Accused Boyfriend Killer Sarah Boone’s Letters from Jail: ‘Mistreatment’

Sarah Boone, accused of murdering her boyfriend by trapping him in a suitcase, has sent over a dozen handwritten letters to the court and her attorneys during her time in a Florida jail, often expressing dissatisfaction with the way her case is being handled.

The 46-year-old is charged with second-degree murder in the February 2020 death of 42-year-old Jorge Torres Jr. The two had been dating for several years before Torres was found dead at a home in Winter Park.

Legal proceedings for Boone have been tumultuous so far. The judge handling her case ruled on June 28 that Boone must represent herself after going through eight lawyers. Several lawyers cited “irreconcilable differences” as their reason for resigning and alleged that Boone is difficult to work with.

Boone is in custody at Orange County Jail. Her trial is scheduled to begin on October 7.

The Letters Begin

The first letter Boone sent to Judge Wayne C. Wooten was dated April 20, 2022, more than two years after her arrest. In the letter, Boone talked about how she was “blindsided” by her second lawyer, Mauricio Padilla, requesting to withdraw from the case.

“Forgive me if this is the wrong approach in contacting you directly, but I wanted you to be fully aware of the magnitude of my shock and disappointment in the betrayal of Mr. Padilla as I have not in any way, by anyone been provided any explanation for the aforementioned withdrawal,” Boone wrote.

Boone replaced her first court-appointed attorney with Padilla, after he served as her lawyer for more than two years. She claimed she did not know Padilla was withdrawing until her ex-husband told her over the phone.

She also emphasized her desire to move the case along.

“I just want to move forward, especially for the length of time already being incarcerated, and remedy this entire predicament however that may be, in the best possible manner, having my best interest and security above all else,” Boone said.

Frustrations Mount

On October 3, 2022, Boone sent a letter to her sixth lawyer, Frank J. Bankowitz. In the message, she indicated that she called Bankowitz daily and sent him letters, but he had not responded. She claimed she only spoke with him three times since he was appointed as her lawyer, on July 11, 2022

“I understand you have other clients, as I am one also, and you’ve been recouperating [sic] from your back, but remember please how long I’ve been here, you are my 6th attorney (not by choice) and the magnitude of my case with not knowing what’s going on or where you are, how much harder it is for me,” Boone wrote.

She added that she prays “the 6th time’s a charm.”

It was not. Her issues with Bankowitz continued, as evidenced by her November 3, 2022, letter. She once again referenced “not having any form of communication” with her attorney and complained that she had not been allowed to attend certain proceedings.

“The problem is that my constitutional rights are incorrectly being ‘waved’ [sic] without my knowledge or permission,” Boone wrote. “I’ve never signed anything or verbalized the idea I wish to ‘wave’ [sic] my appearances to any of my court dates. I want to be present for all dates going forward please, regardless the significance.”

She also claimed her case is being made into a “circus” due to the amount of media attention and publicity it is receiving and she is ready to get this “show” on the road.

A month later, Boone accused Wooten and Bankowitz of ignoring her case because everyone is in “holiday mode.” She also discussed her intentions to notify the governor of the “mismanagement” of her case.

“I am hopeful the governor will be able to untangle the chaos and mistreatment,” Boone said. “No one else seems to be available or willing to abide by the protocol of our ‘justice’ system and rightfully, eagerly apply themselves.”

She said she previously suggested a change of venue, but she had now changed her mind.

“Everyone ‘knows’ more than I do about my case,” Boone wrote. “As a result, it is impossible to choose a jury that will be impartial, fair and uninfluenced by the mutated, exaggerated hyped sensationalism. This being a significant reason I requested a change of venue previously. At this point it will make no difference. There’s nowhere I am not known.”

Boone wrote a letter to Bankowitz on January 10, 2023, nearly a month after he submitted a motion to withdraw from the case. She said she was “massively” confused by the decision.

“If you had genuine, legitimate concerns, I thought from a professional, moralistic standpoint you would have discussed with me, or at least mentioned rather than being uncommunicative for almost 6 months, an entire half of another year for me just sitting here with nothing to show but the perpetual question mark still over my head,” Boone said.

