David Grassi was sitting in his patrol vehicle on Interstate 4 south of downtown Orlando, protecting a construction zone, when Neil Demetree slammed into him at 87 mph on December 11, 2021. Nearly five years later, Demetree still hasn’t gone to trial, and new competency questions raised by his defense team could push any resolution even further into the future.
Grassi, who served as an Orange County Sheriff’s Office Field Service Officer, was monitoring a lane closure for I-4 Express construction near the Kaley Street exit around 2:30 a.m. when Demetree’s vehicle struck his patrol car under 100 percent acceleration, according to the crash report cited by WFTV. Investigators say Demetree slammed into Grassi’s patrol vehicle that night, and Orlando police body-camera footage showed Demetree admitting he had been drinking — three beers at Rachel’s, a local strip club — before the crash. Officers on scene did not arrest him; instead, they discussed helping him get home, and ultimately helped him call a ride.
A Slow Path From DUI Investigation to Formal Charges
Demetree was initially investigated for DUI manslaughter, but the State Attorney’s Office didn’t formally file charges until eight months later, in July 2022, ultimately charging him with vehicular homicide rather than DUI manslaughter. He entered a written not-guilty plea in January 2024. He now faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.
The distinction between the two charges matters under Florida law. Vehicular homicide, under Florida Statute § 782.071, is a second-degree felony requiring prosecutors to prove reckless driving likely to cause death or great bodily harm, punishable by up to 15 years in prison, according to the Brancato Law Firm. DUI manslaughter, by contrast, requires proving impairment and carries a mandatory minimum sentence of four years. The case against Demetree has been delayed for years, and the vehicular homicide charge alone could expose him to double the prison time cited above if he faces two counts, per the case’s charging structure.
Competency Questions Center on Undiagnosed Autism
Demetree’s family paid for an extensive psychiatric evaluation, conducted in Texas, that cost approximately $15,000. Dr. Charles Nemeroff, who is affiliated with the University of Texas at Austin, evaluated Demetree and testified about his diagnosis and ability to participate in the criminal justice process. Nemeroff said Demetree’s autism may have gone undiagnosed for much of his life, attributing masked symptoms to profound ADHD…