6.Chelsey Koepsell — Direct (Part 1)

AUDIO RECORDING: Today's date is February 24, 2020. The time is approximately 1657 hours. This is in refence to Orange County Case No. 20-017904. I'm currently located in my unmarked vehicle out in front of 4748 Frantz Lane, Apartment No. 3, in Winter Park, up in Tealwood Parke Apartments. And also in the car with me, my partner.

Detective Scott Lowen.

And in the front seat is -- can you state your name, ma'am?

Sarah Boone.

Okay. And your birthday?

10/10/77.

All right. So, Sarah, I know you have talked to some deputies. I know we had a very brief conversation. Just to reiterate what you told that deputy, but like I was explaining, I would like to get a more further understanding of what -- let me ask you more detailed questions. I am going to read you your rights, but it's just because that's how we do things, Okay? So, you do have the right to remain silent, Okay? Do you understand that?

Yes.

Okay. Anything you say may be used against you in court. You have the right to talk to a lawyer before and during questioning without charge. If you cannot afford a lawyer and want one, one will be provided before questioning without charge. Has anyone threatened you or promised you anything to get you to talk to me?

No.

Do you understand what I just read you?

Yes.

Okay. So, last night, you said that you and your boyfriend, Jorge, were here at your residence and didn't really -- that day, you said that he went to the store to buy cigarettes?

Yes.

What time was that around, if you recall? Was it light out still, dark out?

Yes, it was light out still.

Still light out. Okay. But he's the only person that left, and he came back --

Yes.

-- from the store? Okay.

It's right down the street.

It's down the street. Okay. And tell me what you guys were doing next? Like, what was happening?

We had a bottle of wine, we painted, we drew, we did puzzles.

Do you remember what wine you guys were drinking?

It was chardonnay.

Okay.

The bottles are in the trash.

Okay. Chardonnay?

Uh-huh.

Okay. And do you remember, like, what time this was that you guys were sharing the bottle of wine, painting, jigsaw puzzles?

I'm gonna say 4:00-ish.

You're right. And was this before he went to the store or after?

I'm sorry?

Had he already gotten home from the store at this point to buy the cigarettes?

Yes.

Okay. So it was around 4:00 p.m. that you realized -- and you guys were doing --

Puzzles and art --

Okay.

-- listening to music, enjoying each other's company.

And all downstairs, upstairs?

Downstairs.

Downstairs. Okay.

We were just on the back porch, because we smoke. We don't allow smoking inside, so --

Okay. And who was here last night? Was it just the two of you?

Uh-huh.

Yeah? Okay. No one ever came over at any point?

No.

We called his daughters on Facetime.

Okay.

We were just literally just enjoying one another's company.

Okay. And you guys share the phone that you have, correct?

Yes.

Okay. And the phone's located in there and --

Yes.

All right. So tell me what happens next? You're painting, you're doing this puzzle together, you've obviously finished the bottle of wine.

Yes.

Did you have one or two bottles of wine?

Well, we had one previously, that was maybe not even half full.

Okay.

But then --

So you finished that one and then you had the full one?

Yes.

Okay. And so what was the question?

What did you guys do next after the bottle of wine?

We had the bottle of wine while we were having -- doing arts and crafts.

Uh-huh.

And from there, just -- we were puzzled out, we were painted out --

Uh-huh.

-- so, being silly, let's play hide and seek, which we had played before. Like, I don't know if you've opened the door on the top of the stairwell, like, he had hidden in there before, like, just having fun and enjoying each other's company.

Okay.

So, I mean, that's literally all it was. And then the suitcase is downstairs because I was telling you, we were going to give donations and because it's not a very good suitcase, the... what was the question? I'm sorry.

You were just explaining to me that -- Oh, he decided to hide in there. So being silly, he and I were sitting there laughing at it, like, with him in there. And then -- so I didn't zip it up all the way, but, I mean, that's where his -- both fingers were out there and whatever. But still having a good time and whatever. Then, I guess I decided to go upstairs, and I don't know -- I fell asleep. So, I woke up this morning and, again, thought he was downstairs on the laptop looking for a job as he usually is. And then, where is he? Is he on the back porch? Is he in the bathroom? Where is he? And then I came to about the suitcase. So, I opened the suitcase, I took him out, stretched him out, started to do CPR, where air was coming out, but -- and then, like, whatever gurgle he made. So I am trying to do CPR on him, I'm shaking him, trying to get him to come to, but I could tell by looking at him, something was wrong. He's been losing his teeth lately and has been complaining about his chest hurts, which is why I keep trying to get him to go to the doctor, but because he nor I have a job or insurance, has been putting it off.

