Hello. What's going on? Right now, you are watching 22-year-old Deputy Cody Colangelo approach a drunk and belligerent woman after 911 reports of a car crash. Thinking that she is just a distressed bystander, he is about to make a crucial mistake. Because by not checking what Leah is hiding behind her back, Deputy Cody's life will be changed forever. Don't run. Slowly walk. That's what they said. In moments from now, he would fight a life-and-death battle while Leah is carried out like a sack of potatoes. Now, what investigators need is a simple answer to a devastating question. Why did Leah try to kill Deputy [music] Cody? You already know that one of our deputies were stabbed. We need to know why. They definitely don't know why I would stab somebody. Obviously, something made you panic. And that's what we're trying to figure out, like what made you panic. Around 11:00 p.m. on March 23rd, 2022, police in St. Lucie County, Florida were called to the scene of a horrific accident. After weaving in and out of traffic, witnesses watched in horror as a car smashed into an old oak tree, then proceeded to roll three times down an embankment. The driver, 21-year-old Leah Day, stumbled out disoriented and disappeared into the night. When law enforcement arrived, they're desperate to find the driver, not only to determine why the crash happened, but to ensure that she's not injured somewhere. But by the end of the night, she won't be the only one. I guess she ran off. Only car involved? >> Yeah. All right, single vehicle? All right. Where's the driver? Is he inside? Ran off. Oh, he ran that way, he took off? Yeah, it was a young girl. They said it was a girl? Okay, young girl? All They said she went that way. Who? Supposed to be the one walking. I didn't see nobody Okay. I didn't see nobody walking either. Anybody see the girl take off? Yeah. All right. What was she wearing? So she So she climbed out of the car, she was really disoriented, you know? She's like, "I need to find my phone." And then I was like, "You need to sit down." And she had a cut on her hands, but she was like, "I got to find my purse." And then she did She wouldn't be like She wouldn't And then she just ran that way. Did she strike anything? She was hit in the head. Yeah, she She went into the right You got So she went into the Well, she's up there. Yeah. Okay. And you tried to get her to stop and not I did, yeah. I was trying to like get her to sit down and was like, "You got to You got to You got to sit down." She's like, "I got to find my phone. I need to get my keys and my All right. At trial, the couple interviewed estimated that Leah was driving about 20 mph over the speed limit, weaving in and out of traffic. Her car flipped three times before surprisingly landing on its tires. That's obviously a lot for a little Civic to take. And evidently, it was hard for Leah, who stumbled out of her car and down towards the beach. 22-year-old Deputy Cody Colangelo began to comb the beach for the suspect. With 2 years on the force, he was still considered to be a newbie. But he was about to experience something few officers do. Go ahead. Take my three. Hello. What's going on? Ma'am, stop real quick. Possibly intoxicated the signal three driver. What's going on? You don't know? All right. You just hit Were you just in a crash? Ma'am, come up here. Don't walk away. No, no walking. Come over here. Okay? Walk upstairs, all right? Let's get out of this water area. You're scared? All right, let's walk up here. Let's get out of this water, okay? Don't run. Slowly walk. In an instant, Leah turned on Deputy Colangelo, slicing the carotid artery in his neck. Immediately, he began to bleed severely. But in spite of his injury, he began to pursue Leah, firing off a round and calling desperately for backup. While one officer helped Deputy Colangelo apply pressure to the wound in his neck and awaited an ambulance, two others sprinted towards the water. Somehow, in spite of actively bleeding out, Deputy Colangelo was able to give them a description and tell them where Leah went. And where she went makes about as much sense as all of her other actions this night. Get over here. Get over here! Walk to the sound of my voice. You better not have that knife to you right now. Keep going. Keep coming. I got her. Yeah. Get on the ground. Yeah, not us. I think you guys already out with them. Okay. Yeah, I didn't I didn't want to do this Oh, no, I'm 200 and harder, right? Yes. I'm going to guess Put on the ground. Gross. Gross is one way to describe the uh close-up that we just got. Leah refused to walk even when given a chance to be cuffed and walked by officers. As you'll see, a refusal to do anything remotely helpful is a running theme when it comes to her. Even when officers take her to the hospital for evaluation. Hey. Hey. What's up? Do you know where you're at? Huh? Do you know where you're at? I'm Detective Dale with the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office. Do you know where you're at? Do you know where you're at? Now, like the detectives, you would assume that Leah was under the influence due to her behavior and her pinpoint pupils. But the hospital ran a tox screen when she arrived at the hospital. She tested negative for most substances and had only trace amounts of an undisclosed illicit substance, meaning they couldn't definitely determine if she was under the