TAVARES, Florida—The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has increased the reward for a man who ditched his DUI manslaughter trial earlier this month and arrested his girlfriend for assisting him.
Zachery Maurice Waldo, 36, was on trial earlier this month for killing Christopher Smith, 44, his wife, Jessica Smith, 35, and their daughter Hailey Smith, 13, all of Eustis, more than three years ago. Their son Hunter, just 11 years old, was the sole survivor in the vehicle his family was riding in. Christopher and Jessica died on the scene of the Christmas Eve 2019 crash and Hailey died on Christmas Day 2019.
Earlier this month, as his trial was underway, Waldo left the Lake County Courthouse on a lunch break and never came back; Waldo was out on bond for the crimes and that is why he was allowed to leave the courthouse during the break. Leesburg Police Department, LCSO and U.S. Marshals began searching for him immediately and he was found guilty in absentia by a jury the same day.
Last week, LPD and the U.S. Marshals searched the home of Waldo’s girlfriend, Melinesia Shauntel Jones, 32, on East Street, near Dixie Avenue, in Leesburg but nobody was home, LPD Capt. Joe Iozzi told Inside Lake last week.
On Monday, Jones was arrested on a Lake County warrant by U.S, Marshals and LCSO on a traffic stop on Vine Street in Leesburg, according to LCSO. Jones is facing numerous charges including principal to failure to appear, accessory after the fact to DUI manslaughter, false info to law enforcement in a felony investigation, and accessory after the fact to DUI with serious bodily injury. She is being held in the Lake County Jail on no bond.
The probable cause affidavit in Jones’ has been sealed by a judge, so no other details are available.
The day of Jones’ arrest, LCSO announced the reward for information leading to Waldo’s capture was increased to $10,000—$5,000 from Crimeline and an additional $5,000 from the Florida Sheriff’s Association Criminal Apprehension Assistance Program.
If you have information on Waldo’s whereabouts, call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.
Leesburg Police Department and U.S. Marshals Search Home Tuesday Morning for Missing Suspect, Nobody Home
