Former Yankee World Series Star Leyritz on Suicide watch following DUI incident

[Shortline Bus]

Former Yankee Jim Leyritz checks into psychiatric ward in Florida after threatening suicide

By Christian Red In New York and Lisa Lucas In Davie, Fla.

 

NY DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERS

 

Thursday, May 14th 2009

 

 

 

Jim Leyritz has checked into a Florida psychiatric ward after threatening suicide.

Leyritz, the 1996 Yankee World Series star whose legal woes have mounted since a December 2007 DUI incident that left a woman dead, voluntarily placed himself into a psychiatric ward at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Fla. Wednesday night after threatening suicide, according to a friend of the ex-Bomber.

 

The 45-year-old Leyritz, who is charged with DUI manslaughter in connection with the Dec. 28, 2007 Ft. Lauderdale car crash that killed a 30-year-old woman, became distraught Wednesday when his car wouldn't start. Leyritz's car is equipped with a court-ordered alcohol monitoring device, requiring Leyritz to perform a breathalyzer test before starting the vehicle.

 

According to a source close to Leyritz, the former slugger "flipped out" when he couldn't start the car and told his ex-wife, Karri, and a friend, "Maybe it's better to end it all rather than go through this hassle."

 

The remarks alarmed his ex-wife, with whom he still lives with, and his three boys. Leyritz later called a friend in New Jersey, who in turn placed a 911 call to Davie, Fla. police.

 

When police responded, Leyritz agreed to have authorities escort him to the hospital. His ex-wife told the Daily News that he was not drinking yesterday.

 

According to the source, Leyritz is planning to come to New York and seek treatment at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital.

 

Leyritz's attorney, David Bogenschutz, would "neither confirm nor deny" that his client was admitted to a hospital. Bogenschutz said Leyritz's next court date was scheduled for May 21, but that it had been postponed. Leyritz's blood-alcohol level was .14 after the 2007 incident. Florida's legal limit is .08.

 

Leyritz was arrested and jailed in February after a judge revoked his bond for violating pre-trial release. His home run in Game 4 of the '96 Series set up the Bombers' dramatic comeback against the Braves, whom they upset in six games. That World Series win in '96, started a run of the Yankees winning 3 more titles in 4 years.

 

c)2009 NY Daily News.

 

Comments. Should Leyritz if convicted be given a 'break' as a former baseball star who has done lots of charirtable work in past.

[Locomotion69]

He is better off killing himself,this lowlife is a threat to society and should be locked up. He will get a beating if they put him in the general population. :mad:

[Shortline Bus]

He is better off killing himself,this lowlife is a threat to society and should be locked up. He will get a beating if they put him in the general population. :mad:

 

So Locomotion are DWI drivers who kill people the same as a Murderer ie a shooter killing people? May i ask why Locomotion you so tough on him? There been MO 'worse people' such as seriel rapists and murderers who done worse.

 

Let make clear I dont condone what he did and if it proven he did kill this person while drunk he deserves to go to jail for a long while. :tdown:. However i dont think it should be for life.

A disclaimer as Jimmy was one of my favorite Yankee on the '96 team.

[metsfan]

Guys, post with respect please. No one ever deserves to die. This isn't ancient rome.

 

- A

[Shortline Bus]

Does Leyritz deserve a lenghty jail sentence such as at least 10-15 years? Without a doubt in my view yes. Does he beong the rest of his life in jail? IMO No.

 

I have mixed emotions on this story as during high school, I was a Tresurer of my HS's SADD(Students Against Drunk Drivers). Not to mention several members of my family including My Father recovering Heavy Drinkers. And this take is coming from a Leyritz fan.

 

Remember he has an addiction, so his crime is not the same as a serial murderer or rapist who did their action 'pre mediated.' Those scum of the earth deserve life in prison.:mad: Again I am not condoning Leyritz's actions. My prayers and smypanthy to the woman's(Victims) family.

 

Hopefully in 10-15 years or so or w/e he released he learn a lesson. hile in jail I would order Leyritz to do 'community service' tv/radio commericals as an example of DWI ruining a person's life.

