Who is Farel Torres and what crime was he convicted of?

Farel Torres is a Florida man convicted of second-degree murder for fatally stabbing his girlfriend, Vanessa Santiago.

Was there a child witness to the murder by Farel Torres?

Yes, video footage showed Vanessa Santiago's 5-year-old son witnessing the brutal stabbing of his mother.

What happened after Farel Torres committed the murder?

After the murder, Farel Torres cleaned up, dressed the children, and dropped them at daycare before confessing to the police.

Home / Crime and Justice / Man Kills Girlfriend, Drops Kids at Daycare, Gets Life

Man Kills Girlfriend, Drops Kids at Daycare, Gets Life

25 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Florida man sentenced to life for girlfriend's stabbing death.
Victim's 5-year-old son witnessed the brutal stabbing.
Killer calmly dropped children at daycare post-murder.

Man Kills Girlfriend, Drops Kids at Daycare, Gets Life

A Florida man, Farel Torres, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the second-degree murder of his girlfriend, Vanessa Santiago. The crime occurred in their Casselberry home on May 29, 2024. Prosecutors presented compelling video evidence showing Santiago's 5-year-old son witnessing the fatal stabbing.

Jurors found Torres guilty after a brief deliberation. Evidence indicated Torres attempted to conceal the murder by disabling cameras and hiding the weapon. The fatal attack reportedly stemmed from anger after Santiago decided to end their relationship. The court heard harrowing details of the attack, including multiple stab wounds.

Disturbingly, Torres cleaned up the scene and then took both children, including the 5-year-old witness, to daycare the following morning. He displayed no emotion while dropping them off. Torres later called police to confess. The 38-year-old received the maximum sentence for his actions.