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Dead Tampa Man's SUV Found In Tampa Bay

Florida Highway Patrol

Jason Michael Downey's Toyota RAV4 is hoisted from Tampa Bay today. Downey's body was found in the Bay in September.

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By JOSH POLTILOVE | The Tampa Tribune
and RAY REYES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 6, 2008

Updated: 10/06/2008 09:50 pm

TAMPA - Jason Michael Downey never made it home from a St. Petersburg bar, and for more than two weeks his family questioned what led to his death.

On Monday, authorities had an answer.

About 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 19, Downey's Toyota RAV4 sport utility vehicle was heading north on Interstate 275 on the Howard Frankland Bridge in Pinellas County. His Toyota overtook a 1999 Chevrolet SUV.

The front of Downey's SUV struck the rear of the other SUV, the Florida Highway Patrol said.

Downey's Toyota went over the concrete barrier wall, and he was thrown from the vehicle, which fell into Tampa Bay.

The other driver, 49-year-old Michael Bell of Lakeland, continued north on Interstate 275, authorities said. The accident wasn't reported.

A fisherman found Downey's body Sept. 21 in the water at Fourth Street North and Interstate 275.

Downey's death was investigated as suspicious, the St. Petersburg Police Department said. His driver's license was in his pocket, and he was wearing jeans, boots and a black long-sleeve shirt, an outfit he often wore, relatives said.

His family said Downey, 31, had no enemies, but they feared foul play. For more than two weeks, they asked the public for help and handed out fliers.

Highway patrol investigators called Downey's mother, Kim Truman, Monday morning and told her they had found her son's SUV. Investigators told her Downey was involved in a crash, that he lost control of the RAV4 and was thrown into the Bay.

Truman, 51, said she felt a sense of relief that she had an answer. Then, she said, "I broke down in tears."

"We do have a sense of closure," Truman, of Palm Harbor, said. "There's still questions. I want to know more about this accident and what happened."

St. Petersburg police worked the case as a death investigation until getting a tip about a traffic crash. They contacted Bell, who let investigators inspect his SUV.

Police gave the case to the Florida Highway Patrol.

On Saturday, troopers found an area on the bridge where they thought Downey's Toyota had traveled over the barrier wall.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office dive team found the vehicle today at the bottom of Tampa Bay near the bridge using sonar equipment. The vehicle is being checked for evidence.

Troopers are waiting for forensic and toxicology results for the case.

Truman said she is not angry at Bell.

"But I would like to ask him what happened that night," she said. "If he stopped, would Jason have lived? I'm not mad at him. I just want some answers. And help."

Downey, of 708 W. Euclid Ave., Tampa, met friends the evening of Sept. 18 at Georgie's Alibi, 3100 Third Ave. N. He reportedly left the bar about 2 a.m. Sept. 19 but never made it home.

Downey, a technician for an Apollo Beach veterinarian, was at the bar with his roommate and friends, said his aunt, Val Stubl. He and his roommate decided to head home in separate cars. Downey told the roommate he would be right behind him after he finished a cigarette.

The roommate got home and went to bed, and when he left for work, Downey still was not home, Stubl said. Downey's family tried to find him. Stubl called Downey's cell phone, but it went straight to voice mail.

The family called hospitals looking for him or a John Doe and filed a missing person's report with police. They checked to see whether Downey had been arrested. They asked around at the bar. They drove through St. Petersburg looking for his car.

Truman said visits from relatives and friends over the past two weeks have helped her from completely falling apart. She and her son were close and would frequent karaoke bars where Downey would sing lead and Truman would sing back up vocals.

The night before he died, Downey dropped by his mother's home but couldn't stay long.

"He said, 'Mom, I've got to hurry. I've got my two cats in the car,'" Truman said. "I gave him a big hug and a big kiss. And that was the last time I saw him."

Truman has not yet put away the photographs and framed pictures that were displayed at Downey's funeral service. There are photos of him in his hometown of Miami, of his time in the U.S. Army, of him with relatives and friends.

And of him and his mother singing karaoke.

"We were best buddies," Truman said. "We were best friends."

Reporter Josh Poltilove can be reached at (813) 259-7691 or jpoltilove@tampatrib.com. Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 259-7920 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

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