Road-Rage Death Earns Manatee County Man 30 Years In Prison: Brodsky

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — A man was convicted of charges related to a 2018 road-rage death in Manatee County and sentenced to 30 years in the Department of Corrections, according to a news release from State Attorney Ed Brodsky’s office.

John Thomas Cray was convicted after entering an open plea to the charges of manslaughter with a weapon and leaving the scene of a crash with death.

On Dec. 6, 2018, “what began as road rage turned deadly,” the news release said. During the incident, after the victim got out of his vehicle, Cray drove into him.

The victim became lodged under the vehicle and Cray continued to drive, dragging him for 1.8 miles, Brodsky’s office said.

The case was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol.

After Judge Matt Whyte denied his Stand Your Ground hearing, Cray entered his open plea in court.

“I am pleased that the victim’s family was able to get justice for their loved one, which will surely help with their grief,” Charlie Lawrence, the assistant state attorney and lead prosecutor on the case, said. “This outcome would have been possible without law enforcement’s hard work.”