Malcolm Torres Charged with Murder, Española NM, 2019

** Espñaola Man Charged in Horrific Child Abuse Case **

A 29-year-old Española man is facing life in prison after being indicted on four counts related to the death of a 5-year-old girl, according to federal prosecutors. Malcolm Torres, of Española, New Mexico, was charged with first degree felony murder, second degree murder of a child, assault resulting in serious bodily injury of a child under the age of 18, and tampering with a victim, witness, or informant.

According to the indictment and other court records, on Sept. 7, 2019, Torres allegedly abused the victim, identified as Jane Doe, at his home in Española on the Santa Clara Pueblo. Jane Doe, who is Indian by federal law, and was five years old at the time, died as the result of the abuse.

On Sept. 8, 2019, Torres allegedly disposed of Jane Doe’s body in an attempt to avoid detection of his crimes.

Torres, who is not an enrolled member of any federally recognized Tribe, is scheduled for arraignment on Oct. 20, and will remain in custody pending trial.

The Santa Fe Resident Agency of the FBI investigated this case with assistance from the Espanola Police Department, Santa Clara Pueblo Tribal Police Department, Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico State Police, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Albuquerque Police Department Open Space Search and Rescue Team, Espanola Fire Department and Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo Tribal Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jack Burkhead and Letitia Carroll Simms are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is only an allegation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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