Tammy Sytch Seeks to Overturn Conviction

Former WWE personality Tammy “Sunny” Sytch is trying to overturn her conviction in Volusia County, Florida, but a judge has dismissed her latest motion and warned that a successful challenge could expose her to a longer prison term.

Sytch’s filing argues that her original defense lawyer failed to investigate evidence and legal issues connected to the March 2022 crash that killed 75-year-old Julian Lasseter. She is seeking an evidentiary hearing and additional discovery, with the goal of having her conviction vacated and potentially receiving a new trial.

Judge dismisses Sytch’s motion on procedural grounds

Volusia County Circuit Court Judge Christian Miller dismissed the motion on October 21, describing it as “facially insufficient.” The ruling concerned the filing’s compliance with procedural requirements, rather than deciding whether Sytch’s allegations about her lawyer or the medical evidence were valid.

The court said the motion lacked sworn statements required under Florida criminal procedure rules. Those statements must certify that Sytch read and understood the filing and that its factual claims are true and correct. She can challenge the dismissal or submit another filing that meets the requirements.

In the motion, Sytch claims her lawyer did not adequately examine whether the collision legally caused Lasseter’s death or whether other medical circumstances contributed. The filing cited Lasseter’s reported history of coronary artery disease, stenosis and other cardiovascular conditions. It also referred to toxicology records showing Adderall and Cialis in his system, and questioned whether injuries from CPR at the scene could have affected the medical findings.

Sytch also raised a potential conflict-of-interest concern involving the prosecution. Her filing said lead Assistant State Attorney Ashley Terwilliger was married to physician Zachary Terwilliger, who declared Lasseter dead. Sytch argued that her defense lawyer should have investigated the relationship and whether it created a conflict requiring disclosure.

A successful challenge could reopen dismissed charges

Sytch’s current sentence followed a negotiated no-contest plea entered in August 2023. She received 17 years and six months in prison, followed by eight years of probation, in November 2023.

Judge Miller warned that overturning the plea agreement could release prosecutors from its terms. Charges dismissed as part of the deal could then potentially be reinstated. If convicted on the original charges, Sytch could face up to 26 years in prison—more than the term she is serving under the current sentence.

The original charges included DUI manslaughter, causing death while driving with a suspended or revoked license, four counts of DUI causing injury and three property-damage counts. The judge’s warning makes clear that seeking to undo the plea carries a risk beyond the procedural challenge in her current motion.

The 2022 crash and Sytch’s sentence

The case began with a crash on March 25, 2022, in Ormond Beach. Investigators said Sytch was driving south on U.S. 1 when her vehicle hit the rear of a car driven by Lasseter. He was taken to a hospital and died from his injuries. Authorities reported that Sytch was intoxicated and did not have a valid driver’s license.

At her sentencing hearing, Sytch addressed Lasseter’s family, expressed remorse and acknowledged the impact of his death. She was a prominent professional wrestling personality in the 1990s and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011.

Her conviction and sentence remain in place following the October 21 dismissal. The source reports no date for a further court hearing or a new filing.