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Florida woman who stuffed boyfriend in suitcase and taunted him as he choked, sentenced to life in prison
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Florida woman who stuffed boyfriend in suitcase and taunted him as he choked, sentenced to life in prison

A Florida woman was sentenced to life in prison Monday for the 2020 murder of her boyfriend, whom she stuffed in a suitcase overnight until he choked and died while she taunted him.

Sarah Boone, 47, smiled in an Orlando courtroom after Circuit Judge Michael Kraynick sentenced the convicted killer who was convicted of second-degree murder in October for the death of her boyfriend Jorge Torres Jr.

Sarah Boone being led into an Orange County courthouse in Orlando, Florida in handcuffs, peeking into the gallery. P.A.Sarah Boone being led into an Orange County courthouse in Orlando, Florida in handcuffs, peeking into the gallery. P.A.

Sarah Boone being led into an Orange County courthouse in Orlando, Florida in handcuffs, peeking into the gallery. P.A.

Boone had trapped Torres, 42, in a suitcase overnight and recorded a video of her taunting him before letting him die.

A jury took just 90 minutes to convict her after a 10-day trial in which Boone claimed her boyfriend abused her.

Torres’ family filled the courtroom Monday and several loved ones spoke about the impact of his death before the sentencing, pouring out their grief over his tortuous disappearance.

“Sometimes when I look out the window, I wait for him to come and say, ‘Mommy, I love you,'” his mother Blanca Torres said.

One of Torres Jr.’s daughters, Anna Victoria Torres, detailed the mental health issues she has suffered since her father’s death, including chronic depression and anxiety. She said that during the first year, she would wake up screaming and “wish she had a nightmare, only to wake up and remember again that my father was gone.”

Boone spoke before his sentencing in a last-ditch effort to influence him. She proved to be a difficult client throughout her trial and used nine lawyers, as reported WESH.

Family members of Jorge Torres, Jr. were emotional during Sarah Boone's sentencing in the courtroom at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando, Florida. P.A.Family members of Jorge Torres, Jr. were emotional during Sarah Boone's sentencing in the courtroom at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando, Florida. P.A.

Family members of Jorge Torres, Jr. were emotional during Sarah Boone’s sentencing in the courtroom at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando, Florida. P.A.

Jorge Torres Jr. was killed by his girlfriend after she stuffed him in a suitcase overnight, leaving him to suffocate. Good Life Funeral Home and CremationJorge Torres Jr. was killed by his girlfriend after she locked him in a suitcase overnight, leaving him </div>
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Jorge Torres Jr. was killed by his girlfriend after she locked him in a suitcase overnight, leaving
suffocate him. Good Life Funeral Home and Cremation
Sarah Boone during her sentencing at the Orange County Courthouse. P.A.Sarah Boone during her sentencing at the Orange County Courthouse. P.A.

Sarah Boone during her sentencing at the Orange County Courthouse. P.A.

Boone and his defense team had spent the trial arguing that Torres had been violent and that she only killed him because she suffered from “battered spouse syndrome,” WESH reported.

“I forgive myself for falling in love with a monster. And no matter how grotesque he could get, I always loved him and I hoped and I forgave him,” Boone said.

She alleged that Torres Jr. “kicked, punched, spit on, raped, stabbed (and) strangled” her throughout their relationship.

Despite the accusations against him, she asks forgiveness for the death of her lover.

“I didn’t want this to happen. Forgive me Jorge,” she pleaded. “Forgive me, Torres family.”

Sarah Boone in a black shirt and white gloves demonstrating to the jury how she closed a blue suitcase. Court TelevisionSarah Boone in a black shirt and white gloves demonstrating to the jury how she closed a blue suitcase. Court Television

Sarah Boone in a black shirt and white gloves demonstrating to the jury how she closed a blue suitcase. Court Television

Prosecutor Dave Cacciatore Jr. takes out the suitcase as evidence during Sarah Boone's trial Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando, Florida. P.A.Prosecutor Dave Cacciatore Jr. takes out the suitcase as evidence during Sarah Boone's trial Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando, Florida. P.A.

Prosecutor Dave Cacciatore Jr. takes out the suitcase as evidence during Sarah Boone’s trial Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando, Florida. P.A.

The February 2020 murder began during a night of drinking and a game of hide-and-seek, according to a press release by prosecutor Andrew Bain.

Torres Jr. had hid in the suitcase as part of the game. Boone then closed the suitcase, recorded herself taunting him as he begged to be released and went to bed.

“In the videos she recorded, the victim could be heard telling the accused that she couldn’t breathe and asking to be let out of the suitcase. Boone responded, ‘That’s what you get,’ ‘That’s how I feel when you cheat on me,’ and other taunts,” the press release read.

Sarah Boone taken away by police after her arrest in 2020. Orange County Sheriff's OfficeSarah Boone taken away by police after her arrest in 2020. Orange County Sheriff's Office

Sarah Boone taken away by police after her arrest in 2020. Orange County Sheriff’s Office

Sarah Boone smiles as she looks at supporters in a courtroom at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando, Fla., Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. APSarah Boone smiles as she looks at supporters in a courtroom at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando, Fla., Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. AP

Sarah Boone smiles as she looks at supporters in a courtroom at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando, Fla., Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. AP

Torres was dead the next morning, after suffocating at some point during the night.

Boone claimed she thought he would be able to get away with it because two of his fingers were sticking out of the suitcase, according to an Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit.

She initially pleaded not guilty to the charges against her, then rejected a plea offer of a 15-year prison sentence.

With post wires.