Santarelli acquitted of manslaughter

A St. Johns County jury ended deliberation this afternoon and local Historic City News reporters were in the courtroom when the verdict was read; finding that Diane Santarelli is not guilty of manslaughter.

This was a first for the Seventh Judicial Circuit; taking to trial the 52 year-old Bartram Trail resident on manslaughter charges after 18 year-old Jessy Pitts and 17 year-old Taylor Brennan died in an automobile accident after attending a “house party” at the Santarelli home on January 12, 2009.

Other teenage attendees testified during the trial that they witnessed beer drinking, alcohol and marijuana use.

Medical Examiner reports revealed Pitts had a .18 blood alcohol level when the car he was driving crashed and caught fire.

While Santarelli was acquitted on the most serious manslaughter charges, the jury convicted her on one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and one count of throwing an open house party.