Family connections lead to criminal acts and betrayal. Just over a week following the death of Michael Torres, also known as “Mosca,” a high-ranking Mexican Mafia member, in prison in 2023, a woman identified as his wife was fatally shot. The circumstances of Stephanie Rodriguez’s murder, which took place in the San Fernando residence of Torres’ deceased mother, raised suspicions of whether she was a target in a broader vendetta against her partner. Torres, aged 59, was considered a prominent figure within the Mexican Mafia in the San Fernando Valley, playing a significant role in illicit activities in Los Angeles County jails at the time of his demise on July 6, 2023. The situation grew more complex when Torres’ niece was accused of killing Rodriguez, aged 38. During a recent preliminary hearing for Evelyn Torres, 35, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and unlawful possession of a firearm, it was revealed that Rodriguez may not have been a victim of organized crime but rather a casualty of a personal conflict that escalated into violence. Detective Cary Bell of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department testified that Evelyn Torres, grieving over her uncle’s death, engaged in a dispute with Rodriguez in the early hours of July 14, 2023, at Michael Torres’ late mother’s residence on Kewen Street. The house served not only as a shelter for his mother but also as a hiding place for large sums of money during Torres’ previous release from prison. Following the death of Michael Torres’ mother in 2020, both Rodriguez and Evelyn Torres had been residing there. Witnesses reported that during their altercation on the fatal night, Rodriguez began packing her belongings to leave, prompting Evelyn Torres to react angrily when told to depart as well. Rodriguez was still alive when one witness departed around 1 a.m. Law enforcement responded to a call at 3:16 a.m. and found Rodriguez in the living room, deceased from gunshot wounds sustained at close range. Surveillance footage from the residence captured the sound of gunshots at 1:33 a.m., followed by a woman resembling Evelyn Torres exiting the house. Evelyn Torres was apprehended later that day and admitted to shooting Rodriguez after allegedly being assaulted. The motive behind Michael Torres’ fatal stabbing in prison by two inmates remains unclear. Torres, sentenced to 133 years to life for various crimes, was known for orchestrating illegal operations that yielded significant profits.
Generating thousands of dollars monthly from the Los Angeles County jail inmates, Torres managed an illicit market using smuggled cellphones. Known as the “kitty,” this underground economy involved extorting commissary items. Additionally, Torres orchestrated the trafficking of drugs into the county jails, where they were resold at a significant markup. This information was revealed during legal proceedings against his associates. Stay updated on news, features, and recommendations from the L.A. Times and more by subscribing to Essential California, delivering content to your inbox six days a week. This article was originally published in the Los Angeles Times.
