Update on Sarah Boone murder trial: Suspected suitcase murderer defies prison

Sarah Boone, the Florida woman accused of killing her boyfriend by trapping him in a suitcase, is reportedly causing drama inside and outside the courtroom.

Boone, 46, is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the 2020 death of her 42-year-old boyfriend, Jorge Torres Jr. She is accused of forcing Torres to climb into a suitcase at a Winter Park home, then zipping him inside and not letting him out.

When she opened the suitcase the next morning, he was dead.

More than four years after her arrest, Boone has yet to stand trial and has gone through eight lawyers, several of whom have resigned due to “irreconcilable differences.”

In June, Orange County Circuit Court Judge Michael S. Kraynick ruled that Boone had forfeited her right to counsel and must represent herself at her upcoming trial.

According to recently released inmate behavior records, Boone is also causing problems for prison staff.

Documents showed that Boone was informed that she had an attorney appointment on August 8. She asked for the attorney's name because no attorney had been assigned to her case.

“Inmate Boone stated that she did not feel comfortable visiting anyone she did not know because 'crazy people' had contacted her and arranged visits with her, claiming to be someone other than themselves,” the documents state.

Staff told Boone the name of the lawyer, but he left the office because she had not contacted him in time to confirm whether or not she wanted to meet with him. When she learned he had left, “she became angry.”

Boone said she had met the attorney before and he had traveled from Tallahassee to see her.

“It was explained to Inmate Boone that we were not responsible for his departure,” the document states.

On August 14, Boone was reprimanded for her bad conduct. While Boone was at a hearing that day, prison staff discovered that she had altered the seam of her prison uniform with staples.

Boone was granted the right to appear in court the same day without handcuffs.

Staff informed Boone that her altered clothing was considered contraband and that she had been given a new uniform.

According to the documents, she was told before her court date that she was not allowed to wear the altered uniform.

During a search on August 17, additional staples and paper clips were found on Boone's property.

“During the search, inmate Boone became belligerent and asked staff why her property was being searched. I explained to inmate Boone that she could be searched at any time, but the inmate did not respond,” the documents state.

When Boone began representing herself, she expressed concern that she might not be able to obtain some of her evidence.

The conduct notes detail what evidence was provided to Boone, but on August 16, she refused to use three USB drives and a hard drive because she needed a “mental break.”

Boone's trial is scheduled to begin on October 7.

Kraynick said the trial would not be postponed “for any reason other than exceptionally good cause, and such exceptionally good cause does not include the defendant's engagement of counsel.”

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