In a recent case that has captivated the public, Sarah Boone was found guilty of second-degree murder for the death of her boyfriend, Jorge Torres, who was discovered zipped inside a suitcase in their Winter Park home in February 2020. The jury reached their decision on Friday evening, concluding deliberations in about 90 minutes, after Boone maintained her not guilty plea throughout the trial.

Initially, Boone told detectives from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office that she and Torres had been engaging in a game of hide-and-seek the night of February 23, when they thought it would be amusing for him to climb into the suitcase. After a night of drinking, Boone claimed that she fell asleep, believing Torres would be able to free himself.

When she woke up the next day and couldn’t locate him, she recalled that he was still in the suitcase. Upon unzipping it, she found him unresponsive, according to the arrest report.

Evidence brought to light during the investigation included disturbing videos from Boone’s phone, which revealed Torres pleading for help while trapped inside the suitcase, stating he couldn’t breathe and repeatedly calling Boone’s name.

During her testimony in court, Boone contended that previous violent encounters with Torres led her to feel threatened, justifying her actions by claiming she was acting in self-defense by keeping him in the suitcase. In the videos, she was quoted saying, “Yeah that’s what you do when you choke me,” while referring to the dynamic of their relationship.

The autopsy report highlighted that Torres had suffered multiple injuries, including scratches on his back and neck, contusions to his shoulder, skull, and forehead from blunt force trauma, as well as a cut from a busted lip.

Boone’s trial spanned ten days, marked by several attorney changes since her arrest, which contributed to delays in the proceedings. Sentencing for Boone is set to take place on December 2.