Florida – A Florida man was convicted of second-degree murder last week for the fatal stabbing of his girIfriend, 34-year-old Vanesa in Florida. The conviction followed a four-day trial in which prosecutors presented evidence that the defendant, 38-year-old FareI Tores, had intentionaIIy kiIIed the mother of his children, refuting his claims of a crime of passion. The jury deliberated for just fourteen minutes before returning the guilty verdict.
According to the Florida authorities, the fatal incident occurred in May last year, at their apartment. According to prosecutors, the defendant retrieved a large bIade from the kitchen and disabled a bedroom security camera before fatally stabbing the victim in the head.
Their two children were present during the attack, and one child reportedly witnessed the stabbing before being ushered out of the room. The victim had previously reported the defendant to the police for domestic violence and was in the process of ending their reIationship and evicting him from the apartment she Ieased and paid for.
After the stabbing, the defendant drove the children to school and returned to the apartment. He accessed the victim’s phone, copied her credit card information, and transferred funds from her bank account to his own. The defendant then called family members before contacting the police to report the crime. During the 911 call, he stated, “I stabbed her in the head… I stabbed her ‘cause I was mad.”
Florida authorities found that the defendant had planned the murder by disabling the security camera and preparing the weapon in advance. Prosecutors argued that his actions were deliberate and premeditated, contradicting his defense of a crime of passion. They emphasized that his behavior after the murder—accessing the victim’s financial accounts and contacting family members—indicated a lack of remorse and further supported the charge of second-degree murder.
The defendant faces up to life in prison and is scheduled for sentencing on November 5, 2025. Prosecutors expressed hope that the conviction would provide some measure of justice for the victim’s family and help the children begin to heal from the traumatic experience.
The case highlights the devastating impact of domestic violence and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. It also underscores the need for continued efforts to support victims and prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
