Sarah Boone faces a conviction for suitcase murder

Sarah Boone, who was convicted of killing her boyfriend by suffocating him in a suitcase, will be sentenced Monday in Orange County.

On Oct. 25, a jury took about an hour and a half to deliberate Sarah Boone’s murder trial, also known as the suitcase murder trial.

Boone was found guilty of leaving her boyfriend to die locked in a suitcase in their Winter Park home for about 11 hours on the night of February 23, 2020.

The medical examiner testified that Jorge Torres Jr. died of asphyxia. His family declined to comment after the verdict.

Boone’s defense attorney described Sarah Boone as shocked and disappointed.

“Just a shock. She’s shocked, you know. She felt like she had a defense, as you know. So she’s just in shock,” said James Thomas, Boone’s defense attorney.

During the trial, Boone took the stand in her own defense, describing how her 103-pound boyfriend ended up in the suitcase during a game of hide-and-seek.

“I zipped it up, we thought that was funny. We joke that it was small enough to fit in the suitcase,” Boone said.

Boone also told the jury how Torres threatened her, and the defense presented photos showing Torres hurt her during their three-and-a-half-year relationship.

A psychologist took the stand to support the battered spouse syndrome defense.

However, the state’s expert said Boone’s behavior was not indicative of maltreatment syndrome.

In the end, prosecutors said the guilty verdict brought some closure for the Torres family.

“After four and a half years and the numerous delays, I think they were finally happy to see this case go to trial and be on the docket,” said Dave Cacciatore Jr., assistant district attorney.

Boone filed a motion for a new trial on the grounds that she was unfairly denied representation by a court-appointed attorney.

She also said the victim’s family’s emotional outbursts in court should have resulted in a mistrial.

Sentencing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Orange County Courthouse.