Former WWE star Tammy “Sunny” Sytch’s conviction for a 2022 fatal DUI crash has been upheld by Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal. Sytch, 51, is serving a 17-year prison sentence followed by 8 years of probation after pleading no contest to charges including DUI manslaughter in the death of 75-year-old Julian Lasseter.
The appeals court issued a “Per Curiam Affirmed” ruling, signifying agreement with the lower court’s decision without further elaboration. Sytch’s court-appointed attorney had previously withdrawn, deeming the appeal without merit.
The March 2022 crash in Ormond Beach, Florida, resulted in Lasseter’s death. Sytch, who had a prior history of DUI arrests and was driving without a valid license, had an open bottle of vodka in her car and cannabis in her system at the time of the incident.
At her November 2023 sentencing, Sytch apologized to the Lasseter family, expressing remorse for the “terrible accident.” She is currently incarcerated in Ocala, Florida, with a projected release date of September 23, 2039.
Meanwhile, a civil lawsuit brought by Lasseter’s estate is scheduled to begin on March 25, 2025. The suit seeks damages in excess of $30,000, citing negligence on Sytch’s part and the emotional and financial hardship suffered by Lasseter’s family.
Key Details of the Incident and Legal Proceedings:
- Incident: March 25, 2022, fatal DUI crash in Ormond Beach, Florida.
- Victim: Julian Lasseter, 75.
- Charges: DUI manslaughter (3rd-degree felony), causing death while driving with a suspended license (3rd-degree felony), four counts of DUI causing injury, three counts of DUI causing property damage.
- Sentence: 17 years in prison, 8 years probation.
- Appeal Status: Denied, “Per Curiam Affirmed.”
- Civil Lawsuit: Pending, scheduled for March 25, 2025.