Uh-huh.

So, again -- so I didn't know what to do so I called Brian, my ex-husband. I called him. He came over, just walked in and then walked out. I grabbed my Phone and I called you guys. From there, here we are.

Okay. The first time you woke up this morning, did you look at your phone, did you see what time it was?

No. Most of the time, like, I'll wake up, but because he nor I have a job, I'm usually just laying in the bed for a little bit longer because the house is clean. There's nothing else that we can do.

Uh-huh.

Me thinking he's on the laptop looking for jobs, I can't use the laptop. So most of the time I'll just stay in the bed and collect my thoughts and get ready for the day.

So do you have any idea of what time you woke up that first time, what time it may have been? I don't know if you guys have --

I want to say 11-something. 11-something.

Okay.

Maybe.

Is that when you finally got up or is that the first time you woke up?

No. That's the time that I decided to get up, because I figured he was downstairs on the laptop, so -- and looking for jobs on the laptop. And then usually I'll clean, he'll look for jobs or vice versa, where I'll look for jobs and he'll clean.

Okay. So you think you got out of bed after 11:00 at some point?

Yes.

Okay. But you can't recall which time -- do you think you were up for, like, hours before that or, collecting your thoughts?

No. Brian -- because I was supposed to have my son today.

Okay.

Pick him up from school. Brian usually calls to make sure, hey, are you sure you're picking up Lucas today. Because I've had job interviews.

Right.

Are you going to pick up Lucas. So he called, like, maybe three, four times, maybe five. I finally answered and that's, like --

Do you think you were sleeping and missed those calls?

No. I ignored them.

You ignored them.

Because he's notorious for blowing up my phone.

Okay.

But I understand why because he's making sure that Lucas gets home.

Right. Yeah. Okay.

And to do whatever he needs to do day-wise so he can schedule around it.

Were you upstairs in your room at that time during those phone calls?

Yes.

Yeah? Okay. Okay. So we're not really sure what time you woke up initially, but you were upstairs collecting your thoughts, you figured he was on the laptop downstairs, so you were just getting ready for your day.

Yes.

You finally got out of bed after -- sometime after 11:00 a.m. --

Uh-huh.

-- and had gone downstairs.

Yes.

Okay.

Looking for him.

And couldn't find him, looked outside, couldn't find him anywhere.

He wasn't in the bathroom, I thought maybe he's in the bathroom, but then I came to and --

And then you -- then you called Brian.

Yes.

He came over.

Yes, he came over.

He's down the road, right? Not very far. He came over, walked in, basically walked out, you called 911 --

Yes, I had my phone in my hand. I just wanted to wait for him to get there because I didn't know what to do.

Right. Okay. And then we arrive.

Like, I couldn't -- I still to this -- I don't -- I don't know what happened. Like, I don't know what happened. But the whole thing is -- the whole, like, teeth losing thing and, I don't know what happened. Like, I don't know what happened. I don't know -- I think -- he and I were having an amazing time yesterday like we normally do.

No arguments --

No.

-- or nothing? Okay. And the thing with him, though, is -- which is why we've been doing puzzles and artwork lately is that he's been stressing out about a job, of course --

Of course.

-- which we talk about. So what I did was start having him do puzzles and artwork to keep his mind off of it.

Okay.

His ex-wife is all over him about sending money, which he can't do because he doesn't have a job.

Right.

So he was stressing about that. He's been stressing about the job. But that's why I started to buy puzzles and paint, to get his mind off of it, which is what we -- I don't know if you noticed on the wall, it's all of our artwork and stuff.

Okay.

So I don't know -- I mean, music, art, and playing with the dogs. And then started to play hide and seek. Because we're always trying to outdo each other on where we can find -- who could hide the best.

How often did you guys play hide and seek?

Gosh, that was, maybe, what, the third time, maybe.

