He was known as ‘Peace Walker.’ Bradenton woman faces prison for his hit-and-run death
A woman faces decades in prison after a jury convicted her of fleeing a crash that killed an 82-year-old man known for his walks throughout Northwest Bradenton.
A Manatee County jury found Teresa Zeppi, 60, guilty of leaving the scene of a deadly crash in the April 2020 hit-and-run that killed Joseph Dralus, according to court records.
Under Florida law, leaving the scene of a crash involving death is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
An attorney for Zeppi did not immediately respond to the Bradenton Herald’s request for comment.
Bradenton man known as ‘Peace Walker’ killed in hit-and-run
Dralus was well known in his Northwest Bradenton neighborhood for his daily walks, a routine that earned him the nickname “Peace Walker.” A GoFundMe campaign created after the crash described him as “oftentimes seen walking the Bradenton area with a bright smile, a joy for life, chatting with neighbors and greeting many with a peace sign.”
His routine was cut short on April 25, 2020. According to an arrest record, Dralus was walking along the shoulder of Ninth Avenue Northwest when a driver veered off the road and struck him. Paramedics took him to HCA Florida Blake Hospital, where he died nearly a month later, on May 21, 2020.
Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed a gray SUV stopping on Ninth Avenue Terrace Northwest, where a woman got out and wiped something off the bumper before driving away, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Troopers said they later found a matching gray Lincoln Navigator with a pink license plate cover at Zeppi’s home in Northwest Bradenton.
DNA evidence links Zeppi to hit-and-run
On May 14, 2020, investigators obtained a search warrant and took swabs from the front of Zeppi’s SUV, including the hood, fender, headlight and bumper, troopers said. According to an arrest report, forensic testing later confirmed that DNA from the vehicle matched Dralus.
During their investigation, troopers also said they learned that Zeppi was involved in another crash earlier on the same day she fatally struck Dralus. Around noon, she rear-ended another vehicle, causing $2,000 in damage the agency said. Bradenton police later cited her and she pleaded no contest and paid a $166 fine, according to court records.
Nearly two years after the crash that killed Dralus, FHP troopers arrested Zeppi, charging her with leaving the scene of a crash involving death, according to an arrest report. Investigators also accused her of destroying evidence, alleging she wiped down the front of her vehicle to conceal damage, according to court records.
Zeppi was released on bond the same day she was arrested and later entered a plea of not guilty, according to court records.
Ahead of the trial, Judge Frederick Mercurio revoked Zeppi’s bond and she was taken into custody, court records show.
After a four-day trial presided over by Senior Judge Peter Dubensky, the jury found Zeppi guilty on March 6, 2025, according to court records.
Court records show that in June 2023, Zeppi was involved in another crash and cited for driving with a suspended license. She later pleaded no contest to the second-degree misdemeanor.
What happens next?
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 10 at 8:25 a.m.
In addition to the criminal case, court records show that the Dralus estate filed a civil lawsuit against Zeppi, seeking $30,000 in damages related to the fatal crash. That lawsuit is ongoing.
Update: An earlier version of this article misidentified the judge who presided over the trial.
This story was originally published March 24, 2025 at 5:50 AM.
