• 20 years on the run ends for Patrick Lutts Jr., a Florida Man, Arrested After a deadly 1998 Florida crash in Toronto.
• Police tracked the Florida Man After an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers in late 2023 led to his arrest.
• He now faces extradition to the U.S. to answer long-standing manslaughter charges following his arrest.

Patrick Lutts Jr., an American man wanted for manslaughter, lived freely in Toronto for 21 years. He escaped the law after a fatal crash in Orlando, Florida, back in 1998. Despite facing serious charges in the U.S., he never had legal papers in Canada. Police arrested him earlier this year in Toronto and finally caught the Florida Man after years on the run. Now, he awaits a court hearing and possible extradition to face justice.

Tip from Florida Leads Police to His Toronto Apartment

In November 2023, Crime Stoppers in Florida received an anonymous tip. The caller said Lutts might be living in Canada. Police in Toronto acted quickly on the tip. They started watching him and found he lived in a high-rise apartment. Authorities kept him under surveillance for several months. Finally, in February 2025, they arrested him under Canada’s Extradition Act, marking the capture of the Florida Man Arrested After a lengthy investigation.

Lutts Caused a Deadly Crash on Christmas Day 1998

The crash happened on Christmas Day when Lutts was 25 years old. He hit a car carrying two teenagers, Nancy Lopez and Darvin Javier DeJesus-Taboada. Both were young — 19 and 18 years old. The collision threw them several meters away from the impact. Unfortunately, both teenagers died at the scene. Investigators reported Lutts smelled strongly of alcohol after the crash. His blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit, leading to Florida Man Arrested After years of evasion regarding this deadly event.

History of Drunk Driving and Court Failures

Lutts did not only cause one crash. In 2002, he was involved in another crash in Connecticut. This incident also involved impaired driving. Later, in 2003, he was supposed to attend a plea hearing. He skipped it and disappeared. He stayed out of reach of the law for over two decades after that.

Living Without Legal Status in Toronto for Two Decades

Despite being wanted in the U.S., Lutts lived openly in Toronto. He never applied for legal papers or status. He blended into the city and avoided suspicion. Police only found the Florida Man Arrested After they received the tip and began surveillance. His arrest surprised many because he had lived there so long without being caught.

What Comes Next for Lutts After Arrest

After his arrest, Canadian authorities plan to bring Lutts to court in Toronto. He will face charges related to the fatal crash. Then, officials will decide if Canada will extradite him to the United States. If extradited, Lutts must answer for the deaths caused by the 1998 crash.