A heartbreaking case out of Florida has left both investigators and social media stunned. A 22-year-old man from New York, living in the Sunshine State, woke up from a coma after a devastating car crash, only to tell police that his pregnant girlfriend had intentionally caused it. Weeks later, he passed away, but not before identifying her as the one responsible.
The tragic story centers around Daniel Waterman, who was critically injured in a violent crash along Interstate 95 back in February. His girlfriend, Leigha Mumby, 24, had reportedly been behind the wheel that night. The couple was allegedly arguing after Mumby found out she was pregnant and saw a text message on Daniel’s phone from another woman. What happened next was something straight out of a nightmare, per Law and Crime.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Florida, Mumby allegedly told Daniel, “I don’t care what happens, you’ll get what you deserve,” before swerving the car off the road and colliding with a tree. The impact left Daniel with multiple life-threatening injuries, including fractures to his spine, clavicle, femur, and hip, and doctors placed him in a medically induced coma.
Florida Man Wakes From Coma To Reveal Pregnant Girlfriend As His Killer Before Tragic Death
For more than three months, his family held out hope. Then, in May, something miraculous happened: Daniel woke up. Unable to speak, he reportedly communicated with detectives using a letter board and sounds to spell out words. What he said changed everything.
Daniel indicated that Leigha had intentionally crashed the car after their argument about her pregnancy and the message from his female friend. He claimed she slowed the car down to around 50 mph, giving him a chance to try to get out before speeding back up to nearly 90 mph and veering off the road.
Investigators later discovered a text message Mumby allegedly sent from Daniel’s phone just before the crash: “This is what he gets for being a liar and a cheater.” That message, paired with Daniel’s dying testimony, painted a chilling picture of a relationship that spiraled out of control.
Sadly, Daniel’s recovery didn’t last long. In early October, the young man succumbed to pneumonia brought on by his injuries. His mother described him as a fighter to the end: “He never gave up. This whole entire time, he literally never gave up.”
Gone Too Soon
Now, Mumby faces multiple charges, including vehicular homicide, reckless driving with serious bodily harm, and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. She’s currently out on bond and scheduled to appear in court in November.
Daniel’s family, meanwhile, says his final wish was for them to gain custody of the baby girl Leigha was pregnant with. “We’ll do whatever we can to bring her to us,” his mother said, explaining that Daniel wanted the child raised in New York with his loved ones. “This is a plot straight out of a movie or book. So sad,” one person commented online.
This Florida tragedy is one of those stories that feels almost too surreal to be real: a young couple, a split-second of rage, and a devastating chain of events that ended two lives forever. And while justice may still be making its way through the court system, one thing is certain: Daniel Waterman’s final words made sure his truth was heard.
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