Okay. Is it a more recent game you had gotten into or three times total in your relationship you're talking about?

Lately.

Lately.

Because, again, like, we were puzzled out, we painted already, so why not?

So you were downstairs hanging out. Do you remember around what time you guys start playing hide and seek?

Honestly, I don't. I--

Do you remember if it was dark out?

It was dark.

Okay.

It was dark. But my thing is, is that when I spend time with him and I kind of -- I try to get him to start doing it, I don't look at the clock.

Okay.

T just -- I'm here with him and we're having a good time. I don't need to know what time it is.

Right. I didn't know if you were, like, on your phone, if you got a text message, if you got a phone call last night.

We called his daughters yesterday, Facetimed.

Right. What time was that at?

I don't know without looking at my phone.

Okay. Was that the only activity that you had yesterday on your phone?

I called Lucas. I talked with Lucas. He's my son.

Okay.

I always call him.

Morning?

No. It was evening.

Evening. Okay. I'm trying to help you, like, remember as, like, something you did right before hide and seek that would help you remember a time or give us a timeframe, because that's important for, you know, us to know, whether --

I don't know, to be honest with you.

Okay. So when you called your -- when you called Lucas, was it before or after hide and seek?

Before.

And when you called and Facetimed his daughters, before or after hide and seek?

Before.

Okay. And did you call the daughters first and then Lucas or Lucas first and then the daughters?

I -- I know I talked to Lucas, but then we talked to the daughters afterwards.

Okay. Okay.

And I don't remember if she called us -- no, I know he called Cookie. But, yes, we called her.

What are the two daughters' names -- or just one? Did you say one daughter?

He has three children. It's Anna, Cookie, but her real name is Destiny. And then he has a handicapped son, Jorge. Jorgie.

Okay. Who did he call, though, yesterday? Who did he call?

Cookie.

And what is Cookie's real name?

Destiny.

Does she have his last name or something else?

It's Torres. I guess she remarried, but I don't know her last name.

Okay. So you know it's dark out, but you're not sure what time it is. You played hide and seek. How long did you guys play hide and seek before he decides to get into the suitcase?

it wasn't --

Approximate.

It wasn't really -- I head upstairs to the shower.

Uh-huh.

And then came downstairs. I guess I was tired of hanging out in the shower.

Okay.

So that's when he was playing around in the suitcase.

Okay.

Because we both thought it was funny that, oh, yeah, well, I'm gonna zip you up. Uh-huh. You didn't come look for me. So, again, it's a broken suitcase, but --

What do you mean by broken?

It's only got one of these, but --

Oh --

-- because I didn't zip it up all the way he doing the --

You mean it doesn't have, like, the pull part?

Correct.

Okay.

No, it's got -- I think it's got a -- what do you call it -- paperclip.

Okay. So the zipper to it is missing, like, the actual zipper that attaches to it to help you open and close, is missing, but you think a paperclip was on it instead?

Fither -- there is a -- I believe there's a paperclip on it because I know the last time --

That's what you used to, like, help assist you?

Or you can just stick your fingers in there and --

Right. Yeah, yeah.

Which is why I did not zip it up all the way. Okay. So how much did you zip it up?

I mean, I don't really know --

You said his fingers -- his fingers were able to stick out?

Yeah, two fingers.

Two fingers? Okay.

Yeah. So I'm figuring he -- he'll get it, he'll get it. But then I went to go upstairs and waited for him and eventually I guess I fell asleep. I had the dogs in the bed with me, it was warm, and then fell asleep.

So, you guys were joking, he's in there. You said you had seen two of his fingers?

Yes.

And then, like, you just decided, okay, I'm going to go upstairs now or --

Because I figured he would get out and then go upstairs and have intimate relations like we normally do.

Uh-huh.

But I fell asleep.

Okay.

And he never came upstairs. So, again, I'm thinking he's downstairs on the laptop earlier today, and then remember.

Okay. So is this something that you -- do you guys play hide and seek before you have sexual intercourse or do you guys just play hide and seek because you're bored and you're just trying pass time and --

We were -- yeah, we are, again, puzzled out, can't paint anymore, even started with -- there's some -- some of the art that's on the wall now, so --

AUDIO RECORDING: Today's date is February 24th, 2020. The time now is approximately 1716 hours. This is in reference to Orange County Case No. 20-017904. My original -- my first recording on a separate digital recorder, the memory became full and we could no longer record. But T am in my unmarked agency vehicle with -- can you state your name, ma'am?

