Original subtitles

I came downstairs, and I was like, oh, he's in the suitcase still.

This is Sarah Boone with a cold-blooded move to get rid of someone she hates.

But her twisted plan went horribly wrong when detectives uncovered shocking video footage,

completely exposing her dirty lies.

Sarah.

**** you.

Sarah.

Stupid.

A frantic 911 call was made on February 24, 2020 to the Orange County Sheriff's Department in Florida.

It was almost 1 p.m., coming from an apartment shared by a woman and her boyfriend.

911, what is the location of your emergency?

4748 France Court, Apartment 3.

What's the street name?

France, F-R-A-N-T-D.

The caller sounded terrified as she spoke with the 911 operator,

but at the same time, she was pretty straight up about why she was calling.

Is this the police or medical?

My boyfriend is dead.

She claimed that she and her boyfriend had been fooling around,

playing what she described as a game of hide and seek.

He got into the suitcase, and I fell asleep.

When I woke up, I didn't know what happened.

But it kind of sounds like she definitely knew, though.

4748 France, correct?

Correct.

All right, tell me exactly what happened there.

My boyfriend and I were playing last night, and I pet him in his case when we were playing,

like kind of hide and seek kind of thing.

So I fell asleep, and I woke up, and he was dead in the suitcase.

So I don't know what happened.

Over the next few minutes, the 911 operator instructed her to try CPR.

However, she appeared to have already removed him from the suitcase,

and the scene didn't look good.

Place the heel of your hand on his breastbone, right inside of the chest,

right between the nipples.

Yes.

Put your other hand on top of that hand.

Betty, I'm telling you, just by looking at him, you can tell.

Okay.

Please!

Okay, he just gurgled.

Okay, no, no, just keep on pumping.

That's all you need to do for me.

Keep on pumping his chest for me.

I don't need you to stop and talk or anything.

Accidents happen, like someone getting trapped in a hiding spot during a game.

But there's something disturbingly sinister about this one.

Who brought the suitcase?

And why on earth would she zip it up after he got in?

Originally from Orlando, 42-year-old Sarah Boone had a troubled history that few people knew about.

She had endured a tumultuous marriage that ended in 2017 when her husband

filed for divorce, leaving them with shared custody of their son.

Sarah wasn't a stranger to trouble with the law.

In August 2015, she was caught dangerously speeding.

Also on another occasion, she was arrested for driving with a suspended license.

After her divorce, she moved in with her new boyfriend, George Torres,

and they lived together in Winter Park, a small city in Florida,

known for its peaceful and low-crime reputation.

Sarah and George had been together for three years,

but what had once been a love story had evolved into something darker and more disturbing.

A normal day in a safe neighborhood quickly escalated into an unexpected tragedy

that would not only devastate those involved, but also shock the whole country.

After the 911 call, police and EMTs rushed to the scene,

but by the time they arrived, it was too late.

There was nothing they could do to save George.

Okay, still, that's when I found him and I took him out and I tried doing CPR

and then I called him and then I called you guys.

Okay, so you were playing and who dipped him up in you?

I did, but then I fell asleep.

Okay, okay, you're okay, I wasn't here, I'm just trying to figure out what happened.

But I fell asleep, so I don't know if he suffocated or

like had an aneurysm or a heart attack or what.

What kind of medical conditions did you have?

None that I know of.

None that you know of.

None that I know of.

No, no.

All we had was a bottle of wine.

Literally, just a bottle of wine.

Okay.

Doing puzzles, artwork, then we decided to play hide and seek.

That's all that happened.

Okay, okay.

Sarah and her boyfriend George were at home.

Her young son wasn't with them that night, giving the couple some quiet time together.

They relaxed on the couch, worked on puzzles and later uncorked a bottle of wine.

Just an ordinary night, or so it seemed.

But things took a wrong turn when Sarah suggested playing hide and seek.

She went upstairs and hide in the shower, but George didn't bother looking for her.

Eventually, Sarah came downstairs with a mischievous grin and jokingly said,

you know what?

I thought it would be hilarious if you got into a suitcase.

To her surprise, George agreed.

He climbed into the suitcase willingly and Sarah zipped it up without hesitation.

A couple of minutes later, she doubled down on her drink and began making fun of George.

Despite his desperate pleas, she eventually went to bed leaving him locked inside the suitcase.

About an hour later, she got up around 1230 am.

When she made her way downstairs, what happened was far from the expected.

George wasn't just in the suitcase, he was completely unconscious.

When Sarah finally went to bed that night, she claimed it took her around 20 to 30 minutes

to fall asleep.

But here's the thing, she said she knew exactly where George was.

The next morning, another person showed up, her ex-husband Brian.

Got over here, told her she needed to call 9-1-1, get somebody over here.

And then basically she said she needed to go outside, have a drink and a cigarette.

I walked back out the house because I didn't...

Who called?

Did you call or did she call?

Well, I called.

She called me back when I was on my way to make sure I was coming over.