influence. But there was something else they couldn't determine either. Pinpoint pupils are a symptom of opioid or depressant substance use, but they're also a symptom of head trauma. At the hospital, a doctor disclosed that Leah may have had a concussion or head trauma. Why they didn't have a definitive yes or no, we don't know. What we do know is that neither her potential substance use nor potential head trauma were allowed to be disclosed to the jury at her trial, which means essentially, why the hell she did this can only be determined based on what she discloses, which, as you're about to see, is a whole bunch of blubbering, whining, sass, and non-answers. The following footage was provided to us by the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office. Leah, against the wall. Leah, against the wall. Don't fall over, Leah. Stand normal. Keep footman till I take this handcuff off the on the wall. Take a seat. Take a seat. There. We'll be with you in just a minute. A minute is a little bit of an exaggeration. For the next 40 minutes, Leah assumes the position of a slug, which is apt given the nature of the crime she's just committed. Leah. Leah, are you awake? Leah. Hey. Wake up. Leah. This Leah. Wake up. You all right? You all right? Leah, you awake? >> Oh, okay. Yeah, that's okay. Um I got to use the restroom. Um After some jazz hands, some flopping around, and some unintelligible groaning, police entered to question her. Thankfully, by this point, Deputy Cody Colangelo has made it out of surgery. According to doctors, he was only able to survive due to his training. If he hadn't put pressure on his own neck while he waited for help to arrive, he would have bled out at the scene. Which means, thankfully, no one in the office is mourning the loss of their friend. They do, however, have some big questions. Like what the heck was Leah thinking? Miss Disney Hey. Come on, sit up for me. Sit up for me. Come on. Take your time. Go ahead, have a seat. Can you open your eyes so I can make sure you looking. Do you know where you're at? No. Well, you're at the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office. I'm Detective Dale, this is Detective Rhoads. >> [snorts] >> All right, before we get started, I got some questions and stuff to ask on what happened tonight, but I need to read you something first, all right? So, I need you to pay attention cuz I got to make sure you understand what I'm reading you, okay? Okay. Right now, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in court. You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions and have him with you during questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you before any questioning if you wish. If you decide to answer questions without a lawyer present, you will still have the right to stop answering at any time. You also have the right to stop answering at any time until you talk to a lawyer. Do you understand each of these rights that I've read to you? Have you previously requested any law enforcement officer to allow you to speak to an attorney? With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak with me right now? Do you? Do you understand what I read to you? Okay. Do you want to speak with me? Tell me what happened. I'm sure you're tired and there's a lot going on, obviously, but if you if you're willing to talk to us, just I need to know. >> She She needs to know. >> [snorts] >> Yes or no? You want to speak with me? Mhm. Okay. Can you tell me what happened tonight? I remember waking up in the car. You remember waking up in the car? Mhm. Where were you coming from? >> [gasps] >> Do you remember? Port St. Lucie. Port St. Lucie? Were you at a friend's house? Were you at a friend's house in Port St. Lucie or You remember? >> [snorts] >> Okay, so tell me what happened when you woke up in the car, what happened from there? >> [snorts] >> Um I just kept panicking. I didn't know what to do. Okay. >> [snorts] >> After you panicked and you didn't know what to do, then what happened? I fell in the water. Um the beach side. Okay, you're running on the beach side? Yeah. Okay, then what happened after that? A man with a flashlight walked up to me. A man with a flashlight? Okay, and then what happened after that? >> [snorts] >> I know it's difficult. Not as difficult as it is watching this 21-year-old wiggle around like a toddler in the middle of a tantrum after not getting the juice they wanted. And as police desperately try to get a single explanation that makes sense here, the baby talk only gets more, well, babyish. What happened when the man with the flashlight walked up to you, what happened? Did he say anything to you? Um I don't remember. Okay, then what happened? Um I remember water. Uh um There was grass. Okay. And um and then I remember the back of the ambulance. Okay. You don't remember the Let's go back to when the man with the light when he came and to speak with you, what happened there? You don't remember? Do you remember anything happening on the stairs? >> [snorts] >> No. Do you remember having a conversation with the man with the light? No. No. >> [snorts] >> Okay, um >> [clears throat] >> What else happened on the beach? Do you remember? It's I remember giving up. Giving up? Um okay. Where's your um Where's your black hoodie? Somebody said you had a black hoodie. A jacket? Do you remember having it with you? No hoodie? What