20-Year-Old Sent to Prison for Vehicular Homicide
Yesterday, Clayton Deneal Wamsley, 20, was transferred into the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections to begin serving a ten-year prison sentence for vehicular manslaughter.
On January 2, 2025, at 5:41 p.m, Wamsley was driving his vehicle on NE 7th St. and ran a stop sign at NE 16th Ave. Wamsley struck 42-year-old Matthew Umanos, who was walking his dog on the marked crosswalk. Umanos was thrown 124 feet before striking a cement culvert. Umanos was transported to the hospital where he died shortly thereafter. His dog, Elmyra, was also killed in the crash.
Wamsley was still in his vehicle when police arrived on scene. A check by police revealed that Wamsley did not have a driver’s license.
Officer Justin Bayless-Sakellarios reported, “My investigation revealed [Wamsley] was operating his vehicle in a reckless manner by running two stop signs, speeding in a residential (55/25) area, while reading a text message, and striking the victim.”
Prior to the crash, the first witness observed Wamsley driving at what they estimated to be 60 miles per hour (MPH) in a 25 MPH zone. The witness reported that Wamsley ran the stop sign before making a tire-screetching left turn. Once out of sight, the witness heard the vehicle accelerate.
The second witness, who was in their vehicle, estimated that Wamsley was driving 40-50 MPH. The witness reported that Wamsley was driving too fast to stop for the stop sign. The witness saw the vehicle run a stop sign before crashing on NE 16th Ave.
The third witness, Umanos’ brother, was walking with Umanos at the time of the crash. He affirmed that Wamsley struck Umanos and his dog.
After being read his Miranda rights, Wamsley told police he was “upset and thinking about harming himself at his residence.” Wamsley decided to “drive around the block” while in this state. Wamsley said he checked a text message while driving and looked up as he was passing the stop sign and saw Umanos. Wamsley said he “swerved to the left in an effort to avoid the victim” and advised “he was sorry.”
Bayless-Sakellarios reported, “Roadway markings on scene support the fact that [Wamsley] ran the stop sign and swerved to the left after crossing the roadway. Speed calculations based on how far [Umanos] was thrown were completed. The results were 41 to 49 MPH at the time [he] was struck. EDR (event data recorder) Data was gathered from [Wamsley]’s 2014 Ford Escape. This data indicated the vehicle was going 55 MPH prior to impact. Additional speed calculations were done using an airborne event and braking. These calculations indicated the car was going [a] minimum speed of 48 MPH after having struck the victim and braking.”
On February 4, 2025, Wamsley was arrested on a warrant. He remained in jail without bond, with prosecutors filing a successful pretrial detention motion.
On April 4, 2025, Wamsley’s defense attorney issued a notice of intent to rely on an insanity defense. According to the notice, Wamsley “has been previously diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder, ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, Tourette's disorder, and major depressive disorder with psychotic features.”
The notice states Wamsley was “Baker Acted in July 2024 and October 2024 as [a] result of suicidal ideations” and that “evidence suggests [Wamsley] may have been suffering from suicidal ideations at the time of the accident.”
The notice argues that Wamsley “was suffering from a mental disease or defect at the time of the alleged offenses and, as a result, did not know what he was doing or did not know that what he was doing was wrong.”
Wamsley’s defense further moved to appoint an expert advisor to examine Wamsley’s mental state, which a judge approved.
Wamsley’s proposed defense never came to fruition as the case settled out of trial. The no-contest plea agreement between prosecutors and Wamsley was accepted by Judge Robert Groeb. Wamsley will serve a two-year term of probation after he is released from prison.
Seemingly as part of the plea deal, prosecutors dropped a second felony charge Wamsley was facing for causing death or serious injury with a vehicle while driving without a license.
The plea deal petition indicates that initial negotiations had Wamsley convicted of the second charge with five more years on his prison sentence, however, that part of the agreement is crossed out.
Wamsley was also convicted of operating a motor vehicle without a license, a misdemeanor.
Umanos’ mother issued an impact statement:
"On the evening of January 2, the MOST horrific thing happened to my family, my friends and my son's friends. He was walking his dog, as he did every night when he got home from work. A young man without insurance and a license hit and killed my son Matthew and his dog Elmyra. Matthew flew 100 feet. My older son Jerome, [who] was visiting with his brother, was walking right behind Matthew and Elmyra. He witnessed the whole event and went to try and revive his brother. I feel grateful that Jerome wasn't hit and killed also. I left from Tallahassee [and] went to the hospital only to find that he died; along with Elmyra. My son Jerome was just devastated, as were we all. Family and friends began arriving. My good friend helped to organize a memorial at the funeral home 2 of Matthew's neighbors recommended. His neighborhood and the adjacent 2 streets, along with friends held a candle light vigil… with more than 200 people attending… Matthew worked for [the Gainesville-Alachua County Association of Realtors], and was very proud of his home and community… Every January 16 will be Matthew Umanos Day. Matthew lived life to the fullest, gardening, traveling, almost always with Elmyra, and recently bought a surf board and was learning to surf. He served on a charity that helped to find affordable homes for people; this was a top priority for him. He met with the Mayor and voiced his opinions. He brought JOY to all who met him.
Jerome headed back to NYC, where he lived and worked on January 8. On January 10, he came out of his room and his roommate said he didn't look right, he called EMS immediately, which probably saved his life. He had had a stroke, the worst one. He endured 3 surgeries and a stay in Bellevue hospital in Manhattan. His father and I took turns being with him. I stayed with a relative and went back and forth to the hospital each day while there. He began rehab and improved slightly while there… He has made remarkable progress, still a way to go, as the stroke affected his right side. I believe that seeing his brother and dog hit and killed was to blame at least partially for his stroke…
Life didn't get easier, as I was/am the executor of Matthew's home and affairs. My sister in law was helpful in contacting mortgage, insurance, credit cards, etc. There was an estate sale that was taken care of through one of the realtors that was close to Matthew... This has been unexplainable devastation, caused by a young man with no license & insurance. It has been a VERY difficult year, however, I and Jerome, have been fortunate & blessed by all the love and support of family and friends."
