Auburn (WSYR-TV) - William LeVea was arraigned Thursday morning in Cayuga County Court. He's facing 15 counts, including second degree murder, in connection with a road rage death. On November 20, police say LeVea killed Christopher Spack of Camillus on Route 370 in Cato. They say LeVea repeatedly slammed his car into the back of Spack's pickup truck, causing Spack’s truck to spin into oncoming traffic. Spack was killed in the crash, and LeVea was indicted on January 22. LeVea was wearing a bullet proof vest underneath his jail uniform Thursday morning. Sheriff Dave Gould says its standard for anyone involved in a high-profile case to be wearing a vest. According to the Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office, the indictment alleges LeVea is also responsible for seriously injuring another man and endangering the lives of other drivers. He is charged with two counts of DWI, and is alleged to have had a blood alcohol count of 0.16%. LeVea is also charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon for two rifles found in his vehicle. As a convicted felon, LeVea is not allowed to possess the rifles. Christopher Spack's family attended the arraignment Thursday morning. They wore stickers saying “In loving memory of Chris.” His mother, Lenore Ellis, says they went because they needed closure. Ellis says the experience of the past two months has been horrific for her family. “Nobody, nobody should die the way he did. Nobody should die the way my Chris died.” LeVea will continue to be held without bail. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 25-years to life in prison, and a minimum sentence of 15-years to life.
Suspect in road rage crash indicted by grand jury
Auburn (WSYR-TV) – Murder suspect William LeVea was indicted by a Cayuga County grand jury Wednesday for allegedly killing a man during a road rage incident in November.
Police say LeVea, 79, repeatedly slammed his car into the back of a pickup along Route 370 in Cato on Friday, November 20. They say this caused the driver of the pickup, Christopher Spack, 41, to loose control. Spack’s pickup was hit by an oncoming truck, and he died at the scene.
At a bail hearing earlier in December, LeVea's attorney said his client may have dementia or Alzheimer's. A competency exam showed LeVea is not suffering from any mental deficiencies, and was fit to stand trial.
LeVea was indicted on second degree murder, aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, two counts of reckless endangerment, two counts of assault, vehicular assault, two counts of driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and following too closely. If convicted on the murder charge, LeVea could face 25-years-to-life in prison.
LeVea is being held without bail in the Cayuga County Jail, and is due back in Cayuga County Court for an arraignment on January 28.
Suspect in road rage crash competent to stand trial
Auburn (WSYR-TV) – A Cayuga County Court has ruled William LeVea is competent to stand trial.
LeVea is charged with second degree murder, DWI and reckless driving after police say he repeatedly rammed another vehicle and ultimately caused an accident and the death of another motorist last month in Cato.
At a bail hearing earlier this month, LeVea's attorney said his client may have dementia or Alzheimer's. A competency exam showed LeVea is not suffering from any mental deficiencies.
LeVea remained in the Cayuga County jail where he was being held without bail.
His case has not been presented to the Grand Jury yet.
Levea in court Wednesday, and another possible victim speaks
November 25, 2009
Auburn (WSYR-TV) - Murder suspect William Levea was back in court today, where a judge refused to set bail for the man accused of killing Christopher Spack with his car.
Prosecutors say Levea had a couple of glasses of wine at a relatives house before getting into his car, and eventually ramming Spack’s pickup truck along Route 370 in Cato. Levea's blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit.
A mental exam was also Wednesday ordered to determine if Levea is fit to stand trial. In the meantime, another possible victim of Levea is speaking out.
Jaymie Walter says she is still suffering the effects of an accident some 6-years ago. She was heading north on Route 81 near the 690 split. She slowed to avoid traffic – when suddenly she felt a jolt from behind.
Walter says that the man behind the wheel of the car that slammed into her was William Levea. More than 6 years have passed, but the one thing that she remembers most is his demeanor. She said , “his comment to me was: what are you doing in the middle of the road?”
Even though the circumstances are different, Levea was found at fault. Jaymie Wwalter still suffers pain from the crash, but now, there is a new pain – an emotional pain for Chris Spack’s family. “I'm worried about them, I feel terrible,” she said. “I wish them the best of luck, it could have been me, could have been my husband and two kids without me.”
