Michael Rian Torrence was born on April 15, 1961, in Pine Ridge, South Carolina. Torrence had a reported mean streak, and in 1987, he would ultimately snap.
In early 1987, Donna Torrence was a topless dancer at a strip club called “The Carriage House,” near Fort Jackson. Donna was married to Michael’s brother, Thomas John Torrence, at the time. Donna ultimately complained to her husband about two patrons of the establishment, who had reportedly taunted the young dancer.
Thomas John Torrence believed the two men should be paid a little visit to defend his wife’s honor. It wouldn’t be long before Torrence recruited his brother, Michael, to help mastermind a plan to rob the two men, but Michael had other plans…
The trio tracked down 31-year-old Charles Alan Bush and 41-year-old Dennis Lollis at a nearby Red Roof Inn in Cayce.
Donna visited the room and told Bush that her car had broken down, asking for a ride to her house. Michael was hiding behind the door at the residence when the two walked in, slamming shut behind the victim. Thomas and Michael beat Bush with a tire knocker and choked him with a dog chain.
After killing the man, the two brothers stole his hotel key, where they snuck in, and killed a sleeping Lollis. The men stole all of the money and other valuables before exiting the room.
Soon after, the Torrences headed to Charleston. On March 28, 1987, Michael picked up a 20-year-old prostitute, Cynthia M. Williams. But for reasons unknown, the two got into a heated argument. Angered by Williams, Michael grabbed a shotgun and killed Williams, dumping her body along I-526.
On April 6, the two brothers were arrested in Charleston. During interrogation, they both admitted responsibility for the Bush-Lollis murders.
On September 6, 1996, Michael Torrence died by lethal injection at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia.
Written By: John G. Clark Jr.