In a tragic incident unfolding in a Florida courtroom, Sarah Boone, 47, stands accused of second-degree murder for the death of her boyfriend, Jorge Torres Jr. The chilling events surrounding Torres’ death occurred in February 2020, when a night of drinking between the couple took a deadly turn. Boone allegedly zipped Torres inside a suitcase, ignored his pleas for help, and left him to suffocate, later claiming the incident began as a playful game that spiraled into a horrifying ordeal.
A Game Gone Horribly Wrong
According to Boone’s testimony, the events leading to Torres’ death started innocently. Boone described how the couple spent the day drinking at their townhome near Orlando, Florida, engaging in activities like working on a 1,000-piece puzzle and creating art projects. As they sat together on the back porch, Torres suggested playing a game of hide-and-seek, telling Boone, “Tag, you’re it.” She humorously accepted the challenge, running upstairs to hide in the shower.
However, when Torres never came to find her, Boone went back downstairs, only to witness him crawling into a large suitcase. Laughing at the unexpected sight, she zipped him inside the suitcase, viewing it as a joke. Boone claimed they both found it amusing at the time, noting how surprising it was that Torres could fit inside the luggage. For added fun, Boone admitted to rolling the suitcase around the house as Torres remained inside.
A Shocking Change of Intent
What began as lighthearted humor soon took a darker turn. Boone testified that her relationship with Torres had been abusive, recounting incidents where he had slashed her with a steak knife, slammed her head against a metal door, and hit her multiple times. Claiming she had endured repeated abuse, Boone described the moment as an opportunity to express her frustrations. Inside the suitcase, she believed she could “talk to him in a way” she never could during their volatile confrontations.
Boone admitted that her intent shifted from amusement to a form of emotional retribution. She claimed that the abuse she had suffered led her to confront Torres as he lay trapped inside the suitcase. She wanted to make him aware of the pain he had inflicted upon her in hopes of reforming his behavior.
At this point, Torres began struggling to breathe and begged Boone to let him out. Instead of unzipping the suitcase, Boone ignored his pleas, choosing instead to mock him. In a disturbing twist, video footage captured Boone taunting Torres, reminding him of the times he had hurt her. Boone, however, testified that Torres made threats from inside the suitcase, telling her he would “fing end” her once he got out.
A Violent Struggle
Boone’s narrative took an even darker turn when she described how Torres managed to get one of his hands out of the suitcase. Fearing for her safety, she said she grabbed her son’s baseball bat and hit Torres’ hand until he withdrew it back into the luggage. Boone justified her actions by claiming she was terrified that Torres, known for his violent behavior, would attack her if he escaped.
She testified that she did not believe Torres would die and assumed he would eventually manage to free himself from the suitcase. Feeling overwhelmed, Boone decided to leave him zipped inside and went upstairs to sleep.
The Morning After
Boone awoke the following morning, shocked at what she discovered. Initially, she claimed she had forgotten that Torres was still trapped inside the suitcase. After waking up around 11 a.m., she went downstairs two hours later, only to realize the tragic consequences of the previous night’s events.
Upon finding the suitcase, Boone immediately unzipped it and tried to revive Torres. She described the harrowing moment, saying that he was “purple and gurgling” when she pulled him out. Frantically, Boone shook him, calling his name repeatedly in hopes of waking him.
In a state of panic, Boone reached out to her ex-husband, who instructed her to call 911. When first responders arrived, they pronounced Torres dead at the scene.
Defense Strategy and the Battered Spouse Syndrome
Throughout her testimony, Boone sought to frame her actions within the context of an abusive relationship, presenting evidence of previous injuries as part of her defense. Photographs displayed in court showed bruises and cuts that Boone attributed to Torres’ violent behavior. Her defense team argued that Boone suffered from Battered Spouse Syndrome, which could have impaired her judgment and influenced her decision to leave Torres trapped inside the suitcase.
When asked why she had not left the relationship, Boone explained that she had held on to hope that Torres would change. She believed that despite his violent tendencies, they shared a deep emotional connection, describing their relationship as being “two bodies with one soul.” Boone stated tearfully, “I love him to this day,” emphasizing the complicated nature of their bond.
Cross-Examination and Inconsistencies
During cross-examination, the prosecution sought to dismantle Boone’s defense, highlighting inconsistencies in her testimony. Prosecutors pointed to the testimony of a neighbor, who claimed to have heard a loud thud on the night of Torres’ death. This detail raised the possibility that Boone had pushed the suitcase, with Torres inside, down the stairs. Boone denied the accusation but struggled to explain the loud noise reported by the neighbor.
The prosecution also questioned Boone’s decision to leave Torres inside the suitcase and her lack of action to help him escape. When asked whether she did anything to assist Torres once he began struggling, Boone admitted, “No.”
Assistant State Attorney William Jay pressed Boone further, challenging her claims that the suitcase incident was meant to “teach a lesson.” The prosecutor argued that her actions were not an attempt at reforming Torres but rather a cruel punishment. Boone insisted that there was “no lesson to be learned” and that she simply wanted Torres to understand the impact of his abusive behavior.
Jay also had Boone demonstrate to the jury how she zipped the suitcase and showed them where Torres’ hand had emerged during the struggle. He questioned her use of the baseball bat, asking whether she could have chosen a different way to de-escalate the situation. Boone defended her actions as a reflex, saying it was a “split-second reaction” to her fear that Torres would attack her if he escaped.
A Trial Far from Over
Boone’s trial has drawn significant attention, with each testimony shedding light on the toxic and abusive nature of her relationship with Torres. As the jury weighs the evidence, they must grapple with the complex dynamics of domestic violence, self-defense, and intent. Boone’s defense hinges on the argument that her actions were not premeditated murder but rather a response to years of abuse and fear.
The prosecution, however, maintains that Boone’s behavior was deliberate and malicious, pointing to the video footage and her decision to mock Torres instead of helping him escape. The case raises difficult questions about the fine line between self-defense and criminal responsibility in abusive relationships.
The trial is expected to continue with further testimonies, and the jury will eventually decide whether Boone’s actions warrant a conviction for second-degree murder. Regardless of the outcome, the tragic death of Jorge Torres Jr. serves as a grim reminder of the complexities and dangers inherent in abusive relationships.
