After deliberating the case for over three hours, the jury asked to be sent home Thursday in the murder case of Cid Torrez. He is charged with killing his estranged wife, Vilet, who mysteriously disappeared March 2012. The trial is expected to pick up Friday morning at the Broward County Courthouse.
Torrez was reserved as he watched prosecutors paint a picture that jealousy was the motive for Vilet’s disappearance.
"Cid Torres was jealous, possessive, manipulative," said Assistant State Attorney, Lanie Bandell. "And, what he did was that he took Vilet Patricia Torres, the mother of three young children, took her life because from his own words if couldn't have her, no one else will."
Five years ago, the Miramar couple's marriage was on the rocks when police believe she vanished in the early hours of March 31st of 2012.
But here's the conundrum: her body was ever found.
"There's no body here. There's no murder weapon here," said Defense Attorney Richard Della Fera, "Can you really convict a man of homicide beyond a reasonable doubt under these circumstances?"
Prosecutors presented evidence that cadaver dogs led investigators to Torrez's house and the trunk of his jaguar which they believe he used to dump Vilet in the Everglades. Traces of blood were also found on a towel in the home.
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"The defense wants to argue that there's no murder weapon. Well, guess what the murder weapon are the hands of this man right here," said State Attorney Heather Henricksen.
Prosecutors also presented evidence that Torrez was tracking Vilet with spy software on her cellphone. They cited Sunpass records, surveillance footage and his own daughter's testimony to support their theory that he murdered the victim.
"She said, I heard my dad say no you wake up, you wake up five times," said Assistant State Attorney, Lanie Bandell.
The defense questioned the credibility of his daughter, who was 12 years old at the time. They only brought up Cid's brother, who testified that they had been drinking the night Vilet vanished without a trace.
The jury hadn’t reached a verdict on Thursday and will resume deliberating Friday. If convicted, on the first degree murder charge Torrez will be sentenced to life in prison.
