Skip to content
Sarah Boone— Case Archive
2024 Criminal Trialtrial-daytrial-dayWilliam R. JayDave Cacciatore, Jr.Tony HendersonJames Sylivan OwensChelsey KoepsellMeredith McCaskillJunella UadanSara Zydowiczdirectcrossredirectsidebarjury_instructionsDay 6 - October 21, 2024Medical and DNA witnesses described their findings and testing limits. Jurors viewed suitcase videos and heard Sarah Boone's recorded interviews. The court limited the use of detectives' recorded statements to context for Boone's responses and denied Pearl Walker's remote-testimony request.
← Day 52024 Criminal TrialDay 7 →

Day 6 - October 21, 2024

Medical Testimony, Phone Evidence, and Boone's Recorded Interviews

Judge Michael Kraynick
28Proceedings
10Pages
4Witnesses
1,895Lines
11Sidebars
Day 6 of 10
Appearing:
William R. Jay Dave Cacciatore, Jr. Tony Henderson James Sylivan Owens Chelsey Koepsell Meredith McCaskill Junella Uadan Sara Zydowicz

Medical and DNA witnesses described their findings and testing limits. Jurors viewed suitcase videos and heard Sarah Boone's recorded interviews. The court limited the use of detectives' recorded statements to context for Boone's responses and denied Pearl Walker's remote-testimony request.

Full day summary

Sara Zydowicz testified that Jorge Torres died from positional asphyxia with environmental suffocation and classified the manner of death as homicide. She could not scientifically determine confinement duration or time of death. Her proposed fetal position was an inference, and postmortem findings were compatible with an approximately 11-hour interval supplied to her, not an independently established duration. She had not tested suitcase airflow. She described multiple blunt-impact injuries but could not precisely date them or establish whether they occurred inside the suitcase; she said they were not likely to have contributed to death. She clarified that blood alcohol reflected the time of death and did not confirm the prosecutor's proposed five-hour confinement estimate. FDLE analyst Meredith McCaskill testified as the technical reviewer of another analyst's work. Fingernail samples represented as coming from Torres and Boone matched their respective reference profiles, with no foreign DNA results obtained from either person's two sets. She explained that testing cannot establish how DNA reached an object or how long it remained there. The court also accepted stipulations identifying Torres as the deceased and agreeing to an FDLE report's admissibility. Junella Uadan described the phone extractions, qualified deleted-data recovery, and presented selected messages and timestamps for two suitcase videos played to the jury. She explained that extracted message information does not identify who physically typed a message. The first video's transcribed audio contains pleas about being unable to breathe and replies referring to choking and cheating, without individual speaker labels. Through Detective Chelsey Koepsell, jurors heard Boone's on-scene interviews and an edited follow-up interview admitted over a renewed suppression objection. Boone described hide-and-seek, claimed she left a zipper opening, and denied intending the outcome. In the follow-up interview, she described prior violence, said she did not remember making the videos, and acknowledged flipping the suitcase. Investigators challenged her explanations and alcohol account. The reporter cautioned that the interview playback transcriptions were not verbatim. The court instructed jurors to consider detectives' recorded statements only as context for Boone's responses, not as true. The court denied Pearl Walker's requested Zoom appearance because the State did not consent. Koepsell's cross-examination remained scheduled for the next morning.

Video thumbnail9:19:01
Watch →

1. Sara Zydowicz — Direct/Cross/Redirect

Sara Zydowicz testified on Day 6 about Jorge Torres’ cause of death, autopsy injuries, and alcohol levels, while acknowledging uncertainty about his position, time inside the suitcase, and time of death.

→
Procedural
Morning session opening and appearances
8 lines
Procedural
Sarah Boone: Oath and Identification
6 lines
sidebar
Juror Access Through Courthouse Security
12 lines

Counsel discussed courthouse entry delays, and the judge agreed to remind jurors to use the far-right juror entrance.

Procedural
Representation check and morning jury reception
24 lines
Direct
Sara Zydowicz — Direct Sara Zydowicz Dave Cacciatore, Jr.
208 lines

Sara Zydowicz identified positional asphyxia with environmental suffocation as Torres' cause of death, described multiple blunt-impact injuries, and explained limits on forensic timing. The body diagram and autopsy photographs were admitted.

Cross
Sara Zydowicz — Cross Sara Zydowicz James Sylivan Owens
361 lines

Sara Zydowicz acknowledged limits on death timing, suitcase testing, and inferred positioning but maintained her combined asphyxia diagnosis. Owens explored alcohol, coronary disease, and injury mechanisms; five defense autopsy photographs were admitted.

