Sarah Boone trial: Florida woman takes stand in boyfriend's suitcase death

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Published  October 22, 2024 11:34pm EDT
FOX 35 Orlando
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Boone testifies in boyfriend's suitcase death

Sarah Boone took the stand Tuesday in her defense during her murder trial, testifying about the events leading to the death of her boyfriend, Jorge Torres, in February 2020.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Sarah Boone took the stand Tuesday in her defense during her murder trial, testifying about the events leading to the death of her boyfriend, Jorge Torres, in February 2020.

Boone, on trial for second-degree murder, is accused of zipping Torres inside a suitcase during a drunken game of hide-and-seek at their Winter Park home. Prosecutors say Boone taunted Torres, left him trapped, and went to bed, ultimately leading to his death.

After four days of jury selection and three days of testimony, Boone’s defense team argued that her relationship with Torres was marked by alcohol abuse and domestic violence and that she suffered from Battered Spouse Syndrome. They contend that Torres' death was an act of self-defense.

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During cross-examination, the assistant state attorney brought out the suitcase in question, asking Boone to explain where Torres was positioned inside and demonstrating the location of the zippers.

"I just kind of zipped him up. We thought it was funny," Boone said. "I moved the suitcase around a couple of times, and at that point, it was still funny. We were joking and laughing."

Boone testified that she feared Torres, whom she described as abusive, would escape from the suitcase. 

"My fear was that he was going to break out of the suitcase," she said, adding that the suitcase was broken and that she was scared of what Torres might do if he got out.

Boone admitted she went to bed with Torres still inside the suitcase. When asked by the prosecution if she believed he could breathe, she responded, "Yes. As long as he was in the suitcase, he couldn’t harm me."

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The trial has been centered around two videos found on Boone’s phone. In the videos, Torres is seen trapped in the suitcase, calling out to Boone that he can’t breathe, while Boone appears to taunt him. Prosecutors argue that the footage is crucial to understanding the final moments of Torres’ life.

"This case is about those 11 minutes and what happened in those 11 minutes," said Boone’s defense attorney, James Owens, in his opening statement.

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Sarah Boone's body language analyzed

Sarah Boone took the stand Tuesday in her defense during her murder trial, testifying about the events leading to the death of her boyfriend, Jorge Torres, in February 2020.

The jury also heard expert testimony that Torres’ body showed signs of blunt force trauma, possibly from being hit or from being rolled in the suitcase. Prosecutors maintain that Boone acted with malicious intent, leaving Torres to die.

"She left him to take his final breaths on this Earth alone," said Assistant State Attorney William Jay during his opening statement.

Boone’s testimony laid the foundation for the defense’s argument that she was a battered spouse who acted in self-defense after years of abuse. The trial is ongoing.

Content warning: You can watch the videos below. FOX 35 obtained them via a public records request. The content is disturbing.

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New evidence released in Sarah Boone case

Sarah Boone is accused of killing her boyfriend, Jorge Torres Jr., in Feb. 2020 inside their home in Winter Park after allegedly locking him inside a suitcase. Boone told deputies that she and Torres were playing a game of hide-and-seek and that she fell asleep. When she woke up, she said she found her boyfriend dead in the suitcase. The Florida State Attorney's Office released video allegedly recorded on Boone's cell phone that appears to show a conversation between her and Torres. Content warning: This video may be graphic and disturbing to some.

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