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Florida woman who left boyfriend stuck in zipped suitcase gets life sentence
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Florida woman who left boyfriend stuck in zipped suitcase gets life sentence

A Florida woman convicted of leaving her boyfriend stuck in a zipped suitcase, where he later died, has been sentenced to life in prison.

Sarah Boone learned her fate in a courtroom Monday afternoon, just over a month after she was found guilty of second-degree murder in connection with the 2020 death of 42-year-old Jorge Torres Jr.

“Sarah deserves to languish in prison,” said Victoria Torres, a sister. “Sarah has caused a lifetime of pain.”

Boone spoke in court before her sentencing, saying she had found God during the 58 months she had already served behind bars. She also said that she forgives herself for falling in love with a “monster” and hopes that others will forgive her as well.

“I didn’t mean for this to happen. Forgive me Jorge. Forgive me Torres family,” she said.

Boone said she learned from her so-called “imperfections” and detailed alleged abuse by Torres.

I forgive Jorge for lying, for trying in so many ways, so many times, to end his terrifying love for me,” she said. “I also forgive the Torres family, their mother and father in the first place, as well as his two ex-wives and daughters, to know who Jorge was, capable and did in the past, his history of violence and where he learned it, then continue to closing my eyes when I asked for help.

Initially, Boone told Orange County Sheriff’s Office investigators that she and Torres had been drinking alcohol and playing hide-and-seek on Feb. 23, 2020, at their Winter Park, Fla., home when They thought it would be funny for the 103.-pound Torres to ride in the suitcase.

She then decided to go to sleep, thinking Torres might get out of the suitcase on his own, she told detectives in an arrest report.

When she woke up the next morning, she did not find Torres but remembered him being in the suitcase. She unzipped the suitcase and found him unconscious, according to the arrest report. Authorities said he died of asphyxiation.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.