1 sidebar inside this proceeding
  1. Relevance of Prior Positional-Asphyxia FindingsOwens argued that prior positional-asphyxia findings were relevant to anticipated accident testimony, citing his understanding that the literature described most such cases as accidents.
Redirect
Sara Zydowicz — Redirect Sara Zydowicz Dave Cacciatore, Jr.
27 lines

Sara Zydowicz qualified the proposed five-hour estimate and explained why a zipper opening would not necessarily supply enough oxygen.

sidebar
Upcoming Witnesses and Morning Break Timing
6 lines

The court and counsel discussed whether to take a morning break or hear the State's two upcoming witnesses before lunch.

Procedural
Juror break inquiry before further evidence
4 lines

Highlights

Sara Zydowicz — Directtestimony highlightZydowicz testified that the cause of death was positional asphyxia with environmental suffocation and that she classified the manner of death as homicide.Sara Zydowicz — Direct“So the cause of death, which I put on the death certificate, is positional asphyxia with environmental suffocation, and the manner of death I classified as homicide.”— Sara ZydowiczStates the medical examiner's cause-of-death finding and manner-of-death classification.Sara Zydowicz — Directtestimony highlightZydowicz could not scientifically determine confinement duration or time of death. She favored a fetal-type position, most likely on the left side, without having observed Torres inside the suitcase. She described postmortem findings as compatible with the approximately 11-hour interval supplied to her, rather than an independently established duration.Sara Zydowicz — Direct“And because there are those multiple components happening at the same time, there's not a really good way to estimate or say with scientific certainty, Oh, he was in for X amount of time. There's really not a good way to do that.”— Sara ZydowiczLimits what the combined asphyxia mechanisms can establish about the duration of confinement.

2. Stipulations and Defendant Colloquy

The court admitted stipulations identifying Jorge Torres as the deceased and agreeing to the admissibility of an FDLE laboratory report, then instructed jurors on stipulated facts.

→
sidebar
State's F and N Stipulations
21 lines

Counsel sought to admit State's F and N, stipulations on ID and an FDLE report, but the judge was unsure whether he had fully vetted the issue with Ms. Boone.

Procedural
Jury admonition and stipulation introduction
5 lines
Procedural
Victim Identification and FDLE Report Stipulations: Accepted and Admitted
71 lines

The court accepted and admitted stipulations identifying Jorge Torres as the deceased and agreeing to the FDLE report's admissibility, then read them to the jury.

3. Meredith McCaskill — Direct/Cross

Meredith McCaskill described DNA findings from samples attributed to Torres and Boone, including no foreign DNA results from their fingernail samples. Cross-examination addressed limits on determining how or when DNA was deposited.

→
Direct
Meredith McCaskill — Direct Meredith McCaskill William R. Jay
125 lines

Meredith McCaskill reported no foreign DNA results from either person's fingernail samples and explained that she technically reviewed another analyst's work.

Cross
Meredith McCaskill — Cross Meredith McCaskill Tony Henderson
25 lines

McCaskill explained that DNA testing cannot determine transfer or timing and confirmed the limited items submitted to the DNA lab.

Highlights

Meredith McCaskill — Directtestimony highlightThe profile from the fingernail clippings represented as being from Mr. Torres matched his reference profile; neither set produced DNA results foreign to him.Meredith McCaskill — Directtestimony highlightThe profile from the fingernail swabs represented as being from Ms. Boone matched her reference profile; neither set produced DNA results foreign to her.

4. Junella Uadan — Direct/Cross/Redirect

Junella Uadan described phone extractions, read selected messages, and confirmed the capture times of two videos played by the State. Cross-examination addressed account labels and limits on identifying message authors. After redirect, discussion turned to scheduling and proposed defense evidence media.

→
Direct
Junella Uadan — Direct Junella Uadan William R. Jay
192 lines

Junella Uadan explained the phone extractions, authenticated materials admitted as State's 16 and 17, and reviewed selected messages and video timestamps. The State then played two extracted videos.

Cross
Junella Uadan — Cross Junella Uadan Tony Henderson
105 lines

Uadan explained that phone-account names and originating numbers do not identify who physically typed a message. Henderson reviewed an admitted entry listing Brian Boone.

2 sidebars inside this proceeding
  1. Displaying the Admitted ExhibitCounsel discussed retrieving an admitted exhibit or using laptop material to refresh recollection.
  2. December 25 Phone-Extraction EntriesCounsel clarified that the requested December 25, 2019 phone entries were in the admitted exhibit, rather than on the unadmitted rebuttal disk.
Redirect
Junella Uadan — Redirect Junella Uadan William R. Jay
64 lines

Uadan briefly addressed audiovisual clues to phone-user identification. The court then discussed possible late testimony, juror scheduling, and concerns about submitting defense evidence on editable flash drives.

Highlights

Junella Uadan — Directevidence eventThe State played img 1062.mov, whose transcribed audio includes repeated pleas about being unable to breathe and replies referring to choking and cheating, then played img 1063.mov.

