is in her,” telling dispatchers she was “beyond help.” He was described as upset and crying on the call, saying, “I stabbed her in the head,” and “I stabbed her cause I was mad.”

Medical personnel pronounced Santiago dead shortly after arriving.

Police said Torres told them he had greeted Santiago at 6 a.m., but she was angry because the bedroom cameras weren’t working. When asked what happened, he began crying uncontrollably and could not answer further questions.

During the four-day trial, prosecutors said Torres intentionally disabled the bedroom camera where the attack occurred. Video from other areas of the apartment showed the couple fighting just before the stabbing. Prosecutors noted that the children were present and one boy walked in on the attack before Torres ushered him out. Santiago had been breaking up with Torres and evicting him from the apartment she leased and paid for.

Forensic examination of Santiago’s phone revealed that after killing her, Torres returned to the apartment, accessed her social media accounts, copied her credit card information, and transferred funds from her bank account to his.

Torres’ defense attorneys argued for a lesser charge of manslaughter, claiming he acted in a “fit of passion,” but jurors rejected that argument.

Torres is scheduled to appear in court for sentencing on Nov. 5.

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