A Winter Park woman murdered her boyfriend, leaving him to suffocate to death in a suitcase.
An Orange County jury found 47-year-old Sarah Boone guilty of Second Degree Murder after she zipped her boyfriend inside a suitcase and left him to suffocate and die.
On February 23, 2020, Boone and her boyfriend, 42-year-old Jorge Torres Jr., spent the evening together at their home on Frantz Lane in Winter Park. They consumed alcohol and then according to the Defendant, they played a game of hide-and-seek.
According to the Defendant, Torres voluntarily climbed inside a suitcase as part of the game. Boone then zipped the suitcase closed and recorded herself taunting the victim as he asked to be let out of the suitcase. She did not and instead went upstairs to sleep.
Upon waking, Boone discovered Torres unresponsive in the suitcase and called 911. Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies found Torres lying near the front door of the residence next to a blue suitcase. Boone initially claimed she did not think he was stuck inside after she left him there.
Two days later, detectives called Boone to come down to the sheriff’s office for further questioning. Detectives revealed Torres had multiple injuries, which Boone denied causing. She then changed her original statement and attributed her actions the night of the murder to alcohol consumption. At that point, deputies placed her under arrest for the murder of Torres.
Evidence presented during the Central Florida trial included videos found on Boone’s phone where Torres could be heard frantically pleading to be released while Boone laughed and rebuffed him several times. In the videos she recorded, the victim could be heard telling the defendant he could not breathe and asking to be let out of the suitcase. Boone responded with, “That’s what you get,” “That’s what I feel like when you cheat on me” and other taunts.
Boone took the stand during the trial in her own defense, claiming she had no intention of killing Torres. She also claimed her actions were in self-defense and alleged Torres previously abused her and she did not intend to hurt him. However, Boone’s testimony was contradicted by statements she made and video evidence showing her mocking the victim as he begged to be released from the suitcase.
After a ten-day trial, a jury found Boone guilty of Second Degree Murder. Judge Michael Kraynick ordered a presentencing investigation before her sentencing, scheduled December 2nd at 1:30pm. According to the State Attorney’s office, she faces up to life in prison.
