A Florida Woman Found Guilty of Second-degree Murder After Zipping Her Boyfriend in a Suitcase Until He Suffocated
A Florida woman was convicted guilty of second-degree murder on Friday after authorities said she zipped up her lover in a suitcase and left him for dead in 2020.
Sarah Boone, 47, told authorities that her partner became caught in a suitcase and died while playing hide-and-seek, according to court papers. The Florida couple had been sipping chardonnay and solving puzzles at their Winter Park apartment.
According to an arrest affidavit from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, they believed “it would be funny” to hop in a suitcase as part of the game.
According to the complaint, as Boone zipped Jorge Torres Jr., 42, inside a blue bag, two of his fingers poked out, leading her to believe he could unlock it.
She walked upstairs to bed, thinking he’d get out of the suitcase and join her, only to wake up to discover him still inside and not breathing, according to the affidavit.
“Evidence presented during the trial included videos found on Boone’s phone where Torres could be heard frantically pleading to be released while Boone laughed and rebuffed him several times,” according to a release from State Attorney Andrew Bain’s office.
“In the videos she recorded, the victim could be heard telling the defendant he could not breathe and asking to be let out of the suitcase,” according to the announcement. “Boone responded with, ‘That’s what you get,’ ‘That’s what I feel like when you cheat on me’ and other taunts.”
“I can’t f**king breathe, seriously,” her partner stated in the phone footage.
The footage shows Torres pulling on the luggage and attempting to escape, according to the affidavit.
During the 10-day trial, Boone’s defense claimed she had “Battered Spouse Syndrome” and feared for her life, according to CNN affiliate WFTV. Boone also testified that she believed Torres could get out of the luggage, according to the affiliate.
CNN station WESH reported that she testified in her defense for nearly five hours.
Boone’s attorney expressed disappointment with the conviction, while Torres’ family was sad and reluctant to talk with the media, CNN affiliate WESH said.
“Just a shock. “She’s shocked,” James Owens told WESH. “She felt like, you know, she had a defense, as you know.”
Boone is due to be sentenced on December 2 at 1:30 p.m., according to a state attorney’s office release.