Sarah Boone.

And my partner, Detective Scott Lowen. We are outside of -- in my unmarked agency vehicle outside of 4748 Frantz Lane, No. 3, in Winter Park, collecting a statement from Sarah. Okay. Sarah, just for recording purposes, because it did technically stop and I wasn't able to say the time that it stopped prior, we had not talked anything further on the recording?

Correct.

Okay. And you do understand that you don't have to speak with me if you don't want to, correct?

Yes.

Okay. Perfect. All right. So I think I asked you -- my last question was -- and I'm not sure if you -- you may have answered or not, but my last question was, you guys were just playing, having fun, and it wasn't like something you do right before, like, sex, thing --

No.

-- or it would just --

Just being silly.

Okay. But you do say that you are intimate and you get intimate every single night?

No, not every single night.

Okay. And did you -- did you think it was going to happen last night?

Yes.

Did you talk about it or you just --

No.

-- it seemed like probably going to have sex tonight?

Yes.

Okay.

Which normally after we do the puzzles and artwork, I would say yes.

Okay.

We were just having a good time.

Okay.

Just enjoying each other's company.

And so --

Dancing with the dogs.

At any point when he was in the suitcase, did you hear him say, you know, please let me out?

No.

Was he --

We were laughing about it.

Yeah. Okay. Did you make any jokes about it, oh, you're in the suitcase -- I know you said that you were upstairs and he didn't basically come find you, did you make any jokes about, oh, okay --

No.

-- now you're in the suitcase?

No.

Okay. But I'm assuming the game was over, like, you guys weren't going to play -- you weren't going to continue to play hide and seek anymore, you went upstairs and went into the room?

Right. Waiting for him.

Okay. And you said you laid down?

Yes. The dogs got in the bed.

Do you guys sleep together in the room every single night?

Yes.

Yes? Okay. And which side of the bed do you sleep on?

The --

Like if --

Okay. Here's the bed. I'm on the left side, he's on the right-hand side, because I've got Lucas' pictures over here and he's got his kids' pictures over here.

Okay. So are you --

Closer to the wall.

-- closer to the door -- okay. Are you closer to the door that exits your room or is he closer?

He is.

Okay. So where the pictures of Lucas are on that Side, that's your side?

Correct.

Okay. And is that where you slept last night? Did you sleep in the middle of the bed, did you sleep on your side of the bed?

I slept on my side.

Your side? Okay. And I noticed there's, like, one pillow on the bed and then there were like three up against the closet.

Uh-huh.

Are those his pillows and he brings them into bed or what's --

No. I -- when I woke up -- what I normally do is -- I don't know if you guys noticed the mice that we have in there, Lucas' mice.

Uh-huh.

But I'll make the bed, clean the mouse cage, and then go downstairs.

Okay.

So, but what I'm saying is that normally I'll fix up upstairs and then I'll head downstairs.

Okay.

So that's -- that's why those were over here because I was trying to fix up the bed a little bit.

Okay. Okay. Were they in the bed prior -- like, when you went to sleep, how many pillows were in your bed?

We only have two.

You have two.

Well, it's the two white ones, the king-sized one when we watch movies --

Uh-huh.

-- we'll put it behind the white one, and then the third pillow just goes in between everybody else.

Okay. Do you use one pillow to sleep or do you use -- you each have one, right? Is that what you said?

Yes.

Yes. Sorry. Okay. Okay. So you just basically didn't finish making the bed, is my understanding? That's why the pillows are up against the -- there's like three, correct?

Yes.

Up against the -- they're, like, standing?

Yes. Because I'll move all the pillows off and then I'll shake out the bed and then put everything back together. Okay. Okay. And did he say anything to you while he was in the suitcase? I know you guys were laughing, joking, but were any jokes made, was anything said?

No. Nothing negative or --

Just anything that he said. Like --

We were laughing about it.

Uh-huh.

I mean, and I waited for him upstairs.

