Woman Suffocates Boyfriend in Air-Tight Suitcase
Sarah Boone told authorities it all started as a joke. She and her boyfriend, Jorge Torres Jr., spent a quiet night in their Winter Park, Florida, apartment in February 2020, sipping chardonnay and solving puzzles. Boone said their playful evening led to a game of hide-and-seek, and Torres thought it would be funny to climb into a blue suitcase. Boone zipped it shut and went upstairs to bed, assuming he would easily free himself. The next morning, her laughter turned into horror — or so she claimed. Torres remained trapped inside the suitcase, unresponsive. But Boone's explanation would unravel under the weight of chilling evidence.
Videos That Exposed the Truth
Investigators soon discovered videos on Boone's phone that told a different story. Torres could be heard pleading that he couldn't breathe, as he struggled inside the suitcase. Boone didn't rush to his aid. Instead, her voice rang out mockingly, saying, "That's what you get," and "That's what I feel like when you cheat on me," as reported by CNN.
These recordings painted a disturbing picture of what actually happened that night: Torres didn't find himself accidentally trapped. Instead, Boone zipped him in, listened to his cries for help, and chose not to intervene.
A Shifting Defense
When Boone's trial began, her defense strategy shifted more often than the Florida weather. Initially, Boone claimed Torres' death was a tragic accident. But her ninth attorney, James Owens, introduced a new narrative, arguing Boone suffered from Battered Spouse Syndrome and acted out of fear.
Boone took the stand and testified for nearly five hours, insisting she believed Torres could escape the suitcase.
However, prosecutors dismantled her claims, pointing to the phone videos and inconsistencies in her testimony. They highlighted Boone's actions as intentional and malicious. The state attorney's office stated, "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," according to CNN.
When prosecutors asked why she didn't unzip the suitcase, Boone replied, "I wanted him to try to understand how I felt so maybe he could progress and be a better person," according to CNN affiliate WESH.
She's Ready for Her Close-Up
Boone's actions in and out of the courtroom didn't fail to raise eyebrows. During the trial, Boone asked the judge to allow her a professional hair and makeup artist to ensure she looked her best for the jury. While the request was initially approved — with her legal team expected to apply the cosmetics — it was later denied due to jail security concerns.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office explained that makeup and hair products are considered contraband, making her request untenable. This unusual appeal added a surreal layer to an already shocking case, leaving many to question her priorities as her fate hung in the balance.
A Verdict That Stunned
After a 10-day trial, the jury took only 60 minutes to deliver its verdict: guilty of second-degree murder. Boone's expression turned to disbelief as the weight of the decision set in. Torres' family sat quietly, their grief palpable.
"She's shocked, you know," Owens said of his client's reaction to the verdict, according to CNN affiliate WESH.
The Verdict
Nearly two months later on Dec. 2, 2024, Sarah Boone's trial — already steeped in shocking revelations — came to its conclusion with a life sentence handed down.
For Torres' loved ones, the verdict brings some measure of justice but no solace for the loss they've endured. This tragic case serves as a stark reminder of how quickly relationships can spiral into violence. The evidence, chilling as it was, ensured Torres' voice would not be silenced, even from the confines of that suitcase.
References: Florida woman accused of murdering boyfriend in suitcase begs judge for professional hair and makeup | A Florida woman who zipped her boyfriend in a suitcase for hours until he died found guilty of second-degree murder | Florida woman sentenced to life in prison for zipping her boyfriend in a suitcase for hours until he died | Sarah Boone found guilty of second-degree murder after leaving boyfriend to die in zipped suitcase
