An American woman from Florida has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2020 death of her boyfriend, who she locked in a suitcase and suffocated. The sentence was handed down Monday by Circuit Judge Michael Kraynick in Orlando. Sarah Boone, 47, was convicted of the murder of 42-year-old Jorge Torres.
The tragic incident occurred on February 24, 2020 in Winter Park, when Boone and Torres, both drunk, played hide and seek. Boone allegedly zipped Torres into a suitcase and left him there, leading to his death by asphyxiation. The case had a history of marital problems and alcohol abuse between the couple.
According to CBS News, a jury deliberated just 90 minutes on Oct. 25 before convicting Boone of the second-degree murder of Jorge Torres after a 10-day trial. Boone had maintained that she herself was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of Torres and had rejected an offer of 15 years in prison. Torres' family members testified at the hearing that his death had torn them apart.
“Sarah deserves to rot in jail,” said one sister, Victoria Torres. “Sarah has caused a lifetime of pain.”
In her own statement, Boone endured a litany of abuse at the hands of Torres that she said occurred over many years, denounced the way her trial was handled and reported in the media, but still asked for forgiveness for her actions.
“I forgive myself for falling in love with a monster. I tried to break the spell… I never stopped loving him,” said Boone, who has already served 58 months in prison. 'I didn't mean for this to happen. Forgive me Jorge. Forgive me Torres' family.'
