Killing of Jorge Torres
On February 24, 2020, Jorge Torres Jr., a 42-year-old American man died in Winter Park, Florida, after being zipped into a suitcase where he suffocated to death. His girlfriend, then 42-year-old Sarah Boone, was arrested the following day for second-degree murder after agreeing to a police interview.
| Killing of Jorge Torres | |
|---|---|
| Location | Winter Park, Florida, U.S. |
| Date | February 24, 2020 c. 11:00 p.m. (EST) |
Attack type | Homicide by suffocation |
| Weapon | Suitcase |
| Victim | Jorge Torres Jr., 42 |
| Accused | Sarah Boone |
| Charges | Second-degree murder |
Background
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]
Incident
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trial judge stating that she has not been represented fairly; seven different attorneys appointed to represent her have withdrawn.[7] She is expected to use the battered woman defense at her trial.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]
References
- "Sarah Boone case: What to know about Winter Park woman facing murder charge after boyfriend dies in suitcase". FOX 35 Orlando. 2022-10-18. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- Delandro, Taylor (2023-03-13). "Florida woman charged after boyfriend dies in suitcase". Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- Dobrzyn, Erin (2020-05-27). "Report: Man died of asphyxiation after girlfriend locked him in suitcase for 'up to 11 hours'". WKMG. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- Staff, FOX 35 Digital (2024-06-07). "Sarah Boone case: Florida woman who allegedly put boyfriend in suitcase accuses her lawyer of lying". FOX 35 Orlando. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - Laviola, Erin (2020-02-26). "Sarah Boone: Florida Woman Left Boyfriend to Die in Suitcase, Cops Say". Heavy.com. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- "Sarah Boone case: Attorney plans to argue battered spouse defense in 2020 death of Boone's boyfriend". FOX 35 Orlando. 2023-01-17. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
- "Sarah Boone case: Florida woman charged in suitcase murder has gone through 7 lawyers, court docs reveal". FOX 35 Orlando. 2024-04-25. Retrieved 2024-06-25.
- https://myeclerk.myorangeclerk.com/CaseDetails?cItem=smUKavXPGJ0vB7kOZr3almgKHaPbwR%2FnKQDzSwh%2FOA1iVq6LzwlS1Lr7Kdg2lwTH6NLPnmAWKtgeFuOTbqgb4INADzYnwOK%2BHOs410DP4JY%3D
- McLaughlin, Katie (September 8, 2023). "Sarah Boone attorney formally withdraws, won't let her call him a 'buffoon'". Court TV. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
- Eady, Aurielle (2024-01-15). "Sarah Boone: January trial date canceled for Florida woman accused of murder after boyfriend dies in suitcase". Yahoo News. FOX 35 Orlando. Archived from the original on 2024-02-07. Retrieved 2024-02-07.