Miguel Angel Soto

Background

Miguel Angel Soto was a convicted offender who was sentenced to death on August 17, 2000.

The offence

Miguel Angel Soto shot and killed Armott Porter and Edna Porter in 1999 in Oldham County. Armott and Edna Porter were Soto’s former in-laws.

Soto also shot and wounded his ex-wife, Armotta Porter, who had been living with her parents. He also shot in the direction of his three-year-old daughter, Brianna Porter.

Soto was armed with a .38 cal. revolver and a .45 cal. semi-automatic pistol. He used the .38 cal. revolver to kill Mr. Porter. The information did not specify which weapon he used to kill Mrs. Porter.

Investigation

On 6-29-99, Miguel Soto shot and killed 2 individuals, Armott and Edna Porter, and then shot and wounded his ex-wife and shot in the direction of his three-year-old daughter.

Trial

Soto was charged with Capital Murder, 2 counts, Death on both charges; Attempted Murder, 20 years; Burglary I, 20 years; Wanton Endangerment I, 5 years; and Tampering with physical Evidence, 5 years.

Each count ran consecutively with one another for a total of Death + 50 years. The jury recommended death, and Oldham Circuit Judge Dennis Fritz followed the jury’s recommendation.

Sentencing

On Thursday, August 17, 2000, Oldham Circuit Judge Dennis Fritz sentenced Miguel Angel Soto to death.

Judge Dennis Fritz described Soto as a threat not only to the public but also to prison staff and other inmates. Judge Fritz said:

"threat not only to public but also to prison staff and other inmates."

Judge Fritz also stated:

"I have an obligation to offer some protection" and: "Society has a right to protect itself from violent criminals. And in my opinion, Miguel Soto is a violent criminal. This violence will continue...against anybody else he gets upset with."

Soto admitted shooting Armott Porter in a shed behind the Porter home, then entering the house and shooting Edna Porter.

Prosecutors said Soto lay in wait for his ex-wife, Armotta Porter, to arrive. Armotta Porter testified that Soto shot her in the back as she ran away from him. She sought refuge in a laundry room, and while she struggled to lock the door, Soto fired through the door, hitting her in the knee.

Outcome

Miguel Angel Soto became the 41st person on Kentucky’s Death Row.

Aftermath

Soto was to be sent to the Kentucky State Penitentiary in Eddyville, where all but one of the death row inmates are housed. One death row inmate was housed at the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women in Pee Wee Valley.

Other details

Victims named in the sentencing and offence description were Armott Porter, Edna Porter, and Armotta Porter. Miguel Soto also involved his three-year-old daughter, Brianna Porter.