Brandon Andres Bautista Torres, 30, has been sentenced to life in prison for the tragic murders of his girlfriend, Selina Toyos, and her 4-year-old daughter, Aleena Bermudez. The crime, which occurred almost six years ago, shocked the community and left the couple’s 1-year-old son as the only surviving witness. Torres pleaded guilty to first-degree premeditated murder and reckless manslaughter in connection with the deaths.
The Crime and Torres’ Initial Claims
On June 30, 2019, Torres called 911, claiming that a homeless man had broken into the home he shared with Toyos, Bermudez, and their son. He told police that the intruder shot both Toyos and her daughter, and he was attempting to flee the scene with his child for safety. However, his story quickly fell apart as investigators uncovered a series of conflicting statements. Torres’ explanations continued to change throughout the investigation.
He later told his parents that he was just dropping his son off with them and planned to go to the movies with Toyos and Bermudez. He also claimed that during a struggle with the intruder, the gun went off, fatally shooting Toyos and Bermudez. However, these explanations did not match the evidence found at the scene, including the fact that Torres had failed to call the police for three hours after the shooting.
The Truth Behind the Murders
Investigators uncovered Torres’ history of domestic violence, which included an incident where he had previously threatened Toyos with a firearm. His failure to report the shooting immediately and the lack of credible witnesses suggested that Torres had murdered the victims. It was later determined that Torres’ actions were part of a horrific act of domestic violence, not a random act involving an intruder.
Authorities said the crime was not only an act of violence but a cowardly act that robbed two innocent people of their lives. The prosecutor in the case, Maricopa County District Attorney Rachel Mitchell, described it as “horrific and cowardly” and stated that Torres no longer deserved to walk freely in the community.
The Legal Outcome
Initially, Torres was charged with two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, but in April 2025, he changed his plea to guilty. He pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree premeditated murder for the death of Selina Toyos and one count of reckless manslaughter for killing Aleena Bermudez. On May 30, 2025, Torres was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Toyos and an additional 15 years for the manslaughter charge related to Bermudez’s death.
The sentence ensures that Torres will spend the rest of his life in prison, with no possibility of parole for the murder charge, serving as a reminder of the devastating impact of domestic violence on families and communities.
The case of Brandon Andres Bautista Torres highlights the deadly consequences of domestic violence and the tragic loss that families experience when violence enters their homes. Torres’ actions left a child without his mother and sister, and the legal system has ensured that he will never have the opportunity to harm others again. As the community continues to mourn the deaths of Toyos and Bermudez, their families can find some sense of justice knowing that Torres will remain behind bars for life.
