BRADENTON, Fla. – A jury discovered a Manatee County lady responsible in a hit-and-run crash that killed a Bradenton man identified by neighbors because the “Peace Walker.”
Manatee County prosecutors and protection attorneys for Teresa Zeppi gave their closing arguments on Thursday after testimony wrapped up on Wednesday.
Pictured: Teresa Zeppi in courtroom.
Teresa Zeppi trial
The backstory:
Florida Freeway Patrol investigators mentioned Zeppi was behind the wheel of her Lincoln Navigator when she hit Joseph Dralus, Sr., 82, in April 2020. Dralus died lower than a month later.
Pictured: Joseph Dralus, Sr.
It took two years for detectives to arrest Zeppi. Investigators mentioned she did not instantly cease following the crash, ultimately pulling over about 500 ft down the street. Prosecutors confirmed jurors dwelling safety video they mentioned exhibits Zeppi checking her car for injury, then leaving the scene.
Dig deeper:
Each of Dralus’ sons testified in the course of the trial, explaining their half within the investigation to jurors. Christopher Dralus mentioned he offered investigators along with his father’s toothbrush and hairbrush for DNA comparisons.
“Initially I used to be going to supply them his ashes, however I used to be instructed… they weren’t capable of get DNA from ashes, so that they requested if I might provide you with a hairbrush, toothbrush, something along with his DNA on it, which I knew I might provide you with a toothbrush and a hairbrush,” Christopher Dralus mentioned Wednesday. “He was a really exhausting employee, offered for his household, beloved his household very a lot and beloved being open air, as my brother had said earlier and beloved to do his walks each day.”
Pictured: Christopher Dralus on the stand.
On Tuesday, Joseph Dralus, Jr., testified he searched the group for the car that hit his father, ultimately discovering Zeppi’s parked in her driveway.
Prosecutors have mentioned Zeppi’s car had front-end injury and DNA taken from the SUV matched the sufferer’s.
“The swabs from the hood slash fender, the swabs from the headlight and the swabs from the passenger aspect bumper all had DNA that I used to be capable of make interpretations and comparisons to,” mentioned Kaleigh Brownell, a DNA analyst for the Florida Division of Regulation Enforcement.
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The opposite aspect:
Protection attorneys had their very own crash scene reconstruction skilled take the stand, who mentioned he believes FHP recognized the fallacious car.
“My opinion on this specific case is that this Lincoln Navigator was not the car that struck Mr. Dralus,” mentioned Sean O’Leary, the protection’s crash scene skilled, who was requested how he got here to that conclusion. “Primarily the shortage of harm to the car, particularly within the areas that I might count on to see them, figuring out the kind of accidents that Mr. Dralus sustained.”
Pictured: Sean O’Leary on the stand.
Zeppi was discovered responsible of leaving the scene of a crash with demise on Thursday. No sentencing date has been set.
She practically averted trial, initially agreeing to a plea deal that might have stored her out of jail. Prosecutors withdrew that provide late final month.
The Supply: This story was written utilizing info from the trial of Teresa Zeppi and former FOX 13 Information experiences.
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