In the quiet town of Russell, Kansas, a tragedy unfolded on an evening in late April. A Hispanic man, Robert Torres, a 49-year-old local tattoo artist, was killed in his home on Thursday, April 24, 2025. The events began when a 911 call reporting a shooting brought Russell Police Department officers to a residence in the 800 block of East 2nd Street at approximately 9:30 PM.
Upon their arrival, they discovered Robert's wife, 49-year-old Deborah Torres, outside the house with apparent gunshot wounds.
Deborah, though injured, was able to tell the officers that her husband was still inside their home. When police entered the residence, they found Robert Torres deceased in the back living room; he had also sustained fatal gunshot wounds. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation was called in to lead a homicide investigation. As officers secured the scene, information quickly surfaced that pointed towards a suspect, leading them to believe that 33-year-old Robert “Bobby” James Torres, the victim's son, may have been responsible for the shooting.
Shortly after the incident, deputies from the Russell County Sheriff's Office located Bobby Torres in the 2200 block of Highway 40 in Russell. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Russell County Jail. The Kansas Attorney General's office later filed formal charges against him for first-degree murder in the death of his father and attempted first-degree murder for the shooting of his mother, who was expected to survive her injuries. His bond was set at one million dollars.
Robert Torres, known to some as "Cupcake," was born in San Antonio, Texas, and had moved to Kansas as a teenager. He met his wife, Deborah, when they were young, and together they had three children. For many years, he worked in the oil industry before pursuing his passion for art. In 2013, he became the owner and head tattoo artist of Fantasy Graphics East Tattoo Studio in Hays, where he was regarded as a kind and uniquely gifted artist. He was a family man who enjoyed motorcycles, music, and spending time with his granddaughter.