about some leggings? Leggings? Yeah, did you have you Were you wearing them all night or did you have other stuff on? Um My shoes is what I was wearing. Huh? My shoes is what I was wearing. Okay, when um when you got out of the vehicle, did you take anything with you? Like were you carrying anything? Yeah. Yes. What did you have? I had a wallet and my Your wallet and what else? My knife. Your what? Your knife? What kind of knife? A what? A butterfly knife? >> [crying] >> What happened to that knife? Cuz when they found you, they you didn't have it on you. I think it fell in the water. You think it fell in the water? Okay. Just a reminder here, according to her stop at the hospital, there was no alcohol in her system and a trace amount of an unnamed illicit drug. Now, a trace amount means that technically, she may have tested positive for a very small amount of a substance, but that it was below the threshold to conclusively determine she was under the influence. So, though she appears to be, you know, out of her gourd here, it may not be because of something she took, which is a lot more scary, especially considering what happens next. Did you do anything with the knife? >> [panting] >> Before it fell in the water? Huh? You remember? What color was the knife? Okay. Hey. What color was your butterfly knife? Huh? What do you mean no? You don't remember the color? >> [snorts] >> Okay. What about your phone? Where's your phone at? Huh? You didn't have it with you? Was it in the car? Okay, so what happened with the guy with the light? What happened with you and him and the knife? >> [snorts] >> Okay, you panicked and then what happened? >> [snorts] >> You ran from him? Did you do anything with the knife? Okay. So you panicked. Were you afraid that he was going to attack you? Okay. After you panicked, then what happened? You kept walking? Do you know where you were walking to or at? Like you were walking down the beach? Okay. Did you go in the water at all? Yeah. How deep did you go? You don't remember? Let me ask you um You know you're at the sheriff's office, right? Do you know why you're here? Do you have any idea why you're here? That's what we're trying to find out, what you remember. I just remember getting out of the car and panicking cuz I didn't know what And [snorts] then Go ahead. Okay, you panicked and then what happened? So you get out of your car and uh and you panic, you said. And then you start walking along with I guess this is the beach, right? And then you come you see this man with the light. What did he say to you or or or did he say anything that made you nervous or scared or or anything like that? Do you remember any of that interaction with the man with the light at all? Not a whole lot? Can you tell us what you do remember? Was he walking towards you? And then then what happened after that? Did something happen between you and him? I don't think so. Well, when we asked like what happened, you said you think you stabbed somebody. That's what we're trying to figure out. Do you remember anything happening, a struggle or No. So why do you think you stabbed somebody? Not a great answer to that question. All right, so we know you were in an accident. We know that you had your butterfly knife in your wallet. Okay? You already know that one of our deputies were stabbed. We need to know why. So I I need you to help me understand because I I don't. Okay? Um you're in a car accident. I've been in a car accident before. What made you panic after you got in that car accident to the point where you were leaving your car accident with a knife in your wallet? Oh, the knife I always carry on me. Okay, that's fine. Listen, a lot of people carry stuff on them for their own protection and whatnot, okay? But then you see this man with the light. Okay? You have a knife and this man with the light ends up getting stabbed. I need you to help me understand how how how did it get to that point? The um the man with the light, did you know if he was a deputy or a regular person? You didn't know if he was a deputy or not? >> [snorts] >> Okay, so something happened between you and this guy with the light and that's what we're trying to figure out what happened. Yeah, it was obviously something made you panic. And that's what we're trying to figure out. You know, that you don't seem like a bad person, you know, >> [snorts] >> go around doing stuff. So something made you panic. And that's what we're trying to figure out. >> [snorts] >> Do you remember doing anything? Do you remember doing anything, your actions? I just wanted to get away. Okay. >> [snorts] >> So then what happened when you wanted to get away? Like did he grab you? Did he touch you? Okay. >> [snorts] >> You keep saying whenever I ask you why all this happened, you keep saying you don't know. That you don't know why, you don't know why. Are you saying you don't know why you would stab somebody or you don't know what? Well, I I definitely don't know why I would stab somebody. Okay. [snorts] >> [snorts] >> But that's and that's what we're trying to figure out like what made you panic. >> [snorts] >> I know you remember something, you're breathing heavy. Um insurance. I don't have any. You don't have no insurance? Yeah, that's why I panicked. Okay. >> [snorts] >> So having no insurance, that's what made you run from the vehicle? Yeah. Okay. Have you ever been in jail