Tragic game of hide-and-seek ends in fatal consequences
Sarah Boone, a 47-year-old from Winter Park, Florida, was sentenced to life in prison on Monday for zipping her boyfriend, Jorge Torres Jr, into a suitcase and leaving him to suffocate, following a history of domestic and alcohol abuse.
According to state attorney Andrew Bain’s office, the tragic incident unfolded in February 2020 during what began as a seemingly innocuous night of drinking and playing hide-and-seek. What started as a bizarre game quickly turned into a horrifying act of violence that would end in Torres’ death.
“They thought it would be funny to get in a suitcase as part of the game,” the arrest affidavit reveals, highlighting the casual nature with which the fatal sequence of events began.
Harrowing evidence: The recordings that sealed her fate
Prosecutors presented damning video evidence from Boone’s phone that captured the moments of Torres’ desperate struggle for survival. The recordings reveal a chilling narrative of a man fighting for his life while his partner mockingly taunted him.
“I can’t f*****g breathe, seriously,” Torres is heard pleading in the videos, with Boone responding with cruel remarks like “That’s what you get” and “That’s what I feel like when you cheat on me.”
In a dramatic turn during her trial, Boone testified for approximately five hours. Her defense team attempted to paint her as a victim, arguing that she suffered from “battered spouse syndrome” and was afraid of Torres. However, the jury ultimately found her guilty of second-degree murder.
The case highlights the extreme and unpredictable nature of domestic conflicts, serving as a stark reminder of the potential dangers that can emerge from seemingly playful interactions gone wrong.