Sarah Boone Mnrial Boone, sentenced to life imprisonment for killing her boyfriend, has written a 28-page letter to Justice Michael Kraynick inviting him to change the verdict and reverse the decision that she is a murderer but a survivor.
In the letter written by Boone to the Washington Dailies on December 6, 2024, she accused the court of prejudice and bias in her trial and gave details of her alleged abuse by Torres.
She apologized for his demise, saying it had been an accident, said she was going to contest the verdict, and requested forgiveness from those who had been close to Torres.
Background of the Incident
It was just a week before the death of Jorge Torres Jr. that Torries ‘relationship with Sarah Boone had been characterized by mutual battery arrests.
On 24 February of 2020, after drinking, they played hide and seek and Boone put Torres into a suitcase.
Although she said that was in jest, surveillance videos showed Torres begging for help as he choked, which led to Boone being charged with second-degree murder.
The Night of the Incident
On the night of February 24, 2020, Sarah Boone and Jorge Torres Jr decided to drink and decided to play hide and seek.
Boone concurring made the suggestion that Torres, whose weight was 103 pounds should get in a suitcase and zip it.
During the time he was taking videos of her and pleading with her to free him, she would just laugh at him, saying he actually could free himself.
After going up the stairs to sleep, she was found the next morning unduly lifeless, having choked to death, of course.
The Role of Alcohol
Jorge Torres Jr., had consumed a lot of alcohol , he and Sarah Boone had two bottles of wine in their system.
In a later interview, Boone said that she thought she was sleepy and her speech had slowed but did not think that her balance was impaired.
She said that the hide-and-seek game she played with Torres was not dangerous but playful, and further defended herself arguing that she did not intend to harm Torres, but acted as she did because he had threatened her several times.
Discovery of Torres’ Body
The next morning, apparently the day after they committed the terrible act, Sarah Boone opened the suitcase and found that Jorge Torres Jr. was dead inside.
She directly dialled 911 to inform them that the couple was only playing hide and seek with their child. When deputies came, they found Torres by the front door next to the suitcase.
Boone at first stated that she thought that he was not trapped and couldn’t get out, although the video shows that Torres was pleading for Boone and other people to help get him out and Boone just laughed at him.
Investigation and Evidence Collection
Jorge Torres Jr.’s murder trial was initiated by Sarah Boone who called 911 to report that he is dead in a suitcase.
Torres was found by the front door when deputies arrived Heather Boone first said she thought he was not trapped.
These included video clips recorded by Boone from his phone in which Torres cried for assistance while she yawed and jeered at him.
These videos were essential to determine the procedure of suffocation of Torres and other aspects of the behavior of Boone that described a revolting relationship with the spouse.
Trial Proceedings
The trial of Sarah Boone, for the murder of Jorge Torres Jr., was started on October 18, 2024, opening statements.
The prosecution argued that Boone zippered Torres into a suitcase which he left in a car while the man pleaded with him to come take him out of it, saying this was part of a drunken game and that surveillance video showed her taunting Boone about it.
In her defense, Boone said that she killed him in self-defense, allegedly due to years of abuse by Torres and did not aim to endanger him.
It took the jury 10 days to focus on the arguments, and then, the jury needed only 1.5 hours to unanimously convict Boone of second-degree murder on October 25, 2024.
Prosecution’s Case
The prosecution’s case against Sarah Boone focused on two videos from her phone showing Jorge Torres Jr. begging for help while confined in a suitcase.
In these recordings, Boone laughed and mocked him, claiming he was receiving his due, which underscored her malicious intent.
This evidence contradicted her assertions of fear from prior abuse and, combined with her inconsistent statements during police questioning, greatly affected the jury’s view of her actions.
Defense Strategy
Sarah Boone’s defense argued she acted in self-defense from years of alleged abuse by Jorge Torres Jr.
However, video evidence contradicted this, showing her laughing and taunting Torres while he begged for help from the suitcase.
Furthermore, witness accounts revealed inconsistencies, as Boone did not mention self-defense in her initial police statements.
The prosecution contended that her actions demonstrated a lack of concern for Torres’s life, weakening her claims of acting out of fear.
Verdict and Sentencing
The jury in Sarah Boone’s trial deliberated for 90 minutes before convicting her of second-degree murder on October 25, 2024.
The verdict was revealed just before 9 p. m. , determining that Boone acted with malice in Jorge Torres Jr.’s death.
She received a life sentence on December 2, 2024, after declining a plea deal that would have led to a 15-year manslaughter sentence. The judge emphasized the gravity of the crime and the tragic nature of Torres’s death.
Public Reaction and Media Coverage
Public sentiment towards Sarah Boone’s case has been mostly negative, with many viewing her actions as brutal and deliberate.
Media coverage significantly influenced these views, focusing on the shocking details of the incidentBoone zipping her boyfriend, Jorge Torres Jr. , into a suitcase and abandoning him to suffocate.
Reports brought attention to unsettling video evidence of Boone laughing and taunting Torres, which intensified public anger.
Although her defense referenced claims of abuse for sympathy, many were unconvinced, interpreting her behavior as a sign of no remorse, ultimately reinforcing the view that she warranted her life sentence.
Psychological Aspects of the Case
Psychological evaluations of Sarah Boone identified concerns such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Battered Woman Syndrome, with Dr. Julie Harper stating that her actions indicated trauma from previous abuse by Jorge Torres Jr.
However, this defense was undermined by video evidence of Boone ridiculing Torres as he asked for assistance, casting doubt on her remorse and the validity of her assertions.
This disparity highlights the complexities of mental health in domestic violence cases and its impact on perceptions of responsibility.
Psychological assessments of Sarah Boone identified concerns such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Battered Woman Syndrome, with Dr. Julie Harper confirming her trauma from previous abuse by Jorge Torres Jr.
