Family members are raising money to help Franklin police officer Scott Legieza return to the United States after suffering a heart attack while on vacation.
Legieza was on a blessed honeymoon cruise through the Caribbean. He is receiving treatment on the island of Sint Maarten, east of Puerto Rico.
Tina D’Errico-Mawson, Legieza’s aunt, told The Tennessean on Thursday night arrangements are being made for Legieza to return to the mainland via medevac on Friday. From there, he and his wife would travel back to Nashville for treatment.
Safely transporting a patient across the Caribbean, however, is an expensive process. D’Errico-Mawson said the flight could cost around $30,000 — not including a transport back to Tennessee.
“I had no idea what it cost to get there,” D’Errico-Mawson said. “Insurance may cover some of it, but that’s just one part of costs that they’re going to have to endure.”
Family members on Wednesday launched a GoFundMe page to help cover medical bills, air travel and other expenses that have arisen from the emergency, including hotel stays. At press time, the fundraiser had received $29,500.
The goal: $100,000.
“With them being out of the country, it just makes it so difficult,” D’Errico-Mawson said. “Even when he does get back to the US, he still won’t be back in his home.”
The news about Scott’s heart attack hit Nolensville resident Kim Carson particularly hard. She said her husband, Jeff Carson, a musician and Franklin police officer, was one of Legieza’s closest friends.
Carson died in March