February 23, 2020: Sarah Boone and her boyfriend, Jorge Torres Jr., were drinking at their home in Winter Park, Florida. According to Boone’s account, the two were playing hide-and-seek, and Jorge hid inside a suitcase. Boone claims she zipped the suitcase closed but forgot about him and went to bed.

February 24, 2020 at: Boone called 911 in the morning, stating she had just found Torres dead inside the suitcase. When authorities arrived, they found Torres’ body still in the suitcase. Boone told them it was a tragic accident and that they had been playing a game the night before.

1:01 PM: Orange County PD – 911

• Orange County deputies responded to 4748 Frantz Lane #3, Winter Park, Florida, in reference to a female reporting that her boyfriend, Jorge Torres Jr., was deceased.
• The caller, later identified as Sarah Boone (DOB: 10/17/1971), reported playing a game of “hide-and-seek.” Sarah and Jorge jokingly thought it would be funnier if Jorge got in the suitcase located in the living room. Sarah zipped Jorge into the suitcase.
• Sarah mentioned that she and Jorge had been consuming alcohol during the night and she went upstairs and passed out in her bed. She later woke up to her cellphone ringing multiple times around 1100 hours.
• She went downstairs and did not see Jorge anywhere in the apartment; then she realized that he was possibly still inside the suitcase. Sarah unzipped the suitcase and found Jorge unresponsive and not breathing.

1:07 PM: Paramedics

• Orange County Fire Department confirmed that Jorge was in fact deceased.
• Jorge was found near the residence’s front door near a blue suitcase.
• A small laceration was evident on the decedent’s lip and what appeared to be some bruising around his eyes.
  

4:57 PM: Sara Boone Statement:

Detectives conducted an audio-recorded interview with Sarah Boone located at 4748 Frantz Lane #3, Winter Park, Florida. They read Sarah her constitutional Miranda warnings. Sarah agreed she understood.

• On February 23, 2020, at approximately 4:00 PM, Sarah was at her residence, 4748 Frantz Lane #3, Winter Park, Florida, with her boyfriend, Jorge Torres Jr. who also resides at the apartment.
• Sarah’s son, Lukas Boone, would sometimes be at her residence when it was her days per the custody agreement she has with her ex-husband.
• Sarah said her and Jorge were drinking pictures and completed a bottle of Woodbridge Chardonnay wine.
• As the evening went on, Sarah said her and Jorge decided to play a game called “hide-n-seek.” Sarah hid upstairs in her shower first and said Jorge never came to look for her. After a while she decided to go downstairs where she found Jorge. Sarah and Jorge both thought it would be funny if she zipped Jorge in the blue suitcase that was located downstairs in the living room area that had a few miscellaneous items they had both planned to donate. Jorge willingly got into the suitcase and Sarah zipped him in. She went back up to Jorge’s finger’s were able to stick out of the suitcase. Sarah and Jorge were both laughing at that the zipper and into the suitcase. Sarah said she attached the attached handle that made it easier to zip the suitcase was broken but a paper clip was in the zipper and she was able to zip the suitcase up.
• 12:30 AM, Sarah decided she was going to go upstairs while the suitcase was still located in the living room. Sarah said she assumed Jorge could get himself out of the suitcase but did not un-zip it. Sarah went upstairs to bed after Jorge got inside.
• 11:00 AM Sarah said she woke up the next morning around 11:00 AM and began looking for Jorge but he was nowhere to be found. Sarah immediately thought to unzip the suitcase, when she found Jorge unresponsive inside. She tried to wake him and he did not respond.
• Sarah called her ex-husband and told him Jorge was dead and begged him to come over. Brian Got to the apartment saw Jorge unresponsive and told Sara to call 911.
  
• Sarah said she got scared and called 911 immediately. When deputies arrived, Sarah was frantic and told them that she had tried everything to wake Jorge but nothing worked.
• At this point, Sarah said she assumed Jorge had just passed out from being intoxicated, but she realized she had no idea what happened during the night. She was adamant that she had no intent of harm, but the authorities were not convinced, as additional injuries on Jorge’s body raised further suspicions.

2:12 PM: Sara Boone gave verbal and written consent to download her Phone –

• Iphone XS IMEI: 357207096252218
• Digital Forensic Investigator responded to the scene and began to download the cellphone
• While downloading phone detectives found two videos: The videos showed Boone laughing as Torres plead for help inside the suitcase. She was laughing as he screamed in terror, pleading for help until his final breath, investigators said.