Her constant requests for water became strangely repetitive,

almost as if she were desperately trying to distract them from the questions.

Brian didn't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary.

He explained that he had their son with him and Sarah was supposed to pick him up.

He also noted that Sarah and George's past were marked by constant turmoil and conflict.

So, I haven't been here personally.

He's currently on parole because of it, so...

Because of domestic violence with her?

Yes.

Okay, okay.

Yes, from last time.

He got, what do they call him, pretrial something or other.

He had to go to a domestic violence class.

I know he was doing it, a parole officer, stuff like that.

But I mean, every time she had an arrest, the next day she was trying to get a bail

back, so I don't know what it is.

It wasn't just Brian who had things to say about their past.

The neighbors had noticed plenty too.

They described Sarah as someone with a complicated relationship with alcohol.

In fact, it was rare to see her sober.

At times, she was found passed out on neighbors' porches or wandering the streets at all hours

of the night.

On the night of the incident, neighbors reported hearing loud banging coming from their apartment.

Disturbing sounds that made it seem like something was going terribly wrong behind those walls.

The

noise seemed to come from the direction of the staircase.

And it likely sounded as if something heavy had been pushed down the stairs.

But in this case, the weight wasn't just physical.

It was the crushing burden of lies Sarah had been spinning from the very beginning.

But then I fell asleep.

I fell asleep.

Where was the suitcase?

Right where it is.

Right down there?

Yes.

You zipped him in there.

Yes.

Thought it would be funny.

A little joke.

It was.

We both were laughing about it.

And then I fell asleep.

Where did you fall asleep at?

Upstairs.

In your bedroom?

Yes.

Okay.

Totally forgetting that he was in the suitcase still.

Okay.

You came back downstairs?

This morning.

Or this afternoon, yes, when I got up.

Around five parts what time?

12, 30-ish.

I was awake.

But I totally forgot that he was in the suitcase.

He can tell you there's a lot of things that I slash we have been going through.

Jobs.

Yeah, he did tell me.

Five.

All that good stuff.

So I just totally forgot.

So you began to do CPR on him?

Yes.

Yes.

About what time this morning did you start doing that CPR?

No, it was the afternoon.

It was afternoon because I was awake.

But then I finally decided to come downstairs at like 12, 30-ish.

Whatever it is.

And I was like, I forgot he was in the suitcase.

The troubled relationship didn't erupt overnight.

Back on July 25th, 2018, police were called to their apartment after a violent altercation.

Sarah claimed that George had brutally beaten and strangled her.

You get on your fucking little bike and go to fucking work tomorrow.

Don't look at me.

Don't come close to me.

Don't touch me.

Do you understand?

What do you mean?

As of this moment and until I can get you out.

Get the fuck out of here.

Get the fuck out of here.

Yeah, look, look at it.

Get away from me.

Get away from me.

Get away from me.

I'm going to scream bloody murder.

I'm going to scream bloody murder.

She explained that earlier in the evening, she had been at a bar and asked a random guy

for a cigarette.

According to Sarah, this enraged George and he stormed out of the bar.

When she returned home, an explosive argument ensued.

She alleged that George dragged her upstairs and kicked her in the eye.

When police questioned George, he presented a very different account of the incident,

casting doubt on Sarah's accusations.

By this point, the relationship had become undeniably toxic.

Anyone observing their endless cycle of violence could see the warning signs.

Yet, despite the bruises, accusations, and frequent police interventions,

Sarah and George stayed together, trapped in a destructive and dangerous pattern.

I promise you.

Go for a walk.

By myself?

Yes.

No.

Go for a walk.

I'm just going to chill out.

Don't ever be a woman.

How can I be a woman?

Don't ever.

I can't.

On that fateful night, George made a grave mistake.

He willingly climbed into a suitcase,

unaware of the lingering resentment Sarah harbored against him.

Tragically, he never managed to get out.

His final moments were filled with gasping for air,

panicking, and unable to escape is almost too horrifying to comprehend.

For everything you've done to me.

Sarah.

For everything you've done to me.

Sarah.

F*** you.

Sarah.

F*** you.

Sarah.

Stupid.

Sarah.

That's my name.

Don't wear it off.

Sarah.

I can't f***ing breathe, babe.

Where is he?

Yeah, that's when you do when you choke me.

Sarah.

Sarah, I can't breathe, babe.

That's on you.

Sarah, I can't breathe.

It's on you.

Sarah.

Sarah, I can't.

I can't breathe, babe.

Oh.

That's what I feel like when you drink on me.

Sarah.

F*** you.

I can't breathe, Sarah.

You should probably shut the f*** up.

Sarah.

Sarah.

It's the kind of haunting nightmare no one should ever endure.

The following day, February 25th, George's body underwent an autopsy

with a series of disturbing injuries.

The cause of death was confirmed as asphyxiation.

Long, jagged scratches discovered across his back.

