The Love Of His Life

When Miguel Torres met Barbara West, he knew she was the one. Friends and family couldn't remember a time when the two weren't together, yet after thirteen years of dating, they still hadn't gotten married. Torres and West just didn't think it was necessary.

But that all changed when Torres' mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness. According to Barbara's family, Torres' mom wanted to see her son get married before she died. So on June 19, 2004, Torres and Barbara tied the knot. Torres' mother was there to watch, but she died shortly thereafter.

Barbara's family said Torres became very distant after his mother died. But even worse, they allege that he also became mentally and physically abusive. After just a year and a half of marriage, Barbara moved out of their house and filed for a divorce.

Jealous Rage Turns Murderous

Police say Torres could not stomach his wife leaving him. But their relationship had turned so sour that Barbara filed for a Protection from Abuse Order. On September 12, 2005, three days after Barbara filed the restraining order, Torres took out an ad in the local Reading, Pa. newspaper.

The ad showed their wedding photo and the text below read: "Mike and Barbie Torres, Always and Forever. I love you." But police say Torres' seemingly heartfelt message had a sinister subtext, and that Miguel Torres was planning something horrible.

According to police, Torres went to the bank where Barbara worked in downtown Reading, and hid inside her Cadillac Escalade. When his wife and a friend got off work that evening, they walked to the parking lot. 

Police say that when Barbara pulled out her key to open the driver's side door, Torres jumped out of the passenger side with a 9mm pistol, pointed it at his wife and killed her.

Torres Takes Off

Surveillance cameras captured Torres driving out of the parking lot in Barbara's SUV, which was later recovered a few blocks away. Inside the vehicle, police found the murder weapon and Torres' cell phone. Torres has not been seen since.

Torres owned a company called Choice One Mortgage, so he may have taken a large amount of cash to help keep him on the run, and he may be driving a green Chevrolet van. Torres has family in New York City, Florida, and possibly the Dominican Republic.