Family remembers man killed in road rage crash in Cato
Cato (WSYR-TV) - Family and friends remembered Chris Spack at funeral services held Tuesday. Spack’s mom recalled his smile, and his sister called him the family hero. “He was a wonderful son, a wonderful friend to many people,” Lenore Ellis, Chris’s mom said. His mom and his sister said Chris was the one they turned to during difficult times. Tuesday, they turned to him again. “My brother was the strongest person I know, he's the one keeping us strong through this,” his sister, Julie Legnetto said William Levea is charged in Spack’s death, allegedly ramming his car into Spack’s car Friday in Cato. Spack leaves behind a wife and two children. Cayuga County Sheriff's Deputies continue to investigate the accident that claimed Spack's life. Police have also received reports that Levea may have rammed other cars before causing the crash that eventually killed Spack. Spack's family is asking that instead of flowers, donations be made to the fund set up for his children. Those donations can be sent to: Julie Legnetto 5244 Kasson Road Syracuse, NY 13215.
Police tracing suspect’s movements hours before deadly crash
Cato, Cayuga Co. (WSYR-TV) – Detectives investigating Friday night’s traffic-related homicide in the Town of Cato are now working to track the activities of the suspect from earlier in the evening. Cayuga County Sheriff’s Deputies say William Levea of Fulton caused a deadly crash after ramming his car into another along Rt. 370 near Rt. 176 in Cato Friday night. Shortly before 6:30 Friday evening, 41-year-old Christopher Spack was driving westbound along Route 370. Investigators say he called the Onondaga County 911 center when the car behind started hitting him. "As he relates to the dispatcher that he's about to get rammed again, you can hear his vehicle being struck,” said Cayuga Co. Sheriff’s Deputy Joseph Weeks. Police say Levea repeatedly rammed Spack's truck until he lost control and crossed into oncoming traffic. Spack's vehicle collided with one truck and then another. He was thrown from his car, and killed. Sheriff’s Deputies say their investigation has revealed Levea left a relatives home in the Village of Hannibal at approximately 3:30pm. His whereabouts from then until the time of the deadly accident in the Town of Cato are unknown. Detectives are also working with the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office as they investigate a similar ramming incident which was reported at 6:10pm along Route 31 near Youngholm Lane in the Town of Elbridge. In that incident, a person reported being struck from behind three times by a vehicle matching the description of Levea’s vehicle. Detectives are trying to determine if these two incidents are related. “We don't know what precipitated this whole thing. We may never know because the gentleman is not talking,” Weeks said. Sheriff’s Deputies are asking that anyone who saw a 2008 4-door orange Dodge Caliber with NY plates EDX 6213 or William Levea between the hours of 3:30pm and 6:30pm on Friday contact them at 253-1610.
Levea has troubled past
The Oswego County Sheriff’s Dept. says William Levea, who is suspected of being responsible for a traffic-related homicide Friday, is responsible for killing someone in Fulton over 40 years ago.
Levea, known as Louie Levea, was involved in a fight, and beat James Eagan of Fulton to death on December 23, 1966. Levea was charged with murder and assault.
In 1968, Levea’s case went to trial. He was only convicted on the assault charge and sentenced to 5 years probation.
Murder charge filed in deadly crash
November 21, 2009
Town of Cato (WSYR-TV) A Fulton man is in jail this morning, charged with murder after a deadly crash that deputies say he caused by ramming his car into another along Rt. 370 near Rt. 176 in Cato Friday night. According to investigators, William L. Levea of County Route 6 in Fulton, repeatedly rammed his car into the rear of a pickup truck driven by Christopher J. Spack of Howlett Hill Road in Camillus. Deputies say the 'ramming' caused Spack to lose control of his pickup, and cross into the oncoming lane of traffic and into another pickup truck, driven by a 16-year-old. A third pickup then collided with the wreckage, but the 16-year-old, nor the driver nor passenger in the third vehicle were badly hurt. Spack was ejected from his pickup, and died at the scene. Levea was not hurt. He was charged with murder, driving while intoxicated, and reckless driving. He was arraigned in Ira town court and is currently behind bars at the Cayuga County jail. No bail has been set in the case. Lt. Joseph Weeks from the Cayuga County Sheriff's office tells us Levea did not know Spack, but at this point, investigators are not ready to reveal a motive for Levea's alleged actions.
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