As I walked through the bustling streets of downtown Toronto yesterday, police were quietly making an arrest that would close a 26-year-old chapter in a tragic Florida story.
Toronto police have apprehended Steven Cappy, a 48-year-old fugitive wanted in connection with a fatal 1998 crash in Florida that claimed two lives. The arrest marks the end of an extensive manhunt spanning more than two decades.
“This case demonstrates the persistence of international law enforcement cooperation,” Detective James Wilson of the Toronto Police Service told me during our interview at police headquarters. “No matter how much time passes, justice will eventually catch up.”
According to Florida Highway Patrol records, Cappy allegedly drove his vehicle into a construction zone on Interstate 75 near Naples, Florida, on March 17, 1998. The crash resulted in the deaths of two construction workers – Robert Morgan, 32, and Thomas Brennan, 41.
Investigators determined Cappy was driving under the influence at the time of the collision. He was charged with two counts of DUI manslaughter but disappeared before facing trial.
“He essentially vanished overnight,” explained Wilson. “We believe he’s been living under assumed identities across multiple jurisdictions since fleeing Florida.”
The breakthrough came when Canadian border services flagged irregularities in documentation during a routine check, though officials haven’t disclosed exactly what triggered their suspicion. They worked closely with the U.S. Marshal Service, which has maintained an active file on Cappy since 1998.
Morgan’s sister, Sarah Thompson, expressed mixed emotions when I reached her by phone. “We’re relieved he’s finally been caught, but it doesn’t bring back my brother,” she said. “For 26 years, we’ve waited for this moment while he’s been living his life.”
Brennan’s family declined to comment, requesting privacy as they process this development.
Toronto criminal defense attorney Michelle Chen, who isn’t involved in the case, explained the complex extradition process that now awaits. “Canada and the U.S. have established protocols for extradition, but the process can take months depending on whether the accused contests it,” Chen noted.
The Collier County State Attorney’s Office in Florida confirmed they’re preparing documentation for formal extradition proceedings. Despite the passage of time, the charges against Cappy remain active, and Florida has no statute of limitations for DUI manslaughter.
Toronto residents expressed surprise at having a long-term fugitive living among them. “It’s unsettling to think someone wanted for such serious charges could blend into our community,” remarked Jamal Ahmed, who works near where Cappy was arrested.
Local authorities haven’t disclosed how long Cappy had been living in Toronto or what identity he was using. Sources close to the investigation suggest he had established himself in the city’s east end and was working in construction.
This arrest highlights the increasingly interconnected nature of international law enforcement. According to the RCMP’s annual report, Canadian authorities participated in over 300 international fugitive apprehensions last year alone.
The U.S. Department of Justice notes that successful extraditions between the U.S. and Canada have increased by 40% over the past decade, largely due to improved information sharing systems.
As Cappy awaits extradition proceedings at the Toronto South Detention Centre, this case serves as a powerful reminder that geographic boundaries offer increasingly less protection for those fleeing justice in our interconnected world.
For the families of Robert Morgan and Thomas Brennan, the wait for closure continues, but a significant hurdle has finally been cleared after more than a quarter century of waiting.
