Latest news with #Lutts
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
Some psychic! Fugitive who worked predicted the future nabbed after two decades on the run for fatal DWI crash in Florida
A self-proclaimed psychic on the run for more than 20 years after a fatal Florida car crash apparently never saw his capture coming — and now thinks hiding out in the Great White North was a big mistake. Patrick Lutts Jr. went on the in 2003, after skipping out on a court date related to a Christmas morning drunken driving crash in Orlando in 1998 that left two teens dead, according to the CBC. Lutts, 51, snuck into Canada and settled in Toronto in 2004, where he never opened a bank account and made a living hosting monthly horror-themed trivia nights under the name 'Pat Lighthelp,' the outlet reported. 3 Patrick Lutts, Jr., lived out in the open in Canada for 21 years. Facebook/Quebec Disappearance and Criminal Case Lutts was working for a New Zealand-based psychic reading app called LifeReader. 'I thought that authorities would be able to find me as I stayed in the same place in Toronto for over 20 years,' wrote Lutts in a March 25 affidavit uncovered by the CBC. 'That day just never came until now, but I am tired of running.' 3 Facial recognition software was crucial to Lutts' capture. Facebook/Quebec Disappearance and Criminal Case Lutts, who has been profiled on the TV show 'America's Most Wanted,' was busted by Toronto Police in February and sought bail prior to his extradition to the United States. An anonymous tip led the department's fugitive squad to Lutts. An online cyber sleuth is also said to have used facial recognition software to pinpoint Lutts' location. Lutts remains in Canada awaiting extradition. 3 Nancy Lopez and her boyfriend were killed inthe 1998 Christmas morning crash. Facebook/Quebec Disappearance and Criminal Case Lutts is accused of crashing his car into a vehicle driven by Nancy Lopez, 19, and her boyfriend, Darvin Javier DeJesus-Taboada, 18, neither of whom survived. He faces a pair of DUI manslaughter counts, and if convicted, could end up spending the next 30 years behind bars.
Global News
3 days ago
- Global News
Tipster helps Toronto police make arrest in U.S. cold case where 2 people killed
An anonymous tip led police officers to recently arrest an American man allegedly hiding out in Toronto decades after a 1998 drunk driving collision in Florida left two people dead. Toronto police confirmed that officers from their fugitive squad arrested Patrick Lutts Jr. on Feb. 26, near Bloor and Jarvis streets at the request of U.S. authorities. Court records show that an anonymous tipster called a Florida tipster hotline back in November 2023 to provide details on his whereabouts. The 51-year-old, who was living in an apartment on Isabella Street, was also going by the alias of Pat Lighthelp, as Toronto police tracked his whereabouts several times over an 18-month span. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy According to court records, back in 1998, Lutts had been drinking with friends at an Orlando, Fla., home, where he was staying, when went out for a drive in his truck at around 5 a.m. on Christmas morning. Lutts was allegedly involved in a three-vehicle crash that left a man and a woman dead. Story continues below advertisement Lutts, who had a Georgia licence, allegedly had a blood alcohol level of .272 — three times the legal limit — when he was tested a few hours later, according to the court documents. The following March, Lutts was charged with DUI manslaughter and a warrant was issued for his arrest but the Texas-born man was never found in Florida. Three years later, he was arrested in Manchester, Conn., after being allegedly involved in another drunk driving incident before being shipped back to Florida. Lutts pled not guilty to the initial charges in Florida before he posted a US$5,000 bond. The 51-year-old man never showed up for his Oct. 1, 2003 trial. Court records show that Lutts initially attempted to come into Canada through Niagara Falls on Sept. 29, 2003, but was turned away. It is unclear when he came to Canada but it is believed it occurred over the next several years, as records are not available prior to 2010.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Driver in deadly 1998 Christmas DUI crash found over 20 years later in Canada