5. Gallery Conduct, Spectator Removal, Witness Arrangements, Scheduling, and Juror Childcare

A sidebar addressed gallery disruptions, Pearl Walker's proposed Zoom testimony, and witness and juror scheduling. The court required a motion for virtual testimony but did not approve the request.

→
sidebar
Gallery Conduct, Remote Testimony, and Trial Scheduling
74 lines

Counsel discussed reported gallery disruptions, a request for Pearl Walker to testify remotely, and scheduling around witness availability and a juror’s childcare constraints.

Procedural
Gallery conduct directions
6 lines
sidebar
Request to Remove a Courtroom Spectator
38 lines

Counsel for both sides supported removing a spectator whose reported loud comments and exchanges raised concerns about disrupting the trial.

Procedural
Spectator removal and juror childcare arrangements
25 lines
sidebar
Juror Phone Calls to Arrange Coverage
14 lines

The court and counsel discussed whether one juror could leave to make phone calls about coverage without sending out the entire panel.

6. Chelsey Koepsell — Direct (Part 1)

Chelsey Koepsell described the scene and Boone’s on-scene interview. The jury heard two interview recordings, and Koepsell explained the phone search and subsequent warrant.

→
Direct
Chelsey Koepsell — Direct Chelsey Koepsell Dave Cacciatore, Jr.
173 lines

Chelsey Koepsell authenticated Boone's on-scene interview, played as State's Exhibits 18 and 19, and described obtaining phone evidence after discovering the suitcase videos. The jury also saw Publix surveillance recordings of wine purchases.

1 sidebar inside this proceeding
  1. Afternoon Break Before Second InterviewCounsel noted it was about 3:30 as he approached introducing the two-hour second interview.

Highlights

Chelsey Koepsell — Directevidence eventThe jury heard the first recording. Boone described drinking wine, playing hide-and-seek, leaving an opening in the suitcase, going upstairs and falling asleep, then finding Torres and calling Brian before 911. The reporter cautioned that the transcription was not verbatim.

7. Chelsey Koepsell — Direct (Part 2)

Chelsey Koepsell authenticated Boone’s recorded follow-up interview, which was admitted over a renewed suppression objection and played for jurors. Investigators challenged Boone’s account of the suitcase, phone videos, and alcohol use.

→
Direct
Chelsey Koepsell — Direct continued Chelsey Koepsell Dave Cacciatore, Jr.
246 lines

Koepsell authenticated Boone's February 25 interview, admitted over objection as State's Exhibit 20. The jury watched investigators challenge Boone's explanations while she repeatedly denied intent; the reporter cautioned that the playback transcription was not verbatim.

Highlights

Chelsey Koepsell — Direct continuedevidence eventThe court admitted the interview recording as State's Exhibit 20 over objection, instructed the jury about its editing, and the recording was published. The reporter warned that the playback transcription was not verbatim.Chelsey Koepsell — Direct continuedconfrontationInvestigators showed Boone phone recordings and challenged her account of a playful incident. She said she did not remember the recording, acknowledged flipping the suitcase, and maintained that she had left an opening.

8. Limiting Instruction on Police Statements in the Recorded Interview

The court gave jurors a limiting instruction on detectives' statements in Sarah Boone's recorded interview.

→
sidebar
Recorded Interview Limiting Instruction
13 lines

The defense requested revised wording for the jury instruction on law enforcement statements in Sarah Boone’s recorded interview, without objection from the State.

Jury Instruction
Limiting instruction on police statements in the recorded interview
3 lines

The court limited police statements in the recorded interview to context for Sarah Boone's responses, not their truth.

Highlights

Limiting instruction on police statements in the recorded interviewjury eventThe court instructed jurors not to treat the detectives' recorded opinions and statements as true, but only as context for Sarah Boone's reactions and responses.

9. Chelsey Koepsell — Direct (Part 3)

Chelsey Koepsell confirmed the location of the investigative events and identified the woman at the defense table during resumed direct examination.

→
Direct
Chelsey Koepsell — Direct resumed Chelsey Koepsell Dave Cacciatore, Jr.
12 lines

Chelsey Koepsell confirmed the investigation's location and identified the woman at the defense table in response to questions about suitcase admissions and the recorded voice.

10. Pearl Walker Remote-Testimony Motion Denial and End-of-Day Matters

Day 6 ended with the denial of Pearl Walker’s remote-testimony request and the jury’s dismissal until the next morning. The court outlined the anticipated transition from the State’s case to the defense.

→
Procedural
End-of-day matters and denial of Pearl Walker's remote-testimony motion
27 lines

The court denied Pearl Walker's requested Zoom appearance for lack of State consent and outlined the anticipated completion of the State's case and start of the defense the next morning.

Highlights

End-of-day matters and denial of Pearl Walker's remote-testimony motionrulingAfter the State declined to consent, the court denied the defense motion for Pearl Walker to appear by Zoom under Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.116(d)(1).
← Day 52024 Criminal TrialDay 7 →