A Florida woman, Sarah Boone, 46, was sentenced to life in prison Monday for murdering her boyfriend by trapping him in a suitcase and recording his desperate pleas for help as he suffocated.
Boone remained stoic as the judge delivered the sentence for the 2020 second-degree murder of Jorge Torres Jr., 42. The sentencing followed a lengthy hearing where both families delivered emotional testimony about the impact of Torres’ death.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Boone sealed Torres in a suitcase during what she claimed was a drunken game of hide-and-seek at their home near Orlando. Phone videos recovered by investigators showed Torres pushing against the suitcase and begging for air while Boone taunted him about alleged infidelity, saying “That’s what I feel like when you cheat on me,” according to Orange County Sheriff’s Office records.
After recording Torres’ struggles, Boone went upstairs to sleep, leaving him trapped. She discovered his body the next morning and called 911.
During Monday’s hearing, Torres’ mother testified through tears about her ongoing grief, telling the court, “Since that day, I can’t sleep. It’s hard for me to remember that my son is not here no more.” She added that she didn’t “hate” Boone for her actions.
Before sentencing, Boone delivered a rambling statement alleging years of abuse by Torres and criticizing his family for “not doing enough” to help her. She described herself as “a survivor” and referenced the Japanese art of Kintsukuroi, comparing herself to repaired pottery.
The sentencing concludes a case that began in 2020. Boone’s recent request for a new trial, citing professional misconduct and other complaints, was denied ahead of Monday’s hearing.
