Florida Woman Found Guilty of Murder for Leaving Boyfriend to Die in Suitcase

Jury Convicts Sarah Boone After Four-Year Legal Battle

A central Florida jury has found Sarah Boone guilty of second-degree murder for the 2020 death of her boyfriend, Jorge Torres, whom she allegedly left to suffocate in a suitcase. The verdict came on Friday evening after just 90 minutes of deliberation, concluding a lengthy four-year legal process that saw multiple attorney changes and significant delays in Boone’s trial.

Incident and Initial Claims of “Game Gone Wrong”

Boone, who pleaded not guilty, initially told detectives from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office that she and Torres had been drinking and playing a game of hide-and-seek on February 23, 2020, at their Winter Park home. She claimed it was part of the game for Torres to get inside the suitcase, after which she went to bed, assuming he could free himself. According to Boone, she only realized he was still inside the suitcase the next morning, at which point she discovered he was unresponsive.

Disturbing Evidence Found on Boone’s Cellphone

Following Boone’s arrest, detectives uncovered damning evidence on her cellphone, including videos recorded the night of Torres’s death. The videos showed Torres pleading for help from inside the suitcase, repeatedly saying he couldn’t breathe and calling out Boone’s name. In one of the recordings, Boone can be heard taunting him, saying, “Yeah, that’s what you do when you choke me,” and “That’s what I feel like when you cheat on me.”

Defense Argument and Self-Defense Claims

During the trial, Boone testified that previous violent incidents between her and Torres led her to believe he posed an imminent threat. She argued that she acted in self-defense by keeping him in the suitcase. However, the jury was unpersuaded by her claims, given the video evidence and autopsy report detailing Torres’s injuries. The autopsy noted contusions on his skull, shoulder, and forehead, as well as scratches on his back and neck, consistent with blunt force trauma.

Delays in the Case and Upcoming Sentencing

Boone’s trial was delayed for nearly four years due to her changing legal representation multiple times, which extended the pre-trial process. The trial itself lasted 10 days, culminating in her conviction. Boone’s sentencing is scheduled for December 2, where she faces a potential life sentence.