“For everything you’ve done to me, [expletive] you! Stupid,” Boone could be heard saying in the video, according to deputies. “That’s on you. Oh, that’s what I feel like when you cheat on me,” she reportedly added. The second video began recording on Feb. 24 at 8:20 p.m., in which detectives said Torres is heard yelling out Boone’s name.

On February 25, 2020 Jorge Torres, Jr – Autopsy noted that Jorge had injuries:

• Long Nail Scratches to his mid-upper back
• A large nail scratch to the back of his head, contusions to his left shoulder,
• left skull and forehead contusions considered blunt force trauma,
• a cut near his busted lip.
  

3:00 PM: Follow-Up Interview with Sarah Boone:

• Sarah drove herself to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office located at 2500 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando, Florida. Detective Scott Lowen and I conducted an audio and video-recorded interview with Sarah.
• Detectives read Sarah her constitutional Miranda warnings.
• After informing Sarah about the injuries to Jorge’s body, she continued to deny any physical altercation occurred between the two of them.
• Sarah was shown the approximate two minute video that she recorded on her cellphone. Not even half way through Sarah no longer wished to watch the video. Sarah said she did not remember making the two videos. Sarah said the video looked “bad.”
• Sarah denied intentionally leaving Jorge in the suitcase.
• Sarah was asked why she intentionally went upstairs and waited for Jorge to come upstairs and did not check on him or let him out prior to going upstairs. Sarah replied “I don’t know.”
• Sarah contradicted her original statement and began to blame the consumption of alcohol.
• Sarah was informed she was not free to leave and under arrest and transport Sarah Boone to BRC.

8:30 PM: Boone was arrested and charged with second-degree murder after authorities reviewed the evidence and video footage. 

• The evidence, particularly the video footage, has played a crucial role in the case and paints a picture of a more intentional act than initially described by Boone.
• Sarah Boone was charged with Second Degree Murder of Jorge Torres Jr.
• Sarah zipped Jorge in the suitcase to where he could not get out. Jorge begged Sarah repeatedly telling her he could not breathe and Sarah left him in the suitcase therefore purposely causing his death. Sarah Boone’s actions that were imminently dangerous and demonstrated a depraved mind without regard for Jorge’s life.
  

Evidence:

Autopsy Findings: The autopsy revealed that Jorge Torres died from asphyxiation. Investigators also found bruises on his body, suggesting a struggle.

Evidence Discovery: Police recovered Boone’s phone, which contained disturbing video footage. The videos show Torres pleading for help from inside the suitcase, saying he couldn’t breathe, while Boone laughs and taunts him, saying things like, “This is what it feels like when you cheat on me.”

2020 – Incident and Arrest

February 23-24, 2020 (Day of the Incident):

Sarah Boone and her boyfriend Jorge Torres Jr. were at their Winter Park, Florida, home, where Boone allegedly zipped Torres into a suitcase during what she claimed was a game of hide-and-seek. She told police she went to bed and woke up the next morning to find Torres dead inside the suitcase.

February 24, 2020: Boone called 911, claiming she had just discovered Torres’ body. When officers arrived, they found Torres’ body still in the suitcase, and Boone said his death was accidental. However, investigators soon discovered two videos on Boone’s phone. In the footage, Torres can be heard pleading to be let out of the suitcase, saying he couldn’t breathe, while Boone taunted him, saying, “This is what it feels like when you cheat on me.” 

February 25, 2020 (Day after the Incident): Boone was arrested on charges of second-degree murder after the evidence from her phone showed clear signs of intent rather than an accidental death.

2020 – Pretrial Proceedings and Initial Delays

Mid-2020: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, courts in Florida experienced delays, which affected Boone’s case. Procedural hearings were postponed as court operations slowed down.

Mid to Late 2020: Boone’s defense team initiated several motions in preparation for trial, including seeking more time to review the case’s evidence and requesting mental health evaluations for Boone. These actions contributed to further delays.

2021 – Continued Legal Proceedings and Delays

2021: Sarah Boone’s trial did not commence in 2021 as originally expected. Her legal team changed during this period, with new attorneys coming on board who needed time to familiarize themselves with the case. Several hearings were rescheduled as both sides filed additional motions.

