What started as an argument in a Merritt Island parking lot turned into a canal plunge, a scramble to save a trapped woman, and a daylong manhunt, according to Brevard County deputies.
Investigators say John Manlio Lucas forced his ex-girlfriend's car off a bridge into the Barge Canal with her still inside. Emergency crews and bystanders pulled her from the submerged vehicle, and she was taken to a hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening. Lucas was later arrested after a multi-agency search and now faces a slate of serious felony charges.
How deputies say it unfolded
According to deputies, Lucas arranged to meet his ex in a Merritt Island parking lot off North Courtney Boulevard and tried to convince her to get back together. When she refused, investigators say he forced his way into her car and began strangling her.
As deputies moved in on the vehicle, the car allegedly backed out, hit a patrol cruiser, and sped away. A short time later, investigators say Lucas drove the car off a bridge into the Barge Canal with the woman still inside, as reported by ClickOrlando.
Rescue and manhunt
Witnesses and first responders reached the sinking car within minutes and pulled the victim from the water before rushing her to a hospital. Authorities said her injuries were not life-threatening, a rare bit of good news in an otherwise harrowing scene.
Deputies say Lucas bolted on foot into nearby woods and managed to stay ahead of law enforcement for hours, triggering what FOX 35 Orlando described as a "massive manhunt." He was found the following day and, according to FOX 35 Orlando, later appeared before a judge.
Charges and court dates
Prosecutors have charged Lucas with multiple counts, including attempted second-degree murder. A judge set his bond at $157,500 after Lucas asked to be released with an ankle monitor. His next court date was scheduled for April 30, according to ClickOrlando. The Brevard County Sheriff's Office is still piecing together the exact sequence of events that led up to the plunge into the Barge Canal.
Legal implications
The charges carry stiff penalties if prosecutors secure convictions, but the case now moves through the courts, where Lucas is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Deputies allege Lucas left the victim behind after the car went into the water, a detail that factored into the attempted murder charge, according to FOX 35 Orlando, which also reports that authorities booked him into custody following the search.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the Brevard County Sheriff's Office tip line or call 911. The agency's contact page lists options for reporting tips, non-emergency numbers, and ways to share information with investigators through the Brevard County Sheriff's Office.
