‘Suitcase killer’ Sarah Boone sentenced to life in prison over 2020 murder of Jorge Torres
Sarah Boone, the Florida woman who suffocated her boyfriend while he was trapped in a suitcase, has been sentenced to life in prison by Judge Michael Kraynick. The judge also rejected a motion for a retrial from Boone’s lawyers. This sentencing comes after Boone was found guilty of second-degree murder in October for the horrific incident that took place in February 2020.
Boone and her then-boyfriend, Jorge Torres, had been drunkenly playing hide-and-seek when she zipped him up in a suitcase in their apartment in Winter Park, Florida. Prosecutors revealed that Boone not only trapped Torres in the suitcase but also hit him with a baseball bat before leaving him in the suitcase overnight. Torres tragically died from asphyxiation as a result of Boone’s actions.
The case gained national attention when disturbing cellphone footage taken by Boone went viral. The footage showed a closed suitcase with Torres inside, struggling to breathe and pleading with Boone for help. Despite Torres’ desperate cries for help, Boone callously responded, saying, “That’s on you,” and “That’s what you get.”
Boone reported Torres’ death the next day, claiming that they were playing a hide-and-seek game that went wrong. She also alleged that she passed out and attempted to give Torres CPR when she found him dead. In court proceedings, Boone claimed that she never intended to harm Torres and that her actions were in self-defense, alleging that Torres had abused her.
During the sentencing, Torres’ family was present in the courtroom. Torres’ daughter described him as a “hidden gem” taken away by “evilness.” She addressed Boone directly, expressing her hope that Boone would see Torres’ face when she closed her eyes at night.
The tragic and disturbing case of Sarah Boone and Jorge Torres serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence and abuse. It is a stark reminder of the importance of seeking help and intervention in situations of abuse before they escalate to such tragic outcomes.
