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Florida Woman Sentenced to Life for Murdering Boyfriend in a Suitcase
A woman from Florida received a life sentence on Monday after being convicted of second-degree murder for trapping her boyfriend inside a suitcase, leading to his suffocation and death.
Sarah Boone, 47, was found guilty in October following a case that drew significant attention. Prosecutors detailed how she zipped her boyfriend, Jorge Torres Jr., into a suitcase and recorded videos of herself mocking him before leaving him confined for several hours.
During the sentencing phase, Torres’ family expressed their profound grief and the lasting impact of his death. Blanca Torres, Jorge’s mother, stated tearfully that Boone “not only killed my son, she killed a father, a brother, an uncle.” She recounted looking out the window, hoping to see her son return home to say, “Mom, I love you.”
Victoria Torres, Jorge’s sister, emphasized the profound pain Boone had caused their family, while Ana Victoria Torres, one of his daughters, shared her struggle with chronic depression and anxiety since her father’s death. She vividly described waking up “screaming every morning or night” as the reality of her father’s absence settled in.
In her defense, Boone took the stand, asserting that she had been a victim of abuse by Torres. Her legal team argued that she suffered from “battered spouse syndrome” and was fearful of him, with Boone detailing instances of physical and emotional violence, claiming he “kicked, punched, spit on, raped, stabbed, (and) choked” her.
Boone’s actions occurred in February 2020 during an evening of drinking and play. The couple had engaged in a game of hide-and-seek, and it was suggested that they thought it would be humorous for Boone to zip herself and Torres into a suitcase. Boone contended that he voluntarily entered the suitcase and she merely zipped it closed, mistakenly believing that he could escape through a small opening created by his fingers.
After going to bed, Boone claims she did not expect the outcome of the events that unfolded. When she awoke the next morning to find Torres unresponsive, she called 911. Evidence presented during the trial included recordings from Boone’s phone in which Torres could be heard desperately requesting to be let out, while Boone laughed and made taunting comments.
The recordings revealed Torres pleading, “I can’t f**king breathe, seriously,” as he struggled against the confines of the suitcase. Prosecutors highlighted his frantic desperation in the footage, which starkly contrasted Boone’s demeanor at the time.
Boone testified for approximately five hours during her trial, and when confronted by prosecutors about her decision not to unzip the suitcase, she explained, “I wanted him to try to understand how I felt so maybe he could progress and be a better person.”
After the verdict, her attorney expressed shock and disappointment over the conviction. The Torres family chose to remain out of the media spotlight following the trial.
In November, Boone filed a motion for a new trial, citing alleged misconduct during the prosecution and other grievances related to the trial proceedings. However, this request was denied by Judge Michael Kraynick, who referred to the thorough review of evidence and prior findings established during the trial.
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www.yahoo.com