PHOENIX, AZ – A man from Arizona has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the tragic murders of his girlfriend and her young daughter, incidents that unfolded before the eyes of his 1-year-old son. Brandon Andres Bautista Torres, 30, received the sentence after pleading guilty to the 2019 killings, which have left a lasting impact on the community.

Torres, who was charged with first-degree premeditated murder and reckless manslaughter, admitted to killing 23-year-old Selina Toyos and her 4-year-old daughter, Aleena Bermudez. The violence occurred mere days before Aleena’s fifth birthday, marking a grim milestone in what the Maricopa County District Attorney condemned as a “horrific and cowardly” act.

In the original police report, Torres claimed a homeless intruder had breached their home and was responsible for the fatal shootings. He alleged that he fled the premises with his infant son to seek safety, a claim that was one of several inconsistent accounts given on June 30, 2019.

Torres told his parents via phone that he planned to drop off his son with them, supposedly to then attend the movies with Toyos and Bermudez. However, he later fabricated another story about grappling with an alleged intruder, resulting in the accidental shootings.

Adding to the complexities of the case, Torres delayed contacting authorities for three hours after the incident. According to court records, he rationalized this delay with fears of retribution and potential scapegoating, given his Hispanic background and prior exposure to ICE raids.

Revelations about Torres’ history of domestic abuse toward Toyos emerged, including a previous incident where he reportedly threatened her with a firearm. These accounts underscore the pervasive nature of the violence that ultimately culminated in the fatal episode.

In a statement, County Attorney Rachel Mitchell decried the act as one of domestic violence, lauding the court’s decision to keep Torres incarcerated. “He no longer deserves the chance to walk freely in this community,” she affirmed, echoing the sentiments of many who followed the trial closely.

Initially, Torres faced two charges of first-degree premeditated murder and entered a plea of not guilty. The turnaround came in April when he altered his plea to guilty for both the murder and manslaughter charges.

The court’s final ruling handed Torres a life sentence, ensuring he remains behind bars for the murder, with an additional 15-year sentence for manslaughter, providing a measure of justice for Toyos and Bermudez’s family and friends.