Sarah Boone, accused of murdering her boyfriend by concealing him in a suitcase, may testify in her trial on Tuesday.
The 46-year-old Boone is charged with second-degree murder in the 2020 death of her boyfriend, 42-year-old Jorge Torres Jr. Authorities claim Boone persuaded her boyfriend to enter a suitcase at their Florida home, then zipped it shut, denying him exit. When she opened it the following morning, he was found dead.
Boone’s lawyer, James Owens, indicated during opening statements that she plans to take the stand. With the prosecution having rested its case on Tuesday, the defense can now begin calling its witnesses.
The trial commenced on October 14 with jury selection, and opening statements followed on Friday.
Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP
Assistant State Attorney William Jay maintained during his opening statement that the act was done intentionally, stating, “She did this with malicious intent to punish him and then went to sleep, leaving him to die alone.”
In contrast, Owens argued that the prosecution’s claims were far from the truth, insisting, “She loved him and despised the abuse. She tried to leave multiple times. He kept returning despite her efforts.” Owens emphasized her feelings of vulnerability and lack of support.
During the trial, jurors watched cellphone videos and police interview footage on Monday. Two clips from Boone’s phone captured Torres’s voice from within the suitcase, with him repeatedly pleading that he couldn’t breathe. Boone’s responses included derogatory comments, further complicating her defense.
Additionally, a recording of Boone’s police interview revealed her assertion, “My intention was not to leave him in there,” while she expressed reluctance to watch the videos found on her phone. When asked about her harsh words toward Torres, she downplayed their significance, claiming, “I thought it was the boy crying wolf.”
Stay tuned for updates on this unfolding story.