 

I also hope Joba Chamberlain, Paris Hilton and other young celebrities recently busted on DWI charges pay close attention after this very sad story

[Locomotion69]

Why doesn't his wife divorce him already? A guy like this is unemployable. What a freaking idiot! He made over $10,000,000 during his baseball career,all gone now.

 

Someday he will be forced to WORK for a living,see how most of us live day to day.:mad:

[Shortline Bus]

Why doesn't his wife divorce him already? A guy like this is unemployable. What a freaking idiot! He made over $10,000,000 during his baseball career,all gone now.

 

Someday he will be forced to WORK for a living,see how most of us live day to day.:mad:

 

 

Are you saying that for Joba Chamberlain and Paris Hilton? They also been busted for DWI but did not kill anyone? Many other celebrities including former President GW Bush also busted on dwi. Yet Why the hate against Leyritz locomotion?

[INDman]

So Locomotion are DWI drivers who kill people the same as a Murderer ie a shooter killing people? May i ask why Locomotion you so tough on him? There been MO 'worse people' such as seriel rapists and murderers who done worse.

 

.

 

Yes they are, they decided to drink and drive just the same as a killer picks up a gun. Weather he ment to kill someone or not, he did and should pay for it.

[Shortline Bus]

Yes they are, they decided to drink and drive just the same as a killer picks up a gun. Weather he ment to kill someone or not, he did and should pay for it.

 

 

Ok. I am not defending his actions and he deserves a long stay in jail. All i am saying is that comparing Leyritz 'murder' actions to Osama Bin Landen, Jeffery Dahmer, etc is a bit much.

[INDman]

Ok. I am not defending his actions and he deserves a long stay in jail. All i am saying is that comparing Leyritz 'murder' actions to Osama Bin Landen, Jeffery Dahmer, etc is a bit much.

 

Well, I can see them being put in the same boat as they all killed someone, but just not the same volume.

[Shortline Bus]

In the criminal docket section of sports for now, anyone hear the joke sentence imo that Browns WR Dantone (spell check) Stallworth for killing a man while being drunk on DWI charges?

On his WFAN-AM talk show, Mike Francesesa yesterday spent much of his program yesterday(3/17/09) on this and comparing it to Former Yankee World Series Star Jim Leyritz.

 

 

Stallworth only got 30 days in jail and 10 years probatation, for 2nd degree manslughter for killing a man in a Miami area location in broad daylight late last year. The Miami Dade County DA office gave Stallworth the break for 1)1st criminal offense 2)repution for being charitable 3)not listed by the DA but Miami media states that Stallworth gave the victim's family an estimated $2 Million to 'avoid' a lenghty trial and settle on a 'plea deal' for Stallworth..

 

What a disgrace? I admit i no longer drink myself but as a working class man if i did the actions of Stallworth or Leyritz i would be in jail for a long time. No doubt there a 2 tier system for the super rich and average Americans for criminal trials. Another example of the rich buying themselves out of trouble.

 

 

Even being a 'great citizen' prior to this, Stallworth belong at least 5 years in the slammer for this. Same goes for Leyritz. I hope the NFL suspeneds Stallworth for the season.

 

 

Reactions?

[Locomotion69]

Jim "Low life" Leyritz broke down in court earlier today sobbing like a little girl because the judge wouldn't let him out of prison,whaaaaaaaa,whaaaaaa,somebody call a whaaaambulance for Jimmy. Hello,whine,whine whine 1, I need a whaaaambulance dispatched to the Broward County courthouse.

 

Imagine how he is going to react when he goes on trial next year facing manslaughter charges. He has to do state prison time, he is unfit to live amongst us in society.:mad:

[nel070]

amen stallworth and leyritz are both murderers and deserve toi do some long hard time for killing innocent people driving is a priviledge not a right and they used this priviledge to kill and maim while drunk they made conscious decisions to drink and drive and should pay they both could afford a driver or at least a cab