'It was a cop that I knew': Suspect's jail call reveals details before deadly wrong-way I-75 crash

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. —

Genise Taylor admitted in a recorded jail call that she was pulled over by a Collier County deputy she knew, who let her go, just hours before a deadly crash.

"You got pulled over at 2:30 in the morning. Correct?" the caller asked.

"Yeah. But it was a cop that I knew. And he let me go," Taylor said.

The call revealed Taylor was stopped around 2:30 a.m. on U.S. 41, less than two hours before the crash.

"And the cop let you go. Well, he shouldn't have done that. And that's going to be something that helps you out in your case because that cop should’ve… that cop should have stopped you and not let you drive anymore. At least. But he didn't," said the caller.

Taylor responded, "He didn't let me drive. He didn't let me drive. My friend…took the car."

"Oh, oh my god bro. Oh my god bro," the caller reacted.

Prosecutors stated in court that Taylor got behind the wheel again after the stop. A trooper testified that she was driving drunk the wrong way on I-75 with a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit. Video evidence showed cars swerving to avoid her. Troopers reported that she eventually crashed into two cars, killing 96-year-old Arthur Gilbert and injuring another driver.

The sheriff’s office identified Deputy Eric Pellegrino as the officer who pulled Taylor over that morning. According to Taylor, he allowed her to call friends to pick her up along with her car. An internal investigation into Pellegrino's actions is now underway, but he has not been placed on leave.

Deputies have not confirmed whether Pellegrino noticed Taylor was drunk, smelled alcohol, or if his body camera was on during the traffic stop. Taylor remains in jail with no bond.

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