Crime scene tape at living roomEveryone has that one friend who doesn’t understand when the game has gone too far, you know? He’s always down for one more round of Kings or Screw the Dealer; always looking to do another power hour. And that guy is annoying, which is why eventually everyone eventually leaves the table in disgust.

But at least he’s not trying to get you killed.

A Florida woman is facing second-degree murder charges after locking her boyfriend in a suitcase for hours until he died. This peculiar incident unfolded towards the end of February in Winter Park. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to a ‘man down’ in the afternoon one day late in February. When deputies arrived at the apartment in question, they found the body of 42-year-old Jorge Torres, Jr.

In a statement from the Sheriff’s Office, it says that Torres died of suffocation after being zipped in a suitcase for hours. One day after the discovery of Torres’ body, his girlfriend was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. She has been identified as 42-year-old Sarah Boone.

It was all a wild game of hide-and-seek

You absolutely read that headline correctly.

Boone claimed she and her beau were playing a drunken game of hide-and-seek that led to Torres’ death. According to Boone, she said that she and Torres thought it would be funny if he got into the suitcase during the game.

After she zipped Torres into the suitcase, Boone went upstairs and collapsed onto her bed. She did not go back downstairs until the next morning and couldn’t find Torres. That’s when she realized that Torres was still in the suitcase.

Where the story unravels

The story Boone told deputies quickly began to unravel when first responders found Torres with a bruised eye and a cut on his lip. Boone gave deputies permission to search her phone, which is when the story becomes quite troublesome.

A video on Boone’s phone focused on the suitcase shows Torres screaming Boone’s name from inside. In the video, Boone responds, “For everything you’ve done to me, F— you,” while laughing.

TRIGGER WARNING: the following dialogue is real, and it’s hard to read. I recommend that you skip this portion if you believe that you could be affected.

The exchange on the video continues.

‘I can’t f—ing breathe, seriously,” Torres screams.

Boone replied, ‘Yeah, that’s what you do when you choke me.”

Torres continues to tell Boone he cannot breathe.

“That’s on you. Oh, that’s what I feel like when you cheat on me,” Boone responds. “You should probably shut the f— up.”

There were two videos on Boone’s phone. The first showed Torres struggling to get out of the suitcase. The second showed the exchange between Torres and Boone as he begged to be let out of the suitcase.

Boone was transported by deputies to the Booking and Release Center. As of her arrest, it was unknown if she had entered a plea. An autopsy is going to be completed to determine the exact cause of death for Torres.

Charged with murder in Maryland? You should never have to fight to defend your rights alone. Murder charges are serious and challenging to beat representing yourself. You will want an experienced Annapolis criminal defense lawyer by your side. With a second office in Ellicott City, Drew Cochran, Attorney at Law is here to represent you. Call our office at 410-271-1892 or complete a contact form to schedule a consultation today.

And remember – Keep Calm, and Call Drew.