Did you tell him you were going upstairs or --

No, I did not. I just -- I literally went upstairs to wait for him.

Was the wine -- was it all gone at this point while you guys were playing hide and seek?

I think so.

Okay. Is it at that point -- I mean, I don't know how often you drink, but would you say that you were under the influence and he was under the influence or --

Well, I mean, we weren't drunk.

Weren't drunk.

We weren't drunk. I mean, we had a handful of glasses throughout the evening.

Uh-huh.

So, I mean, we weren't, like, inebriated where we couldn't drive. You could still -- I mean, we were compos mentis, that's what I'll say. We were open and, like, compos mentis.

Okay.

Just want to know what you mean by --

Yeah, I don't know what that word means.

I mean, we had our wits about ourselves.

Okay.

That's why he and I were playing.

This is the thing, though, this isn't a trick question. You're at your home, you're consenting adults. If you were drinking, say you were drunk. There's no law against it. Nobody's judging you. You're at home.

Neither one of us were drunk.

Okay.

We were just --

I'm just trying --

-- at a (unintelligible) stage. That's what it was (unintelligible).

Okay. Well, hopefully, his blood alcohol level will show us at the autopsy as well too, so, you know, we have that as well. Okay. So --

There was no ill will between the two of us last night.

When's the last time you guys had gotten into an argument?

Maybe last week.

Okay. Over just normal relationship stuff or --

It's a little bit of everything because he and I both have been stressing about jobs.

Right.

He's -- it's been extremely depressing for him when he worked up here at the -- it used to be an Ace Hardware, but Ace dropped them as a franchise because of how bad the store is going down and he literally enjoyed his job and everybody he worked with.

Okay.

But it's between stuff like that, and then, of course, we've got the bills that we have to pay and I've been having to ask Brian, my former husband, for money to pay for electricity and hot water for Lucas, and groceries.

Okay.

So, I think that, of course, because he can't support me has been bothering him. Which, again, is why I bought a new puzzle for the two of us to do.

Right.

And that's what we were working on, and the painting.

Okay. Do you guys normally argue often, not often, weekly, every other --

It all depends on if he had a good day or a bad day kind of thing, where -- he would just be happy to come home and see me because he knows that it's going to get better. And then most of the time he would go for a drink and we would sit on the back porch and he would tell me about his day.

Uh-huh.

And we would have a glass of wine and then kind of start our evening-ish kind of thing and stuff. But then we would go inside because we were tired of being outside, and then that's when we started to do the art and puzzles, and then listen to music, and playing with the dogs. And it's a thing (unintelligible).

Gotcha. Is there anything he drinks specifically, like, his go-to drink or --

Tt's, honestly, whatever it is we can afford.

Okay.

Which is why we used to drink, like, liquor, but --

Right.

-- like, months ago.

Right.

Which is why we had the wine.

Wine. Okay.

What did you guys make for dinner last night?

He made a pork sandwich with cheese. And what was it that I ate? I think I made a sandwich and some chips.

You guys didn't have to go out and get anything, you had everything there?

Yes.

Like a sandwich, like a deli meat sandwich, like a deli meat sandwich?

He had -- I made a pork loin the other day for me, him, and Lucas.

Uh-huh.

And there were leftovers, so he --

He had that.

-- made a pork loin sandwich with cheese and I had my just ham sandwich and chips.

Okay.

Does he normally come up to bed or -- would he do the typical guy thing where he's downstairs and he'll fall asleep on the couch?

I mean, he's done that before just because of his crappy day that he had. But, yes, we'd sleep in the same bed.

You normally sleep in the same bed?

Yes.

Do you guys go to bed at the same time? Most of the time, yes. But because he's been very excited about looking for a job, he might stay downstairs for half an hour, 45 minutes, and then would come upstairs and he and I would watch movies together until they're not -- there's no more movies that we want to watch, and then we would just turn the lights off and go to sleep.

Last night when you said you went upstairs, do you have like a ritual that you do prior to going to bed? You brush your teeth, wash your face, put on the TV. Is there anything, like, normal things that you do?

Meaning myself?

Uh-huh.

No. I'll go upstairs and maybe like rinse my mouth out with Listerine.

Okay. Do you recall what you did last night?

I just got in the bed with the dogs.

