FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 3, 2007

Jim Rybicki Further Information Contact:
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Virginia Beach Woman Sentenced to 50 Years for Kidnapping and Murder

(Norfolk, Virginia) - Tanya Y. Torrence, age 35, of Virginia Beach, was sentenced to serve 50 years in prison for the kidnapping and murder of her estranged boyfriend’s mother. Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Cassandra M. Chandler, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Norfolk Division; and A.M. Jacocks, Chief of Police, Virginia Beach Police Department, made the announcement after Torrence was sentenced today by United States District Judge Raymond A. Jackson. Torrence was also ordered to pay over $4,000 in restitution and serve five years of supervised release upon her discharge from incarceration. Torrence had pled guilty to this offense on March 13, 2007.

According to court documents, Torrence was romantically involved with the victim’s son, Ronnie Knight. After Ronnie Knight broke-off the relationship, Torrence was evicted from her apartment, and invited by the victim, Mary Knight, to stay with her until she found a permanent residence. The day that she was evicted, Torrence purchased a .22 caliber pistol. On the evening of July 1, 2006, Torrence persuaded Mary Knight to leave Knight’s residence with her to retrieve a scooter. Rather than retrieve the scooter, Torrence kidnapped Mary Knight. The next day Knight’s family members contacted Virginia Beach investigators and informed them that Mary Knight, age 72, would never have voluntarily been away overnight without notifying her family.

Investigators with the Virginia Beach Police Department began tracking the cellular telephone being used by Torrence. On July 3, investigators determined that Torrence had left Virginia, traveled through Maryland, and was in the area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Later that day, Torrence called Ronnie Knight and told him that she had shot his mother and that she was going to turn herself into police. A few minutes later, Torrence entered the 17th District Police Station, in Philadelphia, and self-surrendered, telling officers that she was the person they were looking for, and the body was outside in the van. Mary Knight’s white Dodge van was parked in front of the police station. Officers used the keys provided by Torrence to open the van and found Mary Knight dead inside. The medical examiner determined that Mary Knight had died from two gunshot wounds to her chest. Torrence admitted to homicide investigators that she had shot and killed Mary Knight.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, together with the Virginia Beach Police Department and the Philadelphia Police Department, conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura P. Tayman.