Man, woman charged with missing Casselberry man’s murder

By Rachel Delinski
Herald Publisher/Editor

Orange County deputies arrested a man and woman Monday after they said one admitted to killing a Casselberry man earlier this week.

Casselberry Police said James Watrous, 58, was reported missing by his daughter on Saturday after she hadn’t heard from him. The daughter also told police he might be with Jennifer Smedley, 44, who she identified as Watrous’ girlfriend.

Police conducted a well-being check on the man at his apartment, but found the place had been emptied out. According to a report Watrous’ clothes were missing from his closets and the cushions from his couch had been removed and thrown around the apartment.
When police couldn’t find Smedley either, she was also reported missing.  Orange County deputies spotted Watrous’ truck parked suspiciously behind a 7-Eleven on Orange Blossom trail and said when they approached they immediately noticed a needle in the cab.
Also inside the truck were Smedley and Jose Antonio Torres, 29. Both were arrested and brought in on drug charges. Smedley refused to speak with police.

Torres, however, spoke with police and led investigators to Watrous’ body, which was in a wooded area near the Seminole County Public Library in Casselberry. Deputies said they found a mound of pine needles and branches about 15 feet in the woods and found Watrous, whose feet were tied together with a seat belt.

Torres has been charged with first degree murder with a weapon.

Smedley was charged with principal to first degree murder and possession of cocaine.

Torres has a long history of traffic violations in Seminole and Orange counties. Additionally he’s been arrested in Orange County several times for charges including delivery of heroin, grand theft, possession of cocaine, possession of xanax, possession of drug paraphernalia and trespassing.

Smedley was arrested in 2011 in Seminole County for obtaining property with a worthless check.