Jorge Torres Jr., a 42-year-old American man, suffocated to death on February 24, 2020, in Winter Park, Florida after being zipped into a suitcase. Jorge's height was 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) and he weighed 103 pounds (47 kg).[1]
| Murder of Jorge Torres | |
|---|---|
| Location | Winter Park, Florida, U.S. |
| Date | February 24, 2020 c. 11:00 p.m. (EST) |
Attack type | Murder by suffocation, mariticide |
| Weapon | Suitcase |
| Victim | Jorge Torres Jr., aged 42 |
| Perpetrator | Sarah Boone |
| Verdict | Guilty |
| Convictions | Second-degree murder |
His girlfriend, then 42-year-old Sarah Boone, was arrested the following day for second-degree murder after agreeing to a police interview. She was convicted on October 25, 2024.
Background
editPrior 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 in that case was dismissed. Torres had been arrested four times for alleged battery against Boone; Boone bailed Torres out of jail each time.[2]
Incident
editOn February 24, 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.[3] Torres' death was ruled a homicide.[4]
During the on-site investigation, Sarah Boone willingly turned over her phone. Forensic investigators searched the phone upon their arrival at the scene. The search found two videos that Boone had taken the night before. The videos allegedly showed Boone laughing as Torres pled for help inside the suitcase, with Boone stating, "That's what you do when you choke me" and "That's what I feel like when you cheat on me".[5] Boone was interviewed by Detectives at the Police department the following day. Boone stated that she did not remember recording the videos.[4][6][7]
Trial
editBoone was subsequently charged with second-degree murder for killing Torres and held in Orange County jail without bail. Eight different attorneys who represented her withdrew, seven of them being court appointed,[8] and Judge Michael Kraynick ruled that Boone had forfeited her right to court-appointed counsel.[9][10][11] On July 18, 2024, at a hearing where Boone was representing herself, she submitted a letter which included a hand drawn advertisement for a lawyer.[12] The advertisement was circulated by media reporting on the filing, and Boone found representation by attorney James Owens.[13] Owens met with state prosecutors about a possible plea agreement to the charge of manslaughter, which Boone ultimately rejected.[14]
After multiple delays, including one due to Hurricane Milton, the trial began on October 14, 2024.[15] A jury of six with eight alternates was sworn in, and on October 18, 2024, Assistant State Attorney William Jay began opening arguments.[16] The Defense argued that Boone suffered from battered woman syndrome.[17][18][19] Assistant State Attorney Dave Cacciatore Jr. began closing arguments on October 25, 2024, and on the same day after less than two hours of deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict of second degree murder. Sentencing is scheduled for December 2, 2024.
References
edit- ^ "Trial of Winter Park woman accused of leaving boyfriend in suitcase to die".
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Reporter, Jenna Sundel (2024-09-04). "Alleged suitcase killer Sarah Boone nabs 9th lawyer with handwritten flyer". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Eight is enough: Judge rules Sarah Boone forfeits right to attorney". Court TV. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ "Sarah Boone loses 8th lawyer, must now represent herself in Florida murder trial, judge rules". www.fox35orlando.com. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ "Sarah Boone, searching for 9th attorney, represents herself at hearing". Court TV. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
- ^ Sundel, Jenna (4 September 2024). "Alleged Suitcase Killer Sarah Boone Nabs 9th Lawyer With Handwritten Flyer". Newsweek. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ Reporter, Jenna Sundel (2024-10-14). "Sarah Boone's long-delayed murder trial begins for alleged suitcase killing". Newsweek. Retrieved 2024-10-26.
- ^ Morgan, Silas (7 October 2024). "Hurricane delays murder trial of accused suitcase killer Defendant Sarah Boone rejects plea deal for manslaughter". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ Quezada, Angie (22 October 2024). "TIMELINE: Where things stand for Sarah Boone, Florida woman accused in suitcase death". News 6. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
- ^ 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.