FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Anthony Ciliberti, Jr., Prosecuting Attorney, announces that on December 6, 2024, Amanda Don Soultz, age 32, of Elkhart, Indiana, pled guilty to first-degree murder before Circuit Judge Paul M. Blake, Jr. Soultz’s plea agreement provides for Soultz to be sentenced to life in prison with parole eligibility after she serves fifteen years. She will be sentenced on February 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. The co-defendant, Andres M. Torres, Jr., was convicted on October 31, 2024 of Murder in the First Degree, Kidnapping, Robbery, and Conspiracy following a three-day jury trial. He will be sentenced on January 30, 2025 at 2:15 p.m.
Torres and Soultz came to Fayette County from Indiana in late January, 2023. Soultz had
previously lived in the area and knew Michelle Smith prior to arriving in Fayette County. Shortly after arriving in Fayette County, Torres was in need of money and had pawned a watch to Smith for $50. Sometime thereafter, Smith listed the watch for sale on Facebook. When Torres learned of the Facebook post, he became angry that Smith was trying to sell the watch. On February 16, 2023, Torres and Soultz went to Michelle Smith’s home on Deepwater Mountain Road to retrieve the watch which led to Smith being kidnapped, robbed, and murdered.
In their statements to police, both Soultz and Torres claimed that they had dinner with and had been drinking with Smith the night of February 16, 2023. However, evidence from the crime scene did not support their claims that this was a friendly gathering. The statements to police further indicate that when Smith refused to return the watch to Torres, claiming that she no longer had it, he became enraged. Soultz and Torres then restrained Smith with handcuffs found in Smith’s bedroom, and Torres proceeded to beat Smith with his fists and a pistol. Soultz and Torres then searched Smith’s residence for the watch. The watch was eventually found and Torres became even more enraged and shot Smith in the head with a .45 caliber firearm and left her for dead.
Torres admitted to police that he shot Smith because she ‘disrespected’ him. Smith was found still alive approximately twelve hours later by her adult son who went to the home to check on his mother as he was unable to contact her during the day. In her statement, Soultz admitted to police
that she helped Torres, but she claimed she was forced by Torres to participate in the crimes and that she complied with Torres’ demands out of fear. Evidence regarding the interaction between Soultz and Torres subsequent to the shooting showed the two continued to work together to avoid capture and to leave the area together. After they were apprehended, Soultz and Torres continued their relationship with jail calls revealing that the couple intended to get married. Recorded jail calls further revealed their plan was for Torres to take responsibility for the crime to allow Soultz to go free.
Michelle Smith died on March 31, 2023 from the gunshot wound to her head at the age of forty-one after medical efforts to save her life failed. Michelle Smith suffered greatly and was never able to speak about what had happened the night she was shot.
This crime was investigated by the West Virginia State Police, with assistance from the Oak Hill Police Department, Fayette County Sheriff’s Department and the United States Marshal’s Service. The case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jennifer D. Crane andAssistant Prosecuting Attorney Amy McLaughlin.