before? No. No? Okay. >> [snorts] >> So, tonight, were you scared to go to jail because of the car accident? Yeah. Okay. So, you leave the scene of the accident because you don't have insurance and and you're scared that you're going to end up going to jail. You obviously remember enough. Okay? Mhm. I know that, you know that. Mhm. Okay? What we need now is to clear all of this up >> [snorts] >> and make sense of everything. Mhm. Okay? Would you agree? >> [snorts] >> Because right now there's a it's just it's not making sense because you remember specific things and then you don't remember So, the interaction Help us understand. >> [snorts] >> Just tell me what happened. You're going to feel a lot better. Once you start talking, believe me, you're going to feel better. I know you know more than what you're telling us. I can see it in you. Every time you get to a point, you start breathing heavy. Um I'm being messed with. Huh? [snorts] What am I supposed to say? What you're supposed to say is I just want you to tell me what happened with the interaction with the guy with the light on the beach. I just He came at me and I was trying to get away. Okay. >> [snorts] >> So, what did you do to try to get away? Obviously. Okay. And then after you stabbed [snorts] him, what did you do? I ran. Okay. Obviously, she stabbed him because that's totally the rational thing to do when you're concerned about getting caught driving without insurance. And this wasn't Leah's first rodeo. In August of 2021, she was ticketed for driving without insurance. As a result, her license was suspended, which in the grand scheme of things isn't a big deal. Stabbing someone obviously is. And despite the lack of substances in Leah's system, it's clear there's something wrong with her critical thinking here. So, we now know you stabbed him because you were panicking. Well, we the way that I want to know is why were you panicking? Because I don't I don't think honestly, I I really don't think that because of insurance that that's why you were panicking. Something else is going through your mind that made you do what you did. I just I want you to help me understand what was going through your mind. Was it Any anything else you can think of? I mean, listen, at the end of the day, if it's because you were really scared just to go to jail because of your insurance and hey, I guess that's what it is. Um I was just being paranoid. You were paranoid? Okay. You were being paranoid? Okay. Okay. So, now that you're actually explaining a little more to us of what happened, can you walk us through what happened? Like from beginning to end, so we kind of could understand this whole situation. I woke up. Okay. Struggled to get out. Um >> [snorts] >> I I walked on the beach and then the guy with the light I came. Okay. And then he stabbed me. And then And then I ran. And then they were two police officers. Okay. 2021. Okay. Now, when you stabbed him and ran, do you remember what happened with your knife? I think it was in the water. I was in the water. Okay. Is that where they found you in the water? Yeah. Okay. Um do you remember how Do you remember how you stabbed him? Like how and where? More or less like what manner? Like did you There's obviously different ways you do this. You can do this. I mean, there's multiple ways to stab people. Do you remember like how you did it? Or It was just a forward motion. Okay. Like how? Can you show me? Just push forward. Okay. Do you remember where you stabbed him at? On him anywhere? Do you remember where? Um in the neck area. Okay. Do you remember running away after? Mhm. I need you to try to be specific. How? Uh you So, you run away after? >> Yeah. So, but not just up the stairs, what happened with with our deputy? And then >> Before you ran up the stairs. >> ran up the stairs, what happened with that deputy when you panicked? I'm sorry. It's okay. So, well, you've already said you stabbed him the way you stabbed him with what and what you stabbed him with. I'm just I want you to just piece it all together. And and just so that we can get a more accurate kind of more or less of a timeline. Okay? Because, you know, you're going >> a short time frame of that. Like maybe not even 20 minutes. Okay. So, he did say a couple things to you, right? I already asked you this, but I'll ask you again. Can you describe him? What he was wearing or what he looked like or was he old or young? Was he Okay. Now, when you guys were hanging out at the bottom of by the water cuz you said he walked down the stairs. And then you said you started running up the stairs. What happened before right before you started running up the stairs? You're thinking. I know you want to say it. Come on. I don't think he did. >> Okay. And then what happened with your panic? I I thought he was going to run. Okay. And then what happened? And then he stabbed me. Okay. Were you trying to kill him? No, I wasn't trying to kill him. I was trying to get away. Okay. Where did you have the knife the whole time? In my hand. In your hand? Is it like a small that fit in your hand where you Yeah, I don't have any pockets. But like if you have your knife in your hand right now and you close your fist, would you be able to hide it? >> It's like Or it would stick out a little bit. Okay, so you couldn't really hide it in your Okay. The fact that Leah had the presence of mind to hide the weapon behind her back