A California man was sentenced Monday to 24 years in prison for a 2007 attempted murder in Aurora that was solved by the cold case unit of the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
According to the DA’s office, Sonny Christopher Torres, 32, broke into a home in Aurora May 1, 2007 that was a block away from where he was staying with a relative and his then-girlfriend.
Police reports said he entered the home wearing a hood to conceal his face and found the victim in his home, asleep. He awoke the victim and demanded his money while threatening him with a knife.
The victim stated numerous times that he did not have any, as Torres repeatedly stabbed the man on the scalp. He eventually provided Torres his ATM card and pin number. As the victim reached down to show him that he had no money in his pants pockets, Torres pulled the victim’s head back and cut his throat from ear to ear.
Detectives were able to secure a DNA sample from Torres’ brother years later, and when compared to the unknown DNA profile found at the scene, it became clear the two DNA samples shared a familial relationship.
Torres was arrested in January 2015, as he was crossing the border between Mexico and the United States. On Nov. 13, 2014, Torres pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder after deliberation.
This is the second case the Cold Case Unit has solved since it was created in 2012.
