A Florida woman, Esther Torres, has been sentenced after being accused of luring men into hotel rooms, pepper-spraying them, and stealing their luxury watches.
The 20-year-old was initially arrested on two counts of robbery in the first degree, but her case was resolved this week with a plea agreement on charges of armed robbery, burglary, and grand theft in the third degree.
The Crimes
The incidents occurred in late March at Miami Beach hotels. According to the Miami Beach Police Department, Torres targeted male tourists by following them back to their hotels before attacking them with pepper spray and stealing their watches.
First Incident: Torres allegedly attacked a victim at the Breakwater Hotel, stealing his Hugo Boss watch, over $200 in cash, Euros, and multiple credit cards.
Second Incident: At the Fontainebleau Hotel, Torres allegedly pepper-sprayed another man and stole his $22,000 Rolex Submariner. The victim reported being temporarily blinded by the attack.
In both incidents, surveillance footage showed Torres leaving the hotels after the victims were robbed.
Torres Identified
Police investigators later identified Torres through surveillance footage and further confirmed her identity during a traffic stop in April. Torres was called to pick up a vehicle at the scene, where law enforcement noted her presence. In May, Torres was arrested after her driver’s license was used to confirm her identity from a “need to identify” flyer.
Arrest and Sentencing
Initially detained without bond, Torres was later released on recognizance bond in late June. During her arrest, body camera footage showed Torres in her car with a child, though she denied having any weapons on her.
Torres was sentenced to five years of probation on Wednesday, bringing an end to a case that had gripped the local community and led to numerous media reports.
