Florida man found by deputies cradling woman he ran over with minivan, sheriff says

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — A Florida man is behind bars after deputies said a domestic disturbance turned deadly.

The Collier County Sheriff's Office said Donald Lee Whitaker, 50, from Naples, is charged with second-degree murder. Deputies found Whitaker holding the victim in his arms after responding to a possible domestic disturbance. The arrest report stated the victim and Whitaker knew each other but didn't specify their relationship.

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The call came in on Monday night, dispatch told deputies a woman had been run over on Dove Tree Street in Golden Gate Estates. When deputies arrived, they saw a blue minivan, Whitaker and the victim. Deputies performed CPR on the woman until paramedics could arrive to take her to Naples Community Hospital North East. Her injuries were critical and she died shortly after she arrived at the hospital, according to the sheriff's office.

A witness later came forward and told detectives she was in the neighborhood when she turned onto Dove Tree Street.

According to the arrest report, she saw a woman on the ground and a blue minivan a short distance away. The witness approached the woman, who was sobbing, and asked if she needed any help. She told the witness no.

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The witness also told detectives the minivan “seemed like it was stalking the woman,” so she contacted authorities. As she was doing so, the minivan accelerated directly toward the victim and drove over her.

The woman said said Whitaker got out of the minivan and tried to pick up the victim and carry her to his vehicle, but the victim told him to stop moving her because she was hurt. Whitaker then tried to perform CPR on the victim.

Detectives interviewed Whitaker and placed him under arrest.