ORLANDO, Fla. – Sarah Boone, a Florida woman accused of killing her boyfriend after he died in a zipped-up suitcase during an apparent drunken game of hide-and-seek, was officially found guilty on Friday evening.
Boone, 47, was convicted on a charge of second-degree murder after leaving her boyfriend — Jorge Torres Jr., 42 — to die of asphyxiation in 2020.
The defense wrapped on Thursday and closing arguments went all day Friday. Boone had pleaded not guilty.
During closing arguments, Boone’s attorneys tried to make the final case for her as a domestic abuse victim suffering from battered spouse syndrome.
“Ultimately, this is about justifiable use of force,” said defense attorney James Owens. “That is a legal defense in Florida.”
Prosecutor Dave Cacciatore tried to refute that claim, showing cell phone video recorded by Boone the day Torres died. The video shows him inside the suitcase, and he could be heard saying he couldn’t breathe.
“Jorge Torres was murdered in this box,” Cacciatore said.
Friday, the judge asked if any jurors had seen the “Voices of Hope” domestic violence event held Thursday at the courthouse. After one of the jurors said that they had, she was questioned about it, telling the judge that while she knew it was a domestic violence event featuring Orange-Osceola State Attorney Andrew Bain, she didn’t hear anything.
Further, the judge told the jury that they could expect to work through at least 7 p.m. Friday and asked that they be prepared to work past 9 p.m. if a verdict is not reached by then. Should a verdict not be reached Friday, the court will take the weekend off and the jury will resume deliberation Monday morning.
Earlier this week, Boone took the stand in her own defense. On Wednesday, a day after Boone testified, her attorneys called others to testify.
Thursday morning, attorneys for both sides spent quite a bit of time arguing about whether an expert witness’ testimony had not been disclosed earlier.
The state began its rebuttal Thursday. State Psychiatrist Dr. Tonia Werner said that Boone had a “difficult time” recalling details leading up to Torres’ death, adding Boone did not provide enough information to diagnose her with post-traumatic stress disorder.
“My opinion was that she did not give me enough information to evaluate her during my time at the jail,” Werner said.
James Owens, Boone’s attorney, said he thought there was a discovery violation. The judge ordered the jury out of the room so it could be discussed in private whether a violation had occurred.
Thursday afternoon, Boone’s attorneys exhibited body-camera footage by police, which showed officers’ interactions with Boone at her apartment complex before her boyfriend’s death in 2019.
“She’s sitting on the curb in front of that white car,” an attorney said. “Boone told the responding officer that Torres abused her, and she was afraid he was going to kill her. The officer is later seen taking Torres into custody.”
(STORY CONTINUES BELOW)
[TIMELINE: Where things stand for Sarah Boone, Florida woman accused in suitcase death]
Pearl Walker, a former neighbor, said Wednesday that she sometimes noticed marks on Boone’s neck or arm.
Walker said she would see Boone when she was out walking her dogs and have conversations with her, and Boone would talk about being abused.
Attorneys for Boone claim she suffered from battered spouse syndrome.
On the stand, Boone claimed that she was afraid of how Torres would behave once he got out of the suitcase, and that’s why she didn’t let him out.
Dr. Julie Harper, a psychologist who has been licensed for 22 years, was also called to the stand.
Harper said she did her dissertation in couple relationships and reviewed Boone’s records before interviewing her.
“Do you think that Sarah Boone has some narcissistic traits?” Harper was asked.
“Yes,” she replied.
On Tuesday, Boone testified that Torres got into the suitcase himself and was trying to get himself flat, so she couldn’t tell he was in there.
“He was 5 feet, 3 inches tall, roughly, and he weighed like 100 pounds,” Boone said. “I just kind of zipped him up. We thought it was funny. We were joking that he was small enough to fit inside the suitcase.”
She said she zipped the suitcase at some point.
“He just thought it was funny,” she said. “From there, I moved it around a couple of times on the wheels and, at that point, it was still funny. We were joking and laughing about it.”
She said she moved the suitcase around and it ended up with the zipper-side down.
“That’s when I decided to videotape to see the jest in it, for him to understand that right now I feel safe and I can speak to you in the manner in which I normally can,” she said, admitting that she was intoxicated.
“Could you tell the jury what you were feeling, what your feelings were, explain to jury, you said it before he was in that confined space,” Boone’s attorney said.
“I want you to know that a majority of the time I’m always afraid and always scared,” Boon replied. “I just wanted him to understand that was the whole point of the video.”
The state continued its case earlier Tuesday, a day after jurors were shown video of Boone being interrogated by authorities.
“He’s begging for you to let him out and you’re laughing at the beginning, and then you’re like, ‘No,’” a detective said in the video.
“It was not intentional,” Boone replied. “I will put my hand on the Bible. It was not intentional.”
The prosecution’s opening statement was delivered by Assistant State Attorney William Jay, who said, “She did this with the malicious intent to punish him and then she went up to sleep and left him to take his final breaths on this Earth alone.”
He also spoke about Boone’s 911 call the next day.
“What you will not hear are tears. (...) You will not hear sorrow,” Jay said.
Prosecutors said Boone showed no regard for Torres’ life, but her attorneys claimed that she was the victim of battered spouse syndrome and locked Torres in the suitcase because of prior abuse.
The state said Boone never mentioned self-defense when first questioned by authorities.
Boone’s sentencing is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 2.
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