Tammy Sytch Seeks To Overturn Conviction

Tammy "Sunny" Sytch, a WWE Hall of Famer, is serving a 17-year prison sentence after charges in March 2022 related to the death of 75-year-old Julian Lasseter. Lasseter died following a road traffic incident in Ormond Beach, Florida. Sytch has filed a motion seeking to have her conviction overturned.

In the motion, Sytch claimed her defense counsel gave ineffective assistance by failing to investigate whether Lasseter's pre-existing medical conditions contributed to his death. The incident was a low-speed collision in which Lasseter suffered no significant physical injuries that would have caused his death.

Sytch stated that Lasseter had a long-standing medical history including serious cardiovascular and internal medical conditions that were not fully investigated. The motion noted that the fractured ribs Lasseter suffered were consistent with CPR administered at the scene rather than the collision.

Sytch argued that a full investigation into Lasseter's previous medical issues and the involvement of a medical expert to explain his history to the jury would have resulted in her acquittal on the homicide offense. She contended this could have led to a less severe sentence or no jail time at all.

The motion also highlighted a potential conflict of interest with the prosecution, as lead Assistant State Attorney Ashley Terwilliger is married to Zachary Terwilliger, the physician who declared Lasseter dead. Sytch said this relationship was not disclosed and that her defense should have examined whether it needed to be revealed at trial and if it influenced the verdict.

The relationship between the Terwilligers and Lasseter's pre-existing medical history were presented as omitted and new evidence that led to an inaccurate trial and harsh sentencing.