A 24-year-old Flagler Beach woman has been charged with intentionally crashing her car and causing the death of her boyfriend after the two had argued about her pregnancy. According to investigators, Leigha Mumby discovered she was pregnant by her boyfriend, 22-year-old Daniel M. Waterman, on the morning of February 9, 2024—Super Bowl Sunday.
The pregnancy was unplanned, and the couple’s relationship had been unstable. They spent the day at Flagler Beach with Waterman’s cousins before heading to Palm Coast to watch the Super Bowl. The two left before the game ended but never made it home, as per FlaglerLive.
Police say Mumby was driving a white 2019 Honda Passport north on I-95 when she intentionally swerved off the road at high speed and crashed into a tree near the Matanzas Woods Parkway interchange. Data from the car’s computer showed the vehicle traveling between 93 and 95 mph moments before impact, with no brakes applied.
Both were seriously injured, and Waterman was left in a coma for months. He never recovered from his injuries and died on October 8 of pneumonia related to his condition. Mumby told investigators she could not remember the crash, but Waterman, when he regained consciousness, communicated through a letter board that the crash was deliberate.
He told investigators they had argued after she found out she was pregnant and saw a text from another woman on his phone. He said Mumby sped up after he tried to get out of the car and told him, “I don’t care what happens, you’ll get what you deserve,” before swerving off the road.
In July, Mumby was charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and reckless driving, causing serious bodily injury. Despite Waterman’s death, the charges have not yet been upgraded, though prosecutors are expected to do so.
Assistant State Attorney Melissa Clark, who handles major felony cases, was recently assigned to prosecute the case. She confirmed that the charges will not be dropped and could become more severe.
Waterman’s family, who live in Syracuse, New York, have expressed ongoing frustration as they continue to seek justice. His cousin, Jessica Stappenbeck, said the family spent months at his hospital bedside and accumulated more than $2 million in medical bills before he was transferred back to New York.
The Florida Highway Patrol report described the crash as intentional, noting that steering data showed sharp, deliberate movements consistent with aggression. Mumby remains free on $25,000 bond and is due back in court for a pre-trial hearing on November 19.