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An ex-MMA fighter has been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death and stuffing her in a storage bin in his closet in a horrifying incident.
According to WKRN in Nashville, 28-year-old Dwayne Herelle Jr. attacked 24-year-old Irene Torres outside of her family’s home as she returned home from work. Herelle allegedly stabbed Torres “in excess of 17 times” before stuffing her into the trunk of his car.
Metro Nashville Police Department Detective Derry Baltimore said that Herelle was stopped at a dumpster with bloody pants and Torres’ purse. Torres’ body was later found inside of a closet in Herelle’s apartment.
“We went to the closet area, and I could see the victim inside of a clear tote, looked like she was wrapped in some type of comforter,” Baltimore said.
Dwayne Herelle Jr., 28, has just been charged with criminal homicide for the stabbing murder of his ex-girlfriend, Irene Torres, 24. Torres was found dead inside Herelle's closet at 865 Bellevue Apartments. It appears she was killed in Old Hickory and her body driven to Bellevue. pic.twitter.com/jP4QL3SjTI
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) January 30, 2023
Torres’ parents realized she never came home from work when they woke up the following morning and checked surveillance footage. In the footage, Herelle was seen dragging Torres out of the frame. After her father rushed to Herelle’s apartment to locate his daughter, he says he received a confession of the murder.
The family has set up a GoFundMe for Torres.
“While most 24-year-olds are planning their careers, and futures, and are optimistic about the world, Irene spent some of the last months of her young life abused, degraded, terrorized, and fearful,” Torres’ sister Reyna Douglas wrote. “Irene showed immense bravery in leaving her abusive relationship and was so happy to start her new life with the support of her family, only to be hunted down in her front yard and brutally murdered one month later.
“For those that were fortunate to know Irene, despite being terrorized, abused, and living in fear, she always had a smile on her face and a compliment to give.”
Our deepest condolences go out to Torres’ family and friends during this incredibly tragic and difficult time.
Threats and physical abuse are prevalent in relationship violence, often occurring in an escalating cycle. For anonymous, confidential help available 24/7, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) now.
