TAMPA –
If Charles Peoples had his way, authorities would hold his wife Wanda responsible for her own death.
Already on probation for habitually driving with a revoked license, Peoples had gotten drunk and crashed into another car on Interstate 75. His wife of 32 years was fatally injured.
It’s not clear exactly when Wanda Peoples died. But as her life slipped away, her husband got to work trying to cover his tracks before troopers arrived.
According to a prosecutor, Charles Peoples cut Wanda’s seatbelt. And then he tried to push her into the driver’s seat.
On Friday, Peoples was sentenced to 25 years in state prison for driving while intoxicated manslaughter, violation of probation and driving while revoked, habitual offender.
Peoples, 60, presented Judge Gregory Holder with doctor’s reports stating he has substance abuse problems involving alcohol, cocaine and heroin dating back more than 40 years.
But he denied trying to put his wife in the driver’s seat. “I don’t know where that came from,” said Peoples, who also told the judge, “I ain’t never hurt my wife.”
Assistant State Attorney Barbara Coleman said Peoples’ arrest record dates back to 1966. His convictions include numerous drug offenses, robbery, escape, battery on
