Florida – In a shocking outcome to a string of violent thefts in Florida, a 20-year-old woman, identified as E. Torres, who used chemical weapons to blind and rob men in their rooms has avoided jail time. Torres has been sentenced to five years of probation after reaching a plea deal, despite facing serious charges stemming from two alarming incidents in March.
Torres was originally arrested on two counts of first-degree robbery after allegedly targeting men in luxury hotels. According to the police department, Torres used pepper spray—a chemical weapon—on her victims, leaving them temporarily blinded before stealing high-value items, including designer watches and cash. The charges against her included armed robbery, burglary, and grand theft in the third degree. Prosecutors say Torres’s method involved luring unsuspecting men to hotel rooms under false pretenses, attacking them with pepper spray, and then fleeing with their belongings.
During one of the incidents, Torres allegedly sprayed a man in the face before stealing his Hugo Boss watch, more than $200 in cash and foreign currency, and several credit cards. In the second robbery, the victim reported being sprayed and robbed of a $22,000 Rolex Submariner. The man claimed to be completely blinded by the chemical weapon during the attack. Surveillance cameras in both hotels captured Torres leaving shortly after the robberies occurred. Authorities say she was clearly identified in the footage, and her image was later distributed in a “need to identify” flyer issued by law enforcement.
M. Novick, an owner of one of the hotels where the incident took place, aided investigators by supplying crucial surveillance video. “We have a predator, and she’s preying on male victims,” Novick told local media during an interview. A key break in the case came during an unrelated traffic stop in April. Torres showed up on the scene after the male driver of the car had been arrested. When she arrived to pick up the vehicle, officers took note of her identity from her driver’s license and linked her to the robberies.
In May, Torres was arrested and initially held without bond. Police later released body camera footage of her arrest, which showed a young child—believed to be her own—shouting off-camera. When asked if she had any weapons, Torres calmly replied, “No, no.” Authorities confirmed that Torres had a child in the car at the time of her arrest, adding another disturbing layer to the case.
Despite the serious nature of the charges and the violent tactics used in both incidents, Torres will not serve any jail time. Court records show that she was granted a recognizance bond in late June and subsequently released from jail. On Wednesday, she was officially sentenced to five years of probation. The decision not to incarcerate Torres has raised questions among community members and victims alike, particularly given the use of a chemical weapon and the financial value of the stolen items. Torres’s probation will be supervised, and any violations could result in further legal consequences. For now, however, she remains free, avoiding prison time for a series of calculated and violent robberies that left her victims physically and emotionally shaken.
