‘I saw this car in front of my house': Testimony begins in fatal hit-and-run trial
MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – Testimony is now underway in the trial of a woman accused in the fatal hit-and-run in Bradenton.
Terease Zeppu was initially offered a plea deal that called for no jail time, but the deal was revoked by prosecutors last week.
During the first day of testimony, Teresa Zeppi, 60, walked into the courtroom with shackles on her hands and feet.
Zeppi is accused of leaving the scene of a deadly crash five years ago, on April 25, 2020.
Zeppi was arrested and charged in 2022.
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Troopers who investigated the case at the time said they found DNA evidence on Zeppi's vehicle matching the victim.
Authorities said 82-year-old Joseph Dralus Sr. was struck by an SUV while walking along 9th Avenue Northwest in Bradenton.
Dralus Sr. was transported to the hospital in critical condition but died from his injuries a month later.
The community said Dralus was known as the 'peacemaker' because he greeted everyone with a warm smile and a peace sign during his 5-mile walks.
However, within an instant tragedy struck when he was hit by the vehicle.
His family has been on a mission to find the driver responsible for the crash ever since.
Prosecutors said Zeppi was behind the wheel of the vehicle that drove off.
Defense attorneys are arguing against that claim.
'The dustbin of history is littered with flawed theories that are the result of groupthink,' said defense attorney Brett McIntosh. 'The state just presented you with a theory, an idea if you will. The state's theory in this care is that Teresa Zeppi ran her car into Mr. Daralus. Knew she had done so and then fled the scene.'
Many neighbors say it was a day they will never forget.
Heidi Heisler testified in court about a surveillance video that was captured from the camera located outside of her garage.
The video showed a woman pull over in an area near the crash, get out of a Lincoln Navigator, and wipe the front bumper before driving off again.
'I thought it seemed a little strange that I saw this car in front of my house and a woman get out and look at her car,' Heisler said.
Heisler eventually saw Joseph Dralus Sr. severely injured on the street nearby. 'He was lying on his back, and his legs had a bone sticking out of it,' Heisler said.
Dralus' son also testified in court and shared his emotional response after learning about the crash involving his father.
He frantically rushed to the scene within 10 minutes.
'I noticed the blood on the driveway,' said Joseph Dralus Jr. 'I don't recall anything after that. It was about finding my dad at that time.'
Joseph Dralus Jr. received snapshots of what appeared to be the vehicle in question and posted them on social media with a desperate plea to find the driver.
During his search, Dralus Jr. eventually located a Lincoln Navigator outside a home but decided not to approach the owner.
However, he posted an updated message on social media about his discovery.
'I found her,' read the message 'There should be a knock on her door shortly.'
During opening statements attorneys also spoke about the front-end damage on the vehicle in question.
'Mr. Dralus was stuck by the vehicle,' said Assistant State Attorney Michael Anolfo. 'The exact same spot where you will hear facts and evidence to show that his DNA was found on the exact same spot.'
The damage is now a focal point in the case.
'Earlier in the day approximately 12 o'clock or so, Ms. Zeppi had been in a fender bender accident,' said defense attorney Brett McIntosh. 'In that fender bender accident, there was slight damage to the right front of her car.'
It will ultimately be up to the jury to decide the outcome of the case.
The six-person jury includes four women and three men, including an alternate juror.The judge told jurors that he expected the case to be in their hands by Thursday afternoon.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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