Florida prosecutors upgraded charges on Monday against a woman who they said intentionally crashed her car in February — leading to her boyfriend’s death earlier this month.
On February 9, Leigha Mumby, 24, and Daniel Waterman, 22, were arguing when Mumby allegedly veered her vehicle into a tree on Interstate 95 in Flagler County. Waterman, a passenger, told investigators in May that Mumby said, “I don’t care what happens, you’ll get what you deserve,” before swerving off the road, according to Flagler Live.
Waterman was left critically injured and in a coma following the February 9 crash. His mother claimed he woke up briefly to recount what happened before the collision — spelling words by making sounds as cops pointed to letters on a board, according to Syracuse.com.
During the hour-and-a-half interview, Waterman reportedly confirmed that Mumby, his pregnant girlfriend, intentionally caused the crash. Detectives said that the vehicle’s event recorder supports Waterman’s claims that the crash was not accidental.
WJXT reported that Waterman was recovering in New York when he contracted pneumonia. He died on October 8.
On the day of the crash, Mumby reportedly found out she was pregnant. Mumby and Waterman had spent the day with his two cousins, but tensions arose as Mumby wanted to keep the baby despite Waterman’s apprehension.
“During the day, he did say, he didn’t know what he was going to do, and he didn’t like how Leigha was handling the situation,” one of the cousins told Flagler Live.
While driving on Interstate 95, Mumby and Waterman allegedly argued as Mumby believed Waterman was talking to an ex-girlfriend. Waterman’s cousin claimed that four minutes before the crash, Mumby texted her from Waterman’s phone.
According to the cousin, the text read, “This is what he gets for being a liar and a cheater.”
The vehicle’s data showed Mumby was traveling at 90mph moments before she suddenly drove off the highway, Florida Highway Patrol said. However, Mumby reportedly told investigators that she did not recall what happened before the crash.
Mumby was initially arrested in July on charges of reckless driving with serious bodily harm and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon resulting in bodily harm. She was immediately released on $25,000 bond.
Prosecutors have since charged Mumby with vehicular homicide in light of Waterman’s death. She remains free on bond.
Mumby, who is still pregnant, is due back in court on November 19. Meanwhile, Waterman’s mother suggested they will seek custody of the unborn baby girl.
“We’ll do whatever we can do to bring her to us,” she told Syracuse.com.
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