Okay.

Waiting for him.

And how long do you think you were up waiting for him until you passed out?

I don't -- I wouldn't say I necessarily passed out. Yes. He knows, too, that I'll go upstairs sometimes because of how tired I am --

Uh-huh.

-- which is why he'll just give me my space a little bit, watch a show, and then he'll come upstairs. So, I mean, nothing out of the ordinary.

No. I mean, but last night, how long do you think it was prior to you falling asleep?

Oh.

Like, how long did you wait up for him?

Maybe 20 minutes, 30 minutes. I mean, literally, I dozed off, warm in the bed with the dogs, waiting for him.

Okay. Okay.

I didn't even bother turning the TV on, just got in the bed. He has (unintelligible). I would go upstairs because of how tired I am. He knows, like, I'm mentally exhausted. So --

Who usually gets up first? I mean, are you an early riser, is he an early riser?

He is.

He's usually an early riser?

Yeah. He has to be at work by 8:00 o'clock, so he'll usually wake up at, like, 6:30-ish, if I don't have Lucas.

How long has he been out of work?

Gosh, maybe -- well, he did some odd-job stuff up there, but I think his last day was, like, Friday, two weeks ago.

So he hasn't worked in about two weeks?

Yes.

And during that two-week period, has he maintained, just the body naturally wakes up earlier or --

Yes, it's his body clock.

Okay. What time is that normally?

Like, 6:30, 6:45-ish. But, again, if I have Lucas here, I have to take him to school, so we're up at, like, 6:30. I'm feeling really, like, weird, guys, like, light-headed.

Okay. Do you need to --

I feel really weird right now.

You feel like you're going to be sick?

No, not sick, just -- I -- I don't know.

Do you need food?

I haven't -- I haven't even fed my dogs today. The mice need to be taken care of still. I don't think they have any food. But, again, I'm thinking he's on the laptop, so he can use the laptop and then I'll use the laptop afterwards.

So it wasn't -- when you woke up this morning, it wasn't out of the ordinary that he wasn't there?

What do you mean?

You didn't wake up this morning and go, oh, where's Jorge? You woke up thinking, okay, Jorge got up like he normally does before me.

And downstairs on the laptop looking for jobs.

You had made a comment earlier that he's losing his teeth?

Yes.

What --

I think -- we don't know. I think that's one of the things subconsciously that has been really on his mind also, is that he keeps losing his teeth. Like, he looked like he lost a whole molar or something in the back the other day while we were eating. And he kept talking about how his chest -- and I'm blaming it on the stress.

Yeah.

So I don't know what that is. I don't know what the teeth thing is. I know it can't be a good sign.

You said he had gotten into, you said an argument, but he had a bunch of facial injuries where he had got into a fist fight?

Yes.

So he and his brother got into a fist fight?

Yes. Oh, my gosh. It was horrific, yes.

Was it -- I mean, usually when you have that much damage, it's more than just a fist fight. His brother hit him or something?

No. Wait until you guys see Moe. Moe is a gorilla.

Is it possible that that's what caused the teeth to get messed up?

Did they actually work on his teeth or his jaw?

His eyes.

His eyes.

The sockets?

Yes. Well, they fixed his nose, too.

Okay. Now, the damage to his eyes, is that still -- I mean, is it noticeable or --

No.

Okay. So when they fixed the sockets, he came back and you couldn't tell that they had been damaged?

I couldn't tell, but his children recognized it, where they say he doesn't look like the same dad.

Okay.

But to me, I've never noticed it. No other damage to the jaw or forehead, anything like that?

No. It was just his eye and his nose.

Did you say he's been complaining of chest pains?

He had mentioned it a couple of times, where I'm just blaming it on stress. But, again, I kept trying to encourage him with or without money, go to a walk-in clinic. You eventually will get a bill. But the teeth thing has been worrying me also and I didn't want to say anything to him about it. But it was a (unintelligible) tooth comes out. That scares me, for both sides, if you ask me.

Well, this is the reason I was asking what you guys had for dinner last night. What is his -- his dietary habits been lately? I mean, he looks super thin to me.

Yes.

Now, I don't know Jorge, but he does not look like he's at the average weight.

