A Florida woman, Sarah Boone, was convicted of second-degree murder on Friday for the 2020 death of her boyfriend, Jorge Torres Jr. The case stemmed from an incident in which Boone initially claimed that Torres suffocated after she zipped him inside a suitcase during a drunken game of hide-and-seek.
The jury’s decision came four years after Torres was discovered dead in their Winter Park apartment, leading to an investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
Boone’s narrative of events indicated a casual and playful atmosphere between the couple prior to the tragic incident. She stated that after they had been drinking together, Torres crawled into the suitcase and she zipped it up, believing it to be a joke.
She maintained that she had intended to go to sleep but later passed out, only to find Torres unresponsive when she finally unzipped the suitcase. This portrayal was contradicted by evidence presented during the trial.
Conviction in Florida Suitcase Murder Case Highlights Dark Turn of a Drinking Game Gone Wrong
During her testimony, Boone recounted how they had been drinking outside their apartment and how Torres decided to climb into the suitcase, which she initially found amusing. She claimed they were joking about his size and had a lighthearted exchange. However, the mood reportedly shifted when Boone asserted that Torres became aggressive, leading to a heated argument while he was still inside the suitcase.
Prosecutors argued that Boone’s actions were intentional and malicious. They presented evidence of video clips in which Boone allegedly mocked Torres as he begged for help, suggesting that she was fully aware of the danger he was in.
Boone’s comments during the videos, including one where she said, “That’s on you,” were presented to demonstrate her lack of remorse and her belief that Torres deserved punishment for his past behavior.
The jury ultimately found Boone guilty, rejecting her claims of innocence based on the circumstances of the night. The court indicated that Boone was not in imminent danger when she chose to leave Torres in the suitcase. Boone is set to be sentenced on December 2, and her conviction marks a significant conclusion to a case that began with a bizarre and tragic turn of events.
