Ex-Marine linked to girls' murders charged in death of Navy officer Amanda Snell

Topics: Daily Blotter

Amanda Snell

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(WUSA/CBS) ARLINGTON, Va. - Former U.S. Marine Jorge Avila Torrez is has been indicted in the 2009 murder of Navy petty officer Amanda Jean Snell, federal officials said.

Pictures: Amanda Snell

Torrez, 22, of Arlington has been charged with murdering 20-year-old Snell, in her barracks room at Joint Base Myer in Henderson Hall, officials said in a news release, reports CBS affiliate WUSA.

"Today, we are charging Jorge Torrez with murdering a young Navy Petty Officer in her barracks," said U.S. Neil H. Attorney MacBride. "This indictment is the result of extreme dedication by NCIS and the Arlington County Police Department to follow every lead possible to bring the person responsible for Amanda's murder to justice."

Torrez was already in prison for the abduction of two Va. women and the abduction and rape of another, reports Arlnow.com. On Dec. 10, 2010, Torrez was sentenced to five life terms plus 168 years, which he is currently serving at Red Onion State Prison, in Pound, Va.

Torrez has also been linked by DNA evidence to the murders of two Chicago-area girls, Laura Hobbs, 8, and Krystal Tobias, 9, according to the Chicago Tribune. Jerry Hobbs, the father of Laura, was held for 5 years in jail in the case.

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Ex-Marine linked to girls' murders charged in death of Navy officer

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by rwsmith29456 June 18, 2011 6:23 PM EDT: Sorry sack of ____; Reply to this comment


by Dr Newel June 18, 2011 4:55 AM EDT: Here we have another example of a headline about a Marine gone wild. It's time to enact some of the proposals to delay retirement benefits of Marines until age 65.; Reply to this comment

by bud28dy June 18, 2011 1:31 AM EDT

I hate it when the news does a story on the military and doesn't bother to learn anything about the ranks. A petty officer is a junior enlisted person, not an "officer" as the headline states. There's a huge difference, especially since an officer would not have been living in the barracks where this guy could have gotten to her.

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by Sc00ter123 June 18, 2011 3:56 AM EDT: I was just about to say the same thing when I read your post. The media are LAZY, and know zilch about the military and its culture. Unfortunately the media (and hollywood) continue to pass on their ignorance and biases to the public. Sad story regardless of the misleading story.


by Flafvet June 18, 2011 12:11 PM EDT: Petty Officers are NOT junior enlisted...they are mid-grade...with Chiefs being the senior...but a PO is DEFINITYLY not a junior enlisted person.


by Noval53 June 17, 2011 11:55 PM EDT: Torres should die and Jerry Hobbs should be able to carry out the sentence. Jorge Torrez should not have another day of rest or comfort in the rest of his worthless life.; Reply to this comment