He eats, believe it or not, like a horse. Like, he'll eat, like, four or five times a day. Again, one of the things my husband (unintelligible), which you-all will be the first people that I actually say this to is his weight, for the amount of food that he eats throughout the day, how he doesn't gain any weight. He and I and Lucas go out to Publix -- every time he steps on the scale and he continuously loses weight, where I don't even want him to step on the scale anymore.

How long has this been going on for?

Months, months.

So way before losing his job?

Yes. It's been ongoing. I mean, I'm not even going to say months. I would say at least a good year.

Okay.

And he eats like a horse.

You said you don't know of any drug history?

Since I've been with him and known him, he's never done drugs. But I know him growing up in Philadelphia he had a bad stint with marijuana and alcohol.

Okay.

Tt's been -- when he talks to his children and both of his ex-wives, she will tell you -- his family will tell you. But since he's been with me, no, I've not -- he's never done drugs around me.

Okay. Your phone, is it password protected or --

Yes.

-- touch screen?

It is password protected.

Does Jorge know the password as well?

He doesn't know the code, but he does the face thing --

His face will recognize --

And the only reason why I have that is because I have lost two phones previously where I can't -- before I had a passcode where somebody else being able to get into my phone because I lost it twice. So that's the only reason why I have it.

Oh, like, that's the reason you put a password on it is because you lost your phone?

Yes.

Okay. So do you recall what time you went to bed?

I know that it was after midnight.

Midnight? How do you know that? What leads you to remember that?

Because I walked up the stairwell and we have a clock that's on top.

Like, do you see it as you're walking up the stairwell?

Yes. You have to turn the corner and it's right there.

Okay. And you don't remember when you went into the shower, around what time it was, looking at that same clock?

I didn't shower. I mean, I showered earlier in the day.

No. You said you went into the shower when you were playing hide and seek.

Oh, yes.

Did you happen to look at that clock then to see what time it was?

No. Just happened to look up on my way --

Going to bed? Or going into the room?

Yes.

Okay. So it was after midnight, before 1:00 a.m., though? Was it between midnight and 1:00 or --

To be honest with you, I don't know. I mean, I'd have to say it was, like, 12:30-ish.

Okay. Okay. And when you went upstairs, you and -- sorry, Jorge were no longer having a conversation, laughing about the suitcase, you just decided to go upstairs?

No, we were laughing about it.

Okay. So you continued to joke about it as you were going upstairs thinking he'll just get himself out and then --

Yes. That's why I didn't close it all the way. That's why I didn't close it all the way. I'm, like, he'll be up here any minute now. But then I guess I dozed off.

Okay.

And, again, I'm thinking he's downstairs on the laptop this morning because (unintelligible) most of the time.

When you put him in, though -- or when he got -- he got into the suitcase --

Yes.

-- correct? So the suitcase now, if we're looking at it, what side was his head on when he got into the suitcase and you zipped him? Was his head, like, on the --

It was like this.

Uh-huh.

His head was here. The hole was here.

So his head was closer to where --

Yes.

Like, when you close it, his head was closer to where it's closed?

No. That's where -- his head is here, this is him doing the finger thing over here. Right. So his head is closer to where you can close it. So when you close it, his head is on that Side. Or his head is on the opposite side of where you close it. Because there's obviously an opening when the suitcase is open, and then when it's shut, and then obviously the zipper is on the opposite side.

So if you do this, yes, his head was here where this -- the zip part was.

Okay. Okay.

Right. Again, that's why I didn't zip it up all the way.

Is there anything else that you think is important for us to know that we haven't asked you?

I don't know what happened. Like, I don't know what happened. I don't know what happened. I don't know, again, if he had, like, a heart attack or an aneurysm or what. I don't know what happened.

Do you keep your phone on you? Like, is it always in your possession?

No. Because it's a community phone between me and him, I mean, if he needs it. Most of the time it's on the kitchen counter.

Okay.

Where it's, like, he knows that's where my phone is or, hey, I just got done talking to Lucas, do you mind if I call my daughters. So it's --

Right.

-- our phone.

No, I get it. I just --

But, no, I don't walk around with my phone on me all the time.

Okay. Did you bring it upstairs with you when you went -- when you were going to bed?

No. No.

