10/08/2026
SHOT IN THE HEAD. FOUND BURIED BEHIND A GARAGE. NOW A MAN IS CHARGED WITH HER MURDER.
A 31-year-old Colorado woman was found buried behind a garage in Amarillo. Now, newly reported court documents describe an alleged shooting inside a vehicle, death threats against a witness, and threatening messages reportedly sent from that witness's phone.
Leonard Torres, 48, is now charged with first-degree felony murder in connection with the death of Faith Smith, 31, of Colorado.
π WHAT ALLEGEDLY HAPPENED SEPTEMBER 27
According to court documents, a confidential informant told investigators she was traveling with Smith and Torres in a blue Fiat on North Mirror Street in Amarillo when Torres allegedly shot Smith in the head with a handgun.
β οΈ THE WITNESS WAS ALSO ALLEGEDLY THREATENED.
Court documents state Torres then pointed the handgun at the informant and threatened to kill her or her family if she told anyone what happened.
Investigators also allege Torres later had the informant's phone and used it to send threatening messages to other people.
π OCTOBER 1 β BODY DISCOVERED ON ORANGE STREET
Amarillo police located Torres driving the Fiat and arrested him following a short pursuit.
Information obtained during the investigation led homicide detectives to a property on Orange Street in Amarillo's Hamlet neighborhood.
Behind a detached garage that was under construction, investigators discovered a burial site and recovered Faith Smith's body.
βοΈ MURDER CHARGE CONFIRMED
Potter County booking records list three charges against Leonard Torres:
π« MURDER β First-Degree Felony
π« AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON β Second-Degree Felony
π« EVADING ARREST OR DETENTION WITH A VEHICLE β Third-Degree Felony
The booking record lists October 1, 2026.
ποΈ FAITH SMITH WAS ONLY 31.
She came from Colorado, but her life ended in Amarillo. Her body was discovered buried behind a garage, and investigators are now pursuing a murder case involving allegations that a witness was threatened into silence.
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π Details are based on published court-document allegations and public booking records. All charges are allegations. Leonard Torres is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.