Senseless: The Murder of Janice Zengotita-Torres

When a devoted mother & wife vanishes on the ten-minute drive between her work at a discount clothing store and home, police look at the most likely suspects—but after some acting on the kidnapped woman’s “behalf,” they catch on to a shocking plot & terribly senseless act committed in the name of love—whether that love was real or imagined.

Sources:

1. “Accused Ringleader Convicted in Osceola Murder-for-Hire Plot.” Yahoo News, Yahoo News, 16 May 2023, https://www.yahoo.com/news/accused-ringleader-convicted-osceola-murder-193600874.html.

2. Argueta, Brenda. “Osceola County Woman Who Arranged Botched 2018 Murder-for-Hire Plot Gets Life in Prison.” WKMG, WKMG News 6 & ClickOrlando, 16 May 2023, https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/16/osceola-county-woman-who-arranged-botched-2018-murder-for-hire-plot-gets-life-in-prison/.

3. ClickOrlando, News 6. Botched Muder for Hire Plot. YouTube, 16 Jan. 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDT6UP0WjVw.

4. Dunne, Samantha. “Man Found Guilty of Killing Woman in 2018 Botched Murder-for-Hire Plot.” WKMG, WKMG News 6 & ClickOrlando, 17 Nov. 2021, https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2021/11/17/man-found-guilty-of-killing-woman-in-2018-botched-murder-for-hire-plot/.

5. “Family of Victim in Love Triangle Botched Homicide in Florida Speaking out - ABC News.” ABC News, https://abcnews.com/US/family-victim-love-triangle-botched-homicide-florida-speaking/story?id=52471595. Accessed 9 July 2026.

6. FULL: 1.16.2018 Rep. Cortes Press Conference. YouTube, 16 Jan. 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZWxGBhWrpQ.

7. Hazen, Bob. “Florida ‘murder-for-Hire’ Plot: Ishnar Lopez Convicted.” WESH, WESH, 15 May 2023, https://www.wesh.com/article/murder-for-hire-florida-conviction/43896466.

8. “Plea Deal in Murder-for-Hire Case with Wrong Target.” Spectrum News | News 13, https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2022/04/29/murder-for-hire-plea-deal. Accessed 8 July 2026.

9. Stein, Ben, and Morgan Winsor. ABC, https://abcnews.com/US/wrong-woman-killed-love-triangle-murder-hire-plot/story?id=52327402. Accessed 8 July 2026.

10. “Victim in Mistaken Identity Murder Called Home to Check on Son Hours Before Kidnapping, Death – NBC 6 South Florida.” NBC 6 South Florida, NBC 6 South Florida, 15 Jan. 2018, https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/victim-in-mistaken-identity-murder-called-home-to-check-on-son-hours-before-kidnapping-death/148642/.

11. NBC 6 South Florida, NBC 6 South Florida, 15 Jan. 2018, https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/victim-in-mistaken-identity-murder-called-home-to-check-on-son-hours-before-kidnapping-death/148642/.

12. The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2018.

13. Tallahassee Democrat, 14 Jan. 2018.

14. The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2021.

15. The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Dec. 2021.

16. The Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2023.

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