Okay. So it stays downstairs? It was downstairs with him?

Yes, it was downstairs with him. Because that's how I heard my phone ringing and I knew it was Brian who called over and over and over again, which is what he does.

So you assumed it was him, but you didn't know Brian was calling you, you just assumed it was Brian?

Yes. Because he calls back to back to back to back to back.

Okay.

So that's why I don't answer.

Okay. So your phone was downstairs.

Yes.

All righty. Can you raise your right hand for me? Do you promise and swear that everything that we've talked about has been true and accurate to the best of your knowledge?

Yes. But may I ask you, though?

Uh-huh.

Because I was telling you guys about it earlier --

Uh-huh.

-- like, I don't know if I -- I'm -- I'm afraid for my life at this point.

But --

I'm afraid --

-- I don't -- I don't know anything about your ex's history. Like, I don't know -- other than the family not liking you, like --

And they get upset because of the drinking and just -- what they've said and what I have gone through and I know that they don't want him to be with me. But he and I --

Are they going -- are they going to tell me that he's an alcoholic?

Probably.

Okay. Are they going to tell me that you're an alcoholic?

They'll say that, but they don't know, they assume.

Okay. Why do they say that he's an alcoholic?

Because of his track record in Philadelphia and all of the things that he has done. Cars that he's wrecked, ex-wives' cars. He's been divorced twice. But -- and he has -- yes, they'll say that.

Okay.

They'll say that, but they don't know, they just assume.

Okay. Well, I mean, if -- I mean, people have their opinions, okay? You can't not -- it's -- there's nothing you can do about someone having their opinion and saying something like that. As far as what's going on here, I told you, you know, prior, we don't know what happened. So I understand you feel like they're going to not accept, you know, what happened and they're going to think that it's your fault, but at this time, we cannot conclude and say anything differently. I know you've talked about you possibly going somewhere else for tonight. You know, you have to do what you have to do to keep yourself safe, but at this point in time, no one has made a threat to you, no one has done anything --

AUDIO RECORDING: Right. But we will obviously talk to them and, of course, we're going to instruct them that this is an ongoing investigation, you know.

Who is picking up my son?

Well, your son's with Brian and you're going to stay with Brian. So we're going to cross that bridge when we get to it. I know you're fearful of it now, but nothing has happened to where -- you're in fear based off of past history and what they think of you and how --

They threaten me all the time.

Do you have proof or is it all verbal? Like, would it be in your phone?

No. It's verbal.

Okay. It's verbal. So it's he said versus she Said -- or she said versus she said.

Yeah. They've been really nasty to me

AUDIO RECORDING: It's going to be a shock. It's going to be -- they're going to -- everyone handles things differently. We're not going to leave there with them hooting and hollering --

She's going to be upset and then they're all going to come over here.

Okay. Who's going to come --

His mom.

His mom? What's his mom's name?

Blanca.

Ts that her government name or is that just what you call her?

No, I think that's her government name.

And you said she lives down here?

They live down the street.

When's the last time you -- you said he doesn't even really talk to his family because he chose you over them, so when's the last time you've seen them or talked to them?

I believe he did something with his brother a couple of weeks ago, but I don't go over there.

Okay. Like, so he goes over there, you do not go?

No.

But he did something with his brothers?

I'm guessing so. I know that they come up to his job all the time.

When he was working there?

Yes.

SO --

I mean, they have come over here and they're just completely disrespectful.

Okay.

And, again, he ended up having to tell them, don't come over here if you're going to act like that and treat Sarah like that.

Do you know their address?

I have it inside. I know it's Baja Boulevard. But if you go down -- what is this right here? Goldenrod?

Uh-huh.

There's a Twistee Treat ice cream place on the right-hand side and you turn down that road, and then you make a left, and then you'll see Baja, and then you make a right, and their house is, like -- and it's fenced in and it's got a whole bunch of flowers.

Okay. I'm going to end my recording; is that Okay?

Yes.

Okay.

One quick question. Just out of curiosity, I'm noticing your front door, it has a bunch of dents in it. What is that from?

When we moved in, they were already there.

Because I don't see any other doors with dents like that.

Whoever it was that lived here previously. I know it was a girl that was here when we moved in.

Okay. This ends the recording, 17:47.