On 8-4-2017, Tom Green County Sheriff’s Investigators along with members of the Texas Ranger Service conducted a search, approximately 8 miles south of Barnhart, Texas, along highway TX 163 in Crocket County for Eric Torrez, who had been reported missing on 7-24-2017.  A little after 4:00 p.m., investigators discovered human remains in a pasture that are consistent with Eric Torrez.  Crocket County Justice of the Peace Leah Contreras conducted an inquest and ordered an autopsy to be performed. 

The investigation into the death of Eric Torrez is continuing.  Upon completion of the autopsy, additional charges are expected to be filed on subjects already in custody along with additional suspects identified during the investigation as participants in the offense.

July 28, 2017

PRESS RELEASE: Continued Investigation of the disappearance of Eric Torrez    

On Monday, July 24, the Abilene Police Department notified the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office they had received a missing person’s report on Eric Vincent Torrez.  The Abilene Police Department’s investigation into the disappearance established that Torrez had received text messages on Friday, July 21, 2017 from a person requesting Torrez to perform some work on a residence in Tom Green County.  The Abilene Police Department was able to establish that Torrez’s last known location was on Duckworth Road in Tom Green County, a little after 1:00 p.m. on Friday.  Tom Green County Sheriff’s Investigators began an investigation on Monday, July 24, 2017 and learned that Torrez’s ex-wife, Kristen Anne Jennings was living at 7481 Duckworth Road, in Tom Green County.  Abilene Police Department also notified TGSO that they were working a Burglary of a Habitation with intent to Commit another Felony involving Kristen Jennings who had entered the residence of Eric Torrez’s mother during the afternoon of Friday, July 21st, assaulted Torrez’s mother and then forcibly took a four year old child from the residence.  Eric Torrez is the child’s father and Kristen Jennings is the child’s mother.

On 7-25-2017, Tom Green County Sheriff’s Investigators along with the Texas Rangers executed an evidentiary search warrant at the residence of Stephen and Kristen Jennings.  On 7-25-2017, Kristen Jennings was arrested by Tom Green County Sheriff’s Investigators on a Taylor County warrant charging her with the offense of Burglary of a Habitation with intent to Commit another Felony and booked into the Tom Green County Jail.   This investigation has resulted in numerous persons being interviewed, additional search warrants being executed along with other investigative measures being utilized.  On 7-26-2017, Tom Green County Justice of the Peace J.P. McGuire issued arrest warrants for Stephen Lynn Jennings, Kristin Jennings’ husband, and Gary Lynn Jennings, Stephen’s father, for the offense of Tamper or Fabricate with Physical Evidence with intent to Impair.  On 7-26-2017, Stephen Jennings was arrested by Tom Green County Investigators and booked into the Tom Green County Jail.  On 7-26-2017, Texas Ranger Hanna and Tom Green County Sheriff’s Investigator Billy Fiveash arrested Gary Jennings in Red Oak, Texas and booked him into the Red Oak Police Department Jail.  On 7-27-2017, Eric Torrez’s 2008 Ford Pickup truck was located in the Ballinger Wal-Mart parking lot by the Ballinger Police Department.  The vehicle was secured by the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office and will be processed for evidence in the case.

 At this time, Eric Torrez has not been located. Evidence collected at the residence of Jennings and information obtained through interviews and interrogations indicate Eric Torres is the victim of a homicide.    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.