Killing of Jorge Torres

Prior to his death, Torres had been arrested multiple times for alleged instances of domestic violence against Boone and she had been arrested one time for an alleged instance of domestic violence against Torres. Boone had been arrested once for alleged battery by strangulation against Torres in July 2018 when both Boone and Torres were arrested; however, her charge was dismissed. Torres had been arrested four times for alleged battery against Boone; Boone bailed Torres out of jail each time.[1]

On February 25, 2020, Sarah Boone called 9-1-1 and told them that her boyfriend, Jorge Torres, was dead. Boone claimed that she and Torres had a single bottle of wine and then decided to play hide-and-seek. She claimed that they thought it would be funny to put him in the suitcase, and that they were both laughing. She stated that she then went upstairs and accidentally fell asleep, leaving Torres in the suitcase.[2] Torres's death was ruled a homicide.[3]

The following day, Boone was asked to go to the police station for an interview. During the interview, forensic investigators asked for her phone; she willingly gave her phone to them, and it was searched. The search found two videos that Boone had taken the night before which allegedly showed Boone laughing as Torres pled for help inside the suitcase, telling him that it was "for everything you've done to me".[4] Boone stated that she did not remember taking the videos.[3][5][6]

Boone was subsequently charged with second-degree murder for killing Torres. Held in Orange County jail without bail, she has written letters to the trial judge stating that she has not been represented fairly; seven different attorneys appointed to represent her have withdrawn.[7] She is expected to use the battered woman defense at her trial. A trial date has been set for October 7, 2024.[8][9][10]