She also alleged that Bankowitz was reprimanded for lack of communication in 2015 and 2018, but clarified that she was made aware of the complaints and did not actively seek them out.

She concluded that the lack of communication and knowledge about the proceedings has made her feel “insignificant.”

In another letter sent to Bankowitz, dated March 22, 2023, she claimed that he has given her two phone numbers that do not work. She alleged that one goes directly to voicemail without ringing, while the other rings multiple times before automatically disconnecting.

Boone also expressed anger that she is still not being permitted to attend pre-trial hearings, while “CourtTV, different news channels and even ‘professional’ YouTubers” are allowed to attend.

Her May 15, 2023 letter called on Wooten to intervene in the case to ensure “proper advancement, regular communication between the attorney and client, ethical treatment of client is being upheld,” among other concerns.

She claimed that in the 10 months Bankowitz served as her attorney, he did not answer any calls, voicemails or emails. In that time period, she was allowed to attend two court dates and met with her lawyer six times.

She argued that a gag order should have been implemented in her case due to sensitive details about her case being leaked to the press.

“My case has turned into an unnecessary ‘witch hunt’ from the innumerable violations of my case details being leaked and rackateered [sic] illegally in exchange for website hits, viewer ratings, etc., in exchange for $$$,” Boone wrote.

Boone said the characterization of her in the media is not accurate.

“I would rather be called a narcissist, pain in the a**, arrogant, strange or whatever else anyone wants to waste their time to think of — just don’t call me a murderer, which I am not,” Boone said.

In a letter dated June 29, 2023 and revised a month later, Boone stressed that she did not go through six lawyers by choice. She said one attorney had represented a descendant of hers, so they were unable to represent her due to a conflict of interest, and another moved to Orlando for a teaching job.

“Like Lois looking to the skies for Superman, I’m hoping/praying for an attorney to step up and truly represent me with honesty, intensity, understanding, respect and perspective,” Boone said.

Boone claimed she was made aware of Bankowitz’s second attempt to withdraw by a reporter, according to an August 26, 2023 letter. She said she was not surprised by the decision, but it is a “blessing.”

“Let’s be honest, Frank J. Bankowitz is a dud of an attorney,” Boone wrote. “He is unprofessional, hides, lies and is disrespectful.”

While Bankowitz cited “irreconcilable differences” as his reason for withdrawal, Boone said the only difference was that she wanted “progress, productivity, honesty, respect and results.”

Boone’s lengthiest letter, at 58 pages, was dated June 7, 2024. In the correspondence, she continued to ask questions and share concerns about the proceedings and her attorney.

“I am not the problem except that I want to and should be treated fairly, with respect, acting more professional than the paid, ‘I’ve been doing this for over 40 years professional,'” Boone said.

Judge Michael S. Kraynick took over for Wooten as the judge presiding over the case. Boone expressed enthusiasm regarding the appointment in a January 19, 2024 letter. She placed a large amount of blame in how her case was handled on Wooten.

“I felt he was the ticket holder to my overly hyped, illicitly distributed, misconstrued ‘criminal’ case, and great reason I am still here, again, ongoing 4 years and 7 attorneys later,” Boone wrote.

Eighth Attorney Resigns

Boone’s eighth attorney, Patricia A. Cashman, filed a motion to withdraw on June 11. Boone said she found out about the motion from an officer with the Orange County Corrections Department.

“To confirm my exclusion in my case, especially by attorney Cashman, and stated in all of my letters previously written, I was not included and am finding out weeks later,” Boone said.

After Cashman’s withdrawal, Kraynick ruled that Boone had forfeited her right to legal counsel. After the decision, Boone claimed she still has not received discovery materials.

“In your nonchalant, relaxed, unconcerned attitude of me to receive, you are robbing me of precious, life-saving time to fully and properly defend myself, on top of my already and still being violated constitutional rights and being forced to represent myself based on false information,” Boone wrote.

At the end of the letter, Boone included what appears to be a handmade flier for a new attorney. Among her list of qualifications for the job are “being trustworthy, honest, passion driven, open-minded” and “maintaining faith in the client and case with the ability to think differently, overcome all circumstances.”

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