Two suspects charged for their alleged roles in the death of a 24-year-old Manning man whose family reported him missing four days before his body was discovered were granted steep surety bonds Monday in 3rd Circuit Court.
Judge Robert E. Hood granted Travis Starks a $200,000 surety bond and Barbara Judy a $100,000 surety bond, according to Assistant Solicitor Chris DuRant. Starks is charged with murder and armed robbery, while Judy is charged with accessory before the fact to a murder.
A third defendant, Shanta Reason, is charged with murder and armed robbery. Hood denied his bond.
According to court records, Starks and Reason were charged May 6 after being arrested in Pennsylvania for other outstanding warrants.
Torres' family reported him missing Feb. 27, and a local farmer found his body about 11 a.m. March 3 off Farm Ridge Lane in Manning.
Torres had allegedly told family members he "was going down the road to see a friend." His body was found about 2.5 miles away from his home. Family described Torres as a homebody who "didn't really go anywhere," and said it was weird that he wandered off at that time of night.
The Clarendon County Coroner's Office confirmed two days after Torres was found that a gunshot wound was the cause of death.
