A Florida woman, Sarah Boone, was sentenced to life in prison on Monday, December 2, for the 2020 murder of her boyfriend, Jorge Torres Jr. Boone, 47, was convicted of second-degree murder in October after being found guilty of suffocating her boyfriend by sealing him inside a suitcase overnight, while taunting him.
During her sentencing at an Orlando courthouse, Boone smiled as Circuit Judge Michael Kraynick handed down the life sentence. In a chilling video, Boone had recorded herself mocking Torres, 42, as he begged for release, struggling to breathe while trapped in the suitcase. Boone then went to bed, leaving Torres to suffocate.
The prosecution argued that Boone had intentionally caused her boyfriend’s death, while Boone's defense suggested that she was a victim of abuse at Torres' hands and had acted out of “battered spouse syndrome.” However, after a 10-day trial, a jury took only 90 minutes to convict Boone.
The victim’s family, who were present at the sentencing, shared their emotional testimonies. Torres’ mother, Blanca Torres, spoke of the ongoing pain from her son’s tragic death. "Sometimes when I look out the window, I’m waiting for him to come and say, ‘Mom, I love you,’" she said, her grief palpable. Torres' daughter, Anna Victoria Torres, described the mental health struggles she has faced since her father's death, including severe depression and anxiety. She recalled how for a year, she would wake up screaming, "wishing I was having a nightmare."
Before her sentence, Boone took the stand in a final attempt to express remorse and appeal for leniency. She admitted that she loved Torres despite his abusive actions and asked for forgiveness. Boone claimed that Torres had been violent throughout their relationship, allegedly subjecting her to physical and sexual abuse. Yet, she expressed regret for his death, saying, “I didn’t mean for this to happen. Forgive me Jorge. Forgive me Torres family.”
The murder occurred during a night of drinking and a game of hide-and-seek in February 2020. Torres had hidden inside the suitcase as part of the game, but Boone then zipped him inside, recorded his pleas for help, and went to sleep. Boone later claimed she thought he could escape on his own, as two of his fingers were visible outside the suitcase, but Torres suffocated by the morning.
Boone initially pleaded not guilty and rejected a 15-year plea deal. However, the court ultimately found her actions deliberate, leading to the life sentence.
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