and then in front of her when she went ahead of the deputy on the stairs became a tipping point in the trial. Because according to the prosecution, concealing the weapon proved intent and premeditation. And as you've surely realized by now, that can mean the difference between a slap on the wrist or a life in prison. Deputy Colangelo, when questioned about the incident, explained just how well she intentionally hid the weapon and how lucky she was to still be alive. Were you alarmed? Or let me ask you, did you ever ask to see her hands? No. Okay. In watching the video, initially, she's down on the beach. Mhm. Do you remember where her hands were? When I first saw her, I observed um it looked like a black wallet in her hand. Okay. Um when I first walked up on the dock, but she did well at hiding her hands when she was just walking around and I first saw her. So, I hadn't seen any type of weapon. Okay. When she got or she was down um at the bottom of the deck, where were her hands at that time? Um behind Okay. When she walked past you and you were following her up, where did her hands go? She started She moved towards the front. >> Okay. But could you actually see the palms of her hands? >> No. Okay. At that point, did anything cause any alarm in you in the fact of she was standing like this in the video? Um at the >> when she passed you, she kind of moved them around. Did it cause any alarm or concern? At the time, no, because um she appeared to be under the influence of something. I assumed that she was just having Well, when you deal with someone on narcotics, they might experience they have weird fidgetings with their body. Mhm. And that's what I was assuming was going on. Okay. How many shots did you fire? One round. One round. After you fired the one round, did you think about firing another round or why or why did you not fire another round? At that point, because she started getting up the stairs and I felt like if I was to continue shooting, I could put somebody else at I didn't have a good enough angle and shot. I felt I didn't have a good enough um I can't explain it. To be able to get another round safely off towards her without putting a risk of anybody else. Anybody else meaning your background? Um background, yes. Cars are still traveling up and down any River Drive during those hours. Right. Deputy Colangelo has acknowledged that this night taught him a lot, mainly to always check suspect's hands the instant you approach them. At the same time, that night taught his department a lot about him, that no matter the situation, he's an officer who will put the public safety above all else, even his own life. He had the presence of mind not to put others at risk and even managed to give his partner directions to find Leah as he struggled to stay alive. Leah's presence of mind, on the other hand, obviously lacking. I'm starting to get tired of repeating myself. Well, we're just trying to get you to That's kind of what I said, just one last time. And I just wanted it kind of from beginning to end. And I know that there's kind of a lot of moving parts and a lot to remember, okay? So, we'll shorten it up for you. All right? From the moment you see the male with the light, okay? Your hands are behind your back. You have your knife in your hand. All right? And then you turn around and start going up the stairs and you said you moved your hands to your sides. Were they at your sides or were they in front of you? They were like up here. Kind of like up here, okay. Now, you walked up the stairs. So, as this man is walking behind you up the stairs, what do you do? Okay. Okay. And then what? So, you take the knife, you turn around. I stabbed him. Okay. And as soon as you do that, what is your next move? I run. Okay. Okay. All right. You need some more water? You want us to find you something to munch on? Yes, please. Okay. Do you have any questions for us? Do you have any clothes? We can look in the closet soon and see what we have. Yeah, we'll look and see what we have. >> But then and then we'll find see if we can find a snack or something. Are you allergic to peanut butter or peanuts? No food allergies? No. Okay. We'll see if we can find her food and we'll see what we can find for hopefully clothing. >> Clothing or something to put on you, okay? Leah's trial was as strange as her crime. Her defense team called no witnesses to the stand whatsoever, including medical staff that attended to Leah. As we stated earlier, her potential substance use and her potential head injury were not allowed to be disclosed to the jury because the potential substance use was deemed voluntary intoxication and the medical staff never definitively gave any statements about her injuries. It didn't take long for the jury to reach a verdict, guilty of attempted first-degree premeditated murder. Her sentencing, life in prison. In December of 2024, she filed an appeal, though nothing has come of it as of the publishing of this video. Cody Colangelo has thankfully made a full recovery and still serves as a deputy with the Saint Lucie County Sheriff's Office. We wish him safety and commend him for trying to protect the community even when he was gravely injured. Thank you for watching today's video. Whether you're new here or have been with us for a while, check out one of the craziest cases I've ever covered right here or one of my newest uploads right here.