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Fugitive in 1998 Florida DUI Manslaughter Arrested in Toronto After 21 Years on the Run

He remains in a Toronto detention centre after a judge denied bail ahead of a June extradition hearing.

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A file photo of Patrick Lutts.
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Overview

  • Toronto police arrested Lutts on Feb. 26 near Bloor and Jarvis streets after a U.S.-based tipster used facial recognition technology and social media clues to locate him.
  • He fled Florida in 2003 after posting bond and failing to appear for his 1998 DUI manslaughter trial in the crash that killed two teenagers.
  • While in Toronto, Lutts hosted monthly trivia nights and offered online psychic readings under the alias Pat Lighthelp.
  • He has no passport or legal immigration status in Canada and used his real name only to open a cellphone account and rent a post office box.
  • Court records show he faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted on two counts of DUI manslaughter.