Convicted father of Uvalde shooting victim denied leave to attend funeral

The grieving father of one of the 19 children killed in the Uvalde school mass shooting will have to watch her funeral via livestream from prison Thursday after he was denied compassionate release.

Eli Torres is serving a 25-year sentence in a federal prison in Kentucky for drug trafficking and conspiracy.

He is also the father of 10-year-old Eliahna Cruz Torres, who was planning to visit her father this week but died at Robb Elementary School.

But Eli Torres application for temporary leave to attend her funeral was denied, the Houston Chronicle reported.

“The days and nights, they’re dark,” the devastated father said.

“I can’t see no light.”

Torres was reportedly an active father in Eliahna’s life despite being behind bars most of her life, according to family. He taught her some softball fundamentals and urged her to always stay positive, reports the Chronicle.

Kentucky state Rep. Attica Scott had even written to President Joe Biden on his behalf, begging him to intervene.

“If Eliahna’s father’s rehabilitation record and behavior as an inmate would merit, this family would greatly appreciate him being able to unite with them as they mourn the loss of their family member,” reads the letter.

Torres said he is still processing his daughter’s death and weighing it against the choices that sent him to prison, unable to attend her funeral.

“The choices I made, it cost me,” he said.

“I could have prevented this from happening, somehow, some way, as a father. … I could have stopped it somehow. Protected her.”

The funeral is set for 11 a.m. Thursday.