‘Peace for the Peace Walker': Jury finds Bradenton woman guilty in deadly hit-and-run crash

Yahoo

07-03-2025

BRADENTON, Fla. (WFLA) — A jury found Teresa Zeppi guilty as charged for leaving the scene of a crash involving death. Deliberations took less than three hours Thursday afternoon.
Her two daughters were seen hugging and crying shortly after a deputy walked Zeppi out of the courtroom.
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'I am sure they are in shock and hurt right now. This is a tight knit family. This is a wonderful woman. This lady is a compassionate and loving woman, and it is disappointing,' said Defense Attorney Brett McIntosh after the verdict. 'We are disappointed. We are going to move onto the sentencing hearing now and after the sentencing hearing, we think we have some valid grounds for appeal. We will be filing the appeals, and we will be moving forward. This fight is not over, never over.'
The victim's sons were not in the courtroom during the verdict. Joseph Dralus Jr. spoke with News Channel 8.
'We're very satisfied today and feel like it was fair. No more no less,' said Dralus Jr.
About two weeks ago, Dralus reached out to News Channel 8 as prosecutors were going to offer Zeppi a plea deal. Now Dralus said there was a misunderstanding of the intent of the plea deal because the State Attorney's Office was concerned the family may not get anything at all. Dralus Jr. said he wasn't to be all in or all out, and that they were never o.k. with a plea of any kind.
'Hey dad, we fought for you, you know, and we won. The 'Peace Walker' has peace.'
The hit-and-run crash took place in April 2020. Joseph Dralus Sr. was walking near his Bradenton home when he was struck by an SUV.
During the trial, an analyst with FDLE testified that DNA on the fender/hood of Zeppi's Lincoln Navigator matched the DNA that came from one of Dralus' toothbrushes.
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'He left his DNA on the vehicle in the same location where he was struck. What did we hear evidence of from the expert? That the DNA on the hood of the Lincoln Navigator is 44 octillion times more likely to originate from Mr. Dralus than a stranger,' said Assistant State Attorney Michael Anolfo. 'The motive is as clear as day. The motive is she thought she could get away with it. The motive is the same reason why her vehicle was in her own driveway. She thought she could get away with it.'
Zeppi's defense questioned how the DNA ended up on her vehicle, speculating that the two may have crossed paths since they live nearby one another.
'Is it an imaginary doubt or an imaginary idea that these two could cross paths, that she could cross someplace where he had just walked, that he walked by her, could have been coughing, spitting, and particulars end up on the hood of the car,' said Defense attorney Brett McIntosh to the jury during his closing arguments.
The defense also reminded the jury of the lack of damage to Zeppi's vehicle and criticized the law enforcement investigation.
'There was so much information that was lacking that we were never going to be able to get. And frankly information that probably would've exonerated her,' said McIntosh. 'That's what happens when investigations are done poorly from the beginning. People get convicted and maybe they shouldn't be convicted, and we'll just never know unfortunately.'
Dralus said the defense is doing their job by filing the appeal. He said he and his family will be there to follow through, in honor of the man who always came through for them.
'We got you dad,' said Dralus. 'Northwest Bradenton, the community, the Peace Walker community has never wavered, and the Dralus family says thank you, we appreciate you guys.'
In the end, Zeppi was found guilty as charged. She could face up to 30 years in prison.
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