UPDATE: Ex-Wife of Missing Abilene Man Transferred to Abilene Jail

 

SAN ANGELO, TX —  Kristen Anne Jennings, ex-wife of missing Abilene man Eric Torrez, who has been charged with burglary of a habitation with the intent to commit another felony, was transferred to the Taylor County Jail Friday.

On July 25, LIVE! broke the news that Eric Torrez had gone missing and was last seen heading towards San Angelo after his mother reported him missing. Torrez was believed to be on his way to the Tom Green County area to bid on a job. The following day, an update from the Tom Green County Sheriff's Office (TGCSO) left people wondering what really happened to Torrez as investigators in this missing person case believed Torrez could be the victim of foul play and had actually been missing since July 21. 

Within 24 hours, it was made known that the search for Torrez had led investigators to Duckworth Rd. towards Miles off U.S. 67. Tom Green County Sheriff David Jones confirmed that their activity was related to the search for Eric Torrez, but stayed mum on any specifics. The next day however, Sheriff Jones explained that Torrez’s ex-wife, Kristen Anne Jennings, who was living in the Duckworth Rd. residence with her husband Stephen Lynn Jennings, 34, of San Angelo, was accused of breaking and entering into a Sweetwater residence, where Torrez and his mother live, to forcibly take her four-year-old-child from the house. In this incident that occurred on July 21, Kristen Jennings is also accused of assaulting Torrez’s mother.

Newly received court documents reveal what exactly happened that afternoon of July 21. According to the documents, the daughter of Torrez and Jennings were in the house watching TV with her grandmother when they both heard a knock on the door. When Torrez's mother opened the door, the daughter witnessed Jennings push her grandmother to the floor and into the wall. Her mother than took her away to their "new home," the residence investigators are searching on Duckworth Rd. The daughter is currently safe and under the protection of Child Protective Services. 

On July 25, An evidentiary search warrant was served and Sheriff Jones arrested Kristen Jennings on the Taylor County warrant and booked her into the Tom Green County Jail at 9:47 p.m. 

Wednesday, July 26, Tom Green County Justice of the Peace J.P. McGuire issued arrest warrants for Stephen Lynn Jennings and Gary Lynn Jennings, Stephen's father, for the offense of tamper or fabricate with physical evidence with intent to impair.  That same day, Stephen Jennings was located in Red Oak, south of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, and arrested by Texas Ranger Hanna and Tom Green County Sheriff's Investigator Billy Fiveash. Stephen Jennings was charged with tampering with evidence.

The missing truck, a 2007 Ford F-150, Torrez used to drive to Tom Green County to bid on a job, was located in a Walmart parking lot in Ballinger, on July 27. The pickup was turned over to Tom Green County Sheriff’s custody for processing of evidence.

Today, Sheriff  Jones stated that Eric Torrez has not been located. However, interviews and the information collected thus far in the investigation indicate that Torrez is the victim of a homicide, added Jones. 

Kristen A. Jennings was transferred to Abilene Friday afternoon shortly before 4 p.m., three days after the Sheriff Department booked her for charges of burglary of habitation with intent to commit another felony. Her charges, burglary of a habitation with intent to commit a felony, were made in connection with her forced entry into her ex-husband's mother's home on July 21 in Taylor county.

The Tom Green County Sheriff's Office along with the Texas Ranger's Service are committing all available resources into the investigation.  Tom Green County Sheriff Jones is continuing to ask for the public's assistance in locating Eric Torrez. Anyone having any information that might be connected to Torrez's disappearance or observed any suspicious activity is also requested to contact the Tom Green County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division at 325-655-8111.

Update 10 a.m. July 29

Originally reported as Jennings was released on a bond. That has been corrected.

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I'm not referring to common law. Im saying they were never married by a judge. Calling her his ex-wife implies they were.

I'm not referring to common law. I'm saying they were never married by a judge. Calling her his ex-wife implies they were.

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