MIAMI.- Sarah Boone, a Florida woman, was sentenced Monday to life in prison for the tragic murder of her partner, Jorge Torres, who died of asphyxiation after being locked inside a suitcase. The case, marked by a history of domestic abuse and alcohol consumption, left a deep mark on the victim’s relatives and generated great media attention.
The sentence was handed down by Circuit Judge Michael Kraynick in Orlando, who found Boone, 47, guilty of the murder of Torres, 42, in February 2020.
The verdict came after a 10-day trial and only 90 minutes of deliberation by the jury on October 25. Boone previously rejected a plea deal that would have reduced his sentence to 15 years.
Torres’ relatives expressed their pain during the hearing. Victoria Torres, sister of the deceased, expressed forcefully: “Sarah deserves to rot in prison. She has caused pain throughout her life.” His words reflect the feeling of helplessness and sadness left by the loss of his brother.
Boone, for her part, defended herself by arguing that she had been a victim of abuse by Torres for years, which, according to her, influenced her actions.
In his statement, Boone apologized to Torres’ family and regretted what happened. “I didn’t mean for this to happen. Forgive me, Jorge. Forgive me, Torres family,” said Boone, who has been in prison for 58 months.
The facts
The incident began the night of February 23, 2020, when Boone and Torres were drinking at their home in Winter Park, Florida.
According to Boone, the two were playing and thought it would be funny for Torres, who weighed 100 pounds, to get into a suitcase.
Boone then went to sleep, thinking Torres would be able to get out of the suitcase on his own. However, when she woke up, she found him unconscious inside the suitcase.
The investigation revealed a very different story than Boone’s version. On Boone’s phone, detectives found videos in which Torres can be heard pleading from inside the suitcase, saying he couldn’t breathe and pleading for help while repeatedly calling Boone. This evidence was key to proving Boone’s malicious intent.
Prosecutor William Jay claimed that Boone decided to keep Torres in the suitcase to torment him, even as he begged her to let him out. “Then he hit him with a baseball bat,” the prosecutor added, which increased the severity of the accusations against him.
The trial
During the trial, Boone attempted to justify her actions by arguing that the episodes of violence with Torres made her perceive an imminent threat and that she acted in self-defense.
However, the videos recorded that night paint a different picture. In one of the clips, Boone is heard saying, “Yeah, that’s what you do when you choke me” and “Oh, that’s what I feel like when you cheat on me.”
This tragic case highlights the devastating consequences of domestic abuse and violence fueled by alcohol consumption.
Boone’s life sentence closes a dark chapter, leaving behind a devastated family and a community shocked by the events that led to the death of Jorge Torres.
