G.I. killer's mom fined

The mother of a man convicted of a double murder in Grand Island has been fined for attempting to interfere with the investigation into her son's case.

Esperanza J. Kraft, 62, of Pasadena, Texas, is the mother of Marco E. Torres Jr. She pleaded guilty last week to two misdemeanors -- attempted obstructing government operations and false reporting. Each carried a $500 fine. The charges were reduced from felony conspiracy to commit tampering with witnesses.

According to an arrest warrant, the state had copies of phone calls between Torres and Kraft made while Torres was in the custody of the Nebraska State Penitentiary. In one call, Torres told his mother to call a woman named Jen and to "tell that person thank you very, very much" and that her "gratitude will be returned when everything settles down."

Mother and son also discussed Kraft's trip to the Grand Island Police Department. Kraft accompanied a man there to talk to investigators, and Torres told her to follow through with their plans and to tell "James" to keep his statement the same.

"Call everyone and tell them to proceed with everything and keep in communication with you," he said.

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