Bruises covered his left shoulder and the left side of his face,

suggesting that he might have been beaten or fallen down the stairs

that aligned with what a neighbor heard on the night of the incident.

When investigators delved deeper into the tragic events,

they uncovered a crucial piece of evidence that she forgot.

The evidence was damning, yet Sarah's story remained unchanged.

Even after the autopsy results, she stuck to her claim

that the tragedy was nothing more than an accident

and her actions had been entirely unintentional.

So this is upside down.

So in order for him to have gotten into it, it was flipped up.

Right.

It was flipped up normal, like as if you're packing something.

So this is upside down.

The second video was taken just 11 minutes after the suitcase had been moved,

raising the horrific possibility that George had been trapped inside

for far longer than anyone had realized.

Guys, this is killing me right now.

So this image is upside down.

And then this small video that occurred 11 minutes later,

it's flipped over the other way, closer to your dining room table.

Okay.

Now he's obviously still in there.

So he didn't, how did that, how did it go from the back to the front?

I flipped it.

Okay.

But not intentionally.

As investigators pressed her further, she became increasingly defensive,

clinging desperately to a story that was starting to unravel.

I didn't mean to leave him there.

That's what I'm trying to tell you.

He's begging for his life telling you he can't breathe.

I don't know what you want me to tell you.

Like I don't.

I didn't intentionally mean for this to happen, but you can't tell us why.

You left him in a bag when he's begging you saying,

I can't breathe.

Let me out.

And you said, f*** you.

And you got up off the couch and went upstairs and left him in that bag.

Not intentionally.

I would never do that to George.

You did.

Not intentionally.

Know that.

I don't.

Know that.

You got up and you went up to bed.

As the conversation deepened, more contradictions emerged,

particularly regarding her alcohol consumption.

I don't want to drink.

I don't want to drink.

The occasional wine, whatever, or if it's a weekend, that's when you have a good time.

I mean, you told me on the, yeah, but you told me on recording like that you were not drunk.

He was not drunk.

You guys were having a good time.

I don't get, I can't get drunk.

Number one.

Her constant requests for water when the police arrived

hinted that she might heavily drunk on the night of the incident.

Sarah's carefree and almost detached emotion

suggested a much deeper intoxication than she had previously admitted.

But what drove her to commit such an unspeakable act?

And how much longer would she be able to keep up the lie?

When I tell you this, I have no idea.

I have no idea.

Is there anybody else at the house?

Although it wasn't captured on video, it seemed likely that at some point,

Sarah had dragged the suitcase to the stairs and flop it down.

George wasn't screaming or shouting in panic.

He probably knew just how volatile she was and was doing everything in his power

to keep the situation from escalating further.

In her later confession, Sarah admitted that when George managed to get his hand

out of the suitcase, she grabbed a baseball bat and struck him hard,

forcing him to pull his hand back inside.

It's clear that their twisted relationship had tragically led

to the horrific incident that no one could have imagined.

After a lengthy interrogation, Sarah Boone was charged with second-degree murder.

Everything that you've told us today is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge.

Yes, but it was not intentional.

Okay.

Okay.

All right, do me a favor, stand up.

I need you to turn around and face the law.

Put your hands behind your back.

Do you have anything in your pockets that I should know about?

No.

Why is this happening?

Because George is dead.

Not intentionally.

Her strange behavior and entitled attitude

quickly wore out her welcome with her legal representation.

In fact, eight different attorneys withdrew due to her erratic actions and difficult personality.

Sarah Boone took the stand in her own defense today in the suitcase murder trial.

And Fox 35's Marie Edinger is live at the courthouse tonight in Orlando.

So Marie, you talked to an attorney who says that

she was surprised by Boone's lack of emotion here.

That attorney has been following this case for years and she says

watching for the past couple of days brought this saying that attorneys have.

Had it come to mind today, it's bad laws or excuse me, bad facts make her bad laws.

She says she's had that on her mind the past couple of days,

along with something about Sarah Boone's body language that she thinks could be

impacting the trial these next few days too.

It wasn't long before she found herself without legal counsel until her ninth attorney taking

the case after a judge ruled that Sarah had forfeited her right to an attorney.

Just days before her trial, Sarah rejected a plea offer from prosecutors that would

have sent her to prison for 15 years if she pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

The 10-day trial that followed would prove to be a spectacle.

Sarah bizarrely testified that she thought

George could have gotten out of the suitcase on his own.

Yes.

This one was our new pre-image.

Yes.

From what I can remember.

That's how he was coming with his hand out.

It was like this from the corner part.

Okay.

Thank you.

Her defense argued that Sarah had suffered from Batted Spouse Syndrome,

attempting to paint her as a woman trapped in an abusive relationship.

He claimed that Sarah feared for her life and was simply acting out of self-preservation.

Multiple delays pushed the trial forward, but the inevitable conclusion came on December 2nd, 2024.

47-year-old Sarah Boone sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Thank you for watching.

Smash that subscribe and see you on the next one.

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