Recently, a source within CBC News in Toronto reached out with information regarding a story we brought to your attention in 2014. Patrick Lutts, a man charged in the killing of two 19-year-olds in a DUI crash that occurred on Christmas Day 1998, has been found after over 20 years. Lutts initially skipped out on the initial plea hearing that was set for him in 2003, after he was arrested in Connecticut for another DUI crash. He was shipped back to Orlando, where he posted his original bond amount of $5k, which was less than the state recommended amount, which was twice as much for DUI manslaughter. Lutts signed a plea deal that included 10 years in prison for the charges, but he failed to attend his hearing. Since then, Channel 9's Daralene Jones learned that the state attorney's office accidentally destroyed the Lutts case file. Making it hard for prosecutors to win a case against him in court. In recent events, Lutts was finally located again, but this time in Canada. He was set for a court hearing today, and will have another tomorrow at 10 am. His extradition hearing is currently scheduled for June 11th. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
American man on the run for 20 years arrested in Canada
An American man who had been on the run for over two decades was arrested in Toronto earlier this year, police said. Patrick Lutts Jr., facing manslaughter charges in Orlando, Florida, in connection to a fatal crash, lived openly in Toronto for 21 years without legal status, according to court documents cited by CBS News partner Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC News). Toronto police told CBS News that Lutts was arrested in February under the Canadian Extradition Act. He is set to appear in a downtown court later this month, according to CBC News. In November 2023, an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers in Florida led authorities to suspect Lutts of being in Canada, according to court documents reported by CBC News, which was the first to report his arrest. Lutts was placed under surveillance, and police discovered he was residing in a high-rise apartment building in Toronto. On the early morning of Christmas Day in 1998, Lutts, who was then 25 years old, allegedly crashed into a vehicle in Orlando, resulting in the deaths of two teenagers: 19-year-old Nancy Lopez and her boyfriend, 18-year-old Darvin Javier DeJesus-Taboada, CBC News reported, citing investigators. Investigators said the couple was thrown several meters after Lutts, who had "a strong odor of alcohol coming from his breath" following a night of drinking, crashed his pickup truck into their vehicle." His blood alcohol level was allegedly more than three times the legal limit, CBC News reported. Lutts was allegedly involved in another impaired driving crash in Connecticut in 2002, CBC News reported, citing court files. He failed to appear for a plea hearing in October 2003, public records show, before disappearing until his recent arrest in Toronto, CBC News reported. Texas mom accused of buying ammunition for son who officials say planned school attack Trump teases "good news" on Russia-Ukraine war Scalise says Trump "actively engaged" in GOP budget plan process
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Fugitive in 1998 manslaughter case arrested in Canada
A Central Florida man wanted for a deadly drunk driving crash from more than 20 years ago is finally captured while living in Canada. Patrick Lutts, Jr., has been wanted by Orange County deputies since the crash on Christmas Day in 1998. He's been wanted by Orange County deputies since the crash on Christmas Day in 1998 which left two teens' dead. Canadian court documents shared with us by the Canadian Broadcasting Company show a video of where Lutts lived and worked in Toronto. CBC shared a video showing where Lutts lived and worked in Toronto. Lutts worked at a bar that hosted a monthly horror quiz show. Lutts is accused of being drunk at the time of the Christmas Day crash in 1998 that killed two 19-year-olds. Nancy Lopez and her boyfriend. Channel 9's Daralene Jones talked with Nancy's mom in 2014. 'Maybe from up there's she's saying mom just leave it alone, some days, it is hard for me to talk about,' said Nelida Leon. Canadian officials believe Lutts crossed into Canada sometime between 2004 and 2009. This was after he tried to run a first time. Court documents show he was arrested in Connecticut in 2002 after another DUI crash, where it states his blood alcohol was more than twice the legal limit Lutts was brought back to Orlando in August of 2022. It's when he first faced a judge in relation to the deadly 1998 crash. He posted a $5,000 bond. Since then, he has been living free in Toronto. He was taken into custody in February. 'There is justice, and it's up there. If he doesn't get justice here. God's going to punish this guy,' said Leon. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
