According to a report from PWInsider, WWE Hall of Famer Tammy “Sunny” Sytch, 49, was arrested on Friday evening in Ormond Beach, Florida in connection to the death of 75-year old Julian L. Lasseter. He was killed back on March 25 in a three car traffic accident.
Sytch was processed into Volusia County Branch Jail in Daytona Beach on Friday night.
PWInsider notes Sytch was arrested on nine charges, including the DUI causing the death of a person, driving with a suspended or revoked license, and seven counts of DUI causing damage to a person or property.
The DUI death of a person charge is the most serious, as it is considered a felony in the state of Florida. If Sytch is convicted, she could face up to 30 years in prison, with a four year minimum sentence, and up to $10,000 in fines. Sytch’s bond for that charge alone is listed at $200,000. The bonds for her other charges total an additional $27,500.
Another PWInsider report also notes the following additional details.
The Ormond Beach Police Department’s report on the incident states that Sytch, who does not possess a valid driver’s license, was driving southbound on U.S. 1 just north of Granada Boulevard and failed to stop at 8:28 PM local time. The report police report cites that two different witnesses to the crash reported Sytch’s car was traveling at a “high rate of speed” before crashing into Lasseter’s stopped vehicle after Sytch failed to stop. Lasseter then crashed into a third vehicle. Lasseter passed away after being rushed to the hospital. The driver and passengers of the third vehicle were not hospitalized. However they complained of neck, back, side and head injuries. The incident led to Sytch pulling out of her scheduled appearances at Wrestlecon, which was during WrestleMania weekend.
Authorities had been waiting for Sytch’s toxicology tests to come back, after a search warrant was executed to draw her blood while she was hospitalized after the incident.
The Ormond Beach Police report for the incident, however, lists Sytch’s boyfriend, James F. Pente as the owner of the white 2012 Mercedes that Sytch was driving when she crashed into Lasseter’s vehicle.
A civil lawsuit had already been filed against both Sytch and Pente on 4/12 before the Circuit Court of the Sevenths Judicial Circuit in and for Volusia County, Florida by Lasseter’s estate. The lawsuit, seeking in “excess” of $100,000 in damages, states:
- “Upon information and belief, on or about March 25, 2022, Defendant SYTCH was intoxicated and operating a motor vehicle owned by Defendant PENTE southbound on N. Yonge Street, at or near the intersection of W. Granada Boulevard in Ormond Beach, Volusia County, Florida.
- Defendant SYTCH operated the motor vehicle with the consent, either express or implied, of Defendant PENTE.
- On or about March 25, 2022, Julian L. Lasseter was also operating a motor vehicle southbound on N. Yonge Street, at or near the intersection of W. Granada Boulevard in Ormond Beach, Volusia County, Florida.
- At the time and place referenced in paragraphs 6 and 8 above, Defendant SYTCH negligently operated or maintained her motor vehicle so that it collided with the rear end of Julian L. Lasseter’s motor vehicle, causing severe and incapacitating injuries to Mr. Lasseter. These injuries resulted in his death on March 25, 2022.”
The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of Sytch, that Pente is “vicariously liable” for Sytch’s actions by virtue of allowing her behind the wheel of his vehicle, that the Lasseter family has sustained medical and funeral expenses due to Sytch’s actions and that Lasseter’s adult daughter has “has suffered, and will suffer into the future, the loss of her father’s companionship, instruction, guidance, and mental pain and suffering as a result of her father’s death.”