UPDATE: Two Indiana individuals facing First-Degree Murder charges stemming from a kidnapping incident are expected to be arraigned this month.
The arraignment – scheduled for Friday, January 19, 2024, before the Honorable Thomas H. Ewing, Judge of the Circuit Court of Fayette County, West Virginia, at 9:00 a.m., in the Courtroom of the Fayette County Courthouse Annex – pertains to an investigation into the death of a Fayette County woman in March of last year
The suspects involved in the investigation – identified as Andres Torres, 28 years old of Goshen, Indiana, and Amanda Soultz, 31 years old of Goshen, Indiana – were initially arrested on charges stemming from a probation violation in the State of Indiana, as well as Kidnapping, Robbery in the First Degree, Conspiracy, and Attempted First Degree Murder.
The Kidnapping, Robbery in the First Degree, Conspiracy, and Attempted First-Degree Murder charges stem from an incident in which the two were found to have handcuffed a Fayette County woman inside a car, stolen her belongings, and shot her in the head.
The victim would succumb to her injuries on Friday, March 31, 2023, at approximately 9:51am, leading to the “Attempted First-Degree Murder” charges being upgraded to “First-Degree Murder.”
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OAK HILL, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A woman left in critical condition after suffering a gunshot wound to the head has succumbed to her injuries according to reports from the West Virginia State Police.
According to Captain R. A. Maddy of the WVSP, on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at approximately 5:30pm, PFC Dodrill of the Oak Hill Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle in the parking lot area of the Plateau Medical Center in Oak Hill.
A victim, identified as Michelle Ann Smith – 41 years old of Fayetteville, WV – was discovered and transported to CAMC General Hospital in critical condition.
Authorities identified two suspects in the investigation – Andres Torres, 27 years old of Goshen, Indiana, and Amanda Soultz, 30 years old of Goshen, Indiana. Preliminary information reportedly suggested both subjects to have been in possession of the victim’s credit cards, along with three handguns.
On Friday, February 17, 2023, at approximately 1:30pm, an off-duty Deputy U.S. Marshal spotted both suspects at the intersection of South Fayette Street and U.S. Rt. 19. Troopers were notified and both subjects were taken into custody without incident.
Both Torres and Soultz were incarcerated on charges stemming from a probation violation in the State of Indiana, as well as Kidnapping, Robbery in the First Degree, Conspiracy, and Attempted First Degree Murder.
On Friday, March 31, 2023, at approximately 9:51am, the victim of these crimes succumbed to her injuries. An autopsy is set to be performed and authorities anticipate the suspects’ charges to be upgraded to First Degree Murder.
