Sarah Boone, a 46-year-old woman from Florida, was found guilty of murder after suffocating her 42-year-old boyfriend, Jorge Torres, inside a suitcase in February 2020. According to prosecutors, Boone zipped Torres inside a suitcase during a drunken game of hide-and-seek, hit him with a baseball bat, and left him overnight until he died of asphyxiation. Jurors deliberated for 90 minutes before reaching the verdict against Boone, who had pleaded not guilty to the charges of second-degree murder. The couple’s dysfunctional relationship and graphic cellphone video of Torres struggling in the suitcase were central to the trial.
During the trial, the graphic cellphone video of Torres inside the suitcase, struggling to breathe, was presented as evidence. In the video, Torres can be heard repeatedly saying he can’t breathe while Boone responds callously, saying, “That’s on you.” The disturbing footage shed light on the events leading up to Torres’ death and was a key part of the prosecution’s case against Boone. The couple’s volatile relationship was also discussed during the trial, with Boone claiming self-defense and alleging that Torres had previously abused her.
The 911 call made by Boone on the day of Torres’ death provided further insight into the events that transpired. Boone told dispatchers that she and Torres were playing a game of hide-and-seek, and she placed him in a suitcase as part of the game. However, she claimed to have passed out and found Torres unresponsive and not breathing when she woke up. She attempted to perform CPR on him but was unsuccessful. Boone’s call to 911, along with the evidence presented during the trial, painted a tragic picture of the events that led to Torres’ death.
Despite Boone’s claims of self-defense and alleged abuse by Torres, prosecutors argued that her actions were intentional and contradicted statements she made during the trial. The video evidence showing Boone mocking Torres as he begged to be released from the suitcase played a crucial role in the jury’s decision to find her guilty of murder. Boone is expected to be sentenced on Dec. 2 and faces up to life in prison for her role in Torres’ death. The case has garnered significant attention due to the shocking nature of the crime and Boone’s claims of self-defense and abuse.
The trial brought to light the tragic and disturbing events that led to Torres’ death at the hands of Boone. The couple’s dysfunctional relationship, as well as the graphic evidence presented during the trial, painted a harrowing picture of the circumstances surrounding Torres’ suffocation inside a suitcase. Boone’s guilty verdict and impending sentencing serve as a reminder of the consequences of domestic violence and the importance of seeking help in abusive situations. The case has sparked discussions about the complexities of intimate partner violence and the need for justice for victims like Torres, whose life was tragically cut short by the actions of his partner.
