The husband of the woman who was shot and killed by an Indian River County deputy last month is formally requesting an independent investigation into his wife's death.
Guy Rubin, Dr. Dudley Teel's attorney, sent a letter to the Sheriff's Office, formally requesting the Sheriff turn the investigation over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
In July, Deputy Jonathan Lozada shot and killed Susan Teel in the family's Vero Beach home. Earlier that night, her daughter had called 911 after Teel's husband found her trying to cut her wrists.
Sheriff Deryl Loar told reporters in a news conference the following day that Teel lunged at Deputy Lozada with a knife. The Sheriff supported the deputy's decision saying that Lozada had no choice but to fire.
“These statements...put all who serve Sheriff Loar in the position of contradicting their boss if they make conclusions inconsistent with Sheriff Loar’s statements.”
In the letter, the family claims what appears to be a conflict of interest - preventing an impartial investigation from the Sheriff's Office.
The letter reads, "Within 15 hours of Susan Teel's death by Deputy Jonathan Lozado, Sheriff Loar made numerous public comments in support of Lozado's actions, virtually exonerating Lozado. These comments came before the facts were gathered, and the investigation was obviously just under way."