What We Know: A Taney County jury has found Miguel Melendez Torres guilty in the 2021 deaths of Rocky McMahan and Krystle Buhl.
What It Means: Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced the verdict, saying Torres was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of armed criminal action and two counts of attempted first-degree robbery.
Prosecutors said Torres tried to rob the two victims behind a Famous Dave’s restaurant in Branson on May 29, 2021.
During the robbery, both victims were shot. Buhl died at the scene, and McMahan died later at a hospital.
What’s Next: Taney County Prosecutor Brad Hughes said he hopes the verdict brings some measure of justice to the victims’ families after years of court proceedings, including a mistrial earlier this year.
The case was investigated by the Branson Police Department with assistance from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 6 in Taney County.
(Courtesy of Missouri Attorney General’s Office)