A Citrus County fugitive on the run for nearly 13 years is finally behind bars.
- Patrick Donovan wanted on charges stemming from fatal hit-and-run in 2001
- Crash left Brian Willis dead and injured Beverly Jo Bender
- Donovan was located in England, is currently in custody in Detroit
Patrick John Donovan was taken into custody a few days ago in England. He was arrested for a fatal hit-and-run, but then he took off more than a decade ago.
In 2001, Brian Willis was riding southbound on U.S. 19 on his motorcycle, with Beverly Jo Bender as his passenger, when they were hit by a pick-up truck. Willis later died. Bender lost a leg and part of a foot, and now she uses a wheelchair.
"It hurts and I have times that I cry and I cry, but my cats and I are the only ones that know it," Bender said.
Beverly Jo Bender lost a leg and part of a foot in the crash. She now uses a wheelchair.
Investigators say Donovan was driving the pick-up truck, and he didn't stop. Several months later he was arrested, but in 2003 he disappeared after getting out of jail.
"I cried, I screamed," Bender said. "It was frustrating in the beginning, just very frustrating. I can't imagine how he could live with himself knowing that he killed someone and took somebody's quality of life away."
Just a few days ago, Donovan was arrested on unrelated charges in London. He had been on the run for nearly 13 years.
"I'd like to tie his butt to a wheelchair and make him live in one for a week," Bender said.
Donovan was flown from London to Detroit, where he is now at the Wayne County Jail. At some point over the next fews days, he will return to Citrus County.
He is facing charges of failure to appear on a vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of a crash involving death, leaving the scene of a crash involving injury and evidence tampering.
Bender plans to be in the courtroom when the trial gets underway.