The defense team argued for suppressing certain pieces of evidence, particularly the video footage found on Boone’s phone, arguing it was prejudicial.

December 2021, Boone sent a written letter to the judge citing several concerns, specifically regarding an alleged lack of communication from the judge overseeing her case or her defense attorney

2022 – Continued Delays and Legal Motions

Throughout 2022: The case continued to face delays, with Boone’s defense filing additional motions to postpone the trial and contest some of the evidence that the prosecution planned to use. Boone’s legal team also worked to build a defense around her state of mind, including possible intoxication during the incident.

The defense argued that Boone’s actions could have been influenced by intoxication or impaired judgment, attempting to show diminished capacity during the incident.

2023 – Trial Postponements and Legal Maneuvering

Early 2023: Sarah Boone’s trial was initially expected to occur early in 2023, but it faced more delays due to procedural issues and continued legal motions filed by her defense team. These motions included requests for additional time to prepare expert witnesses to testify about Boone’s mental health and the impact of alcohol on her actions.

August 2023: The trial faced another postponement as Boone’s defense cited new issues with gathering expert testimony and additional evidence. The defense again requested more time to prepare its case and respond to prosecution filings.

October 2023 (Most Recent Delay): Boone’s trial was scheduled to begin in October 2023, but it was delayed once again. This delay was reportedly due to outstanding legal matters that still needed resolution, including potential witness issues and the ongoing review of evidence.

Upcoming 2024 – Anticipated Trial

Trial Pending: As of October 2023, Sarah Boone’s trial had not yet begun. It is expected that her trial may be scheduled for 2024, but the exact date remains uncertain as both sides continue to file motions and prepare their cases. Key Evidence and Focus of the Trial

Video Evidence: One of the most critical pieces of evidence is the video footage found on Sarah Boone’s phone, which clearly shows Jorge Torres pleading for his life while trapped inside the suitcase and Boone taunting him. 

Defense Strategy: The defense is expected to focus heavily on Boone’s state of mind during the incident. They will likely argue that she was intoxicated or otherwise impaired, suggesting that she did not intend to cause Torres’ death.

Prosecution Strategy: The prosecution will focus on the evidence of intent, particularly the video recordings. They will argue that Boone knew what she was doing and deliberately ignored Torres’ pleas for help, which resulted in his death.

Summary of Delays

COVID-19 Pandemic: Early delays were caused by the pandemic, which affected court schedules.

Defense Motions: Much of the delay after 2020 was due to the defense filing motions to suppress evidence, request additional evaluations, and prepare expert witnesses.

Legal Representation Changes: Boone’s changing legal team also contributed to delays, as new attorneys needed time to familiarize themselves with the case. As of the latest information from 2023, Sarah Boone remains in jail awaiting trial.

Sarah Boone’s Trial begins on October 14, 2024

2020 – Boone’s first attorney was court-appointed. She replaced them with Mauricio Padilla in March of 2020.

March of 2020 – Mauricio Padilla

• Padilla quit in 2022 due to “irreconcilable differences” and an “adversarial” relationship.

December 2022 – Frank J. Bankowitz, the sixth lawyer, filed a motion to resign in December of 2022 due to “irreconcilable differences.”

• At a hearing on the motion, he said Boone attempted to call him five to 10 times per day and he struggled to balance her demands with those of his other clients. The motion was denied, but Bankowitz filed another motion in August of that year.
• The Defendant will not be satisfied with any attorney unless said attorney does not have a case load and can dedicate his or her time solely to Ms. Boone’s case,” Bankowitz wrote in the motion.
• At a September 2022 hearing, Bankowitz said Boone called him a “dud” and a “buffoon.” His motion to resign was granted and he was replaced by Winston Hobson.

September 2023 – Winston Hobson

• Hobson resigned in February 2024. He also cited “irreconcilable differences,” including disagreements on legal strategy. He claimed Boone was unreasonable and difficult to work with.

February 2024 Patricia A. Cashman, who “is widely-known to be able and willing to deal with and manage difficult clients,” according to the court order.

• Boone attacked Cashman in recent letters sent to the court.
• She accused Cashman of not telling her the truth, not answering questions and putting words in her mouth.
• “I want to make it known I walked out on my attorney in our last meeting due to her unwarranted, uninformative, unprofessional, snotty attitude,” Boone wrote.
• Cashman filed to withdraw due to “irreconcilable differences” on June 11, 2024.