Murder Suspect Makes Initial Appearance in Circuit Court

An an initial appearance was held Tuesday in Sheridan County Circuit Court for a teenager charged with murder. Sheridan Media’s Ron Richter has the details.

After being delayed by officials in Montana for over two months, 15-year-old Christian Torres was extradited to Wyoming for his initial appearance Tuesday in Circuit Court on the charge of Second Degree Murder.  Torres was charged with Second Degree Murder on July 29 and a warrant was issued for his arrest that same day for allegedly killing his father, 47-year-old Edgar Jones at a home in Dayton on the night of July 27. Torres attempted to flee to Billings, Montana in his father’s truck, but crashed the vehicle near Hardin, Montana. Torres stated to a Montana State Trooper that he had killed his father in Dayton. At Tuesday’s hearing Sheridan County Attorney Dianna Bennett said Torres was a flight risk and a danger to the community and argued for a cash bond of $500,000. Bennett said Torres was the leader of an escape plan amongst inmates at the facility in Montana where he was incarcerated since late July. Bennett also stated in Court that new information in the case indicates the shooting may have been planned.

Circuit Court Judge Shelley Cundiff said she did not necessarily consider Torres to be a danger to the community, but did feel that he was flight risk and set a cash bond of $250,000. Judge Cundiff said a preliminary hearing in the case would most likely be set next week. Second Degree Murder is punishable by not less than 20 years and up to life in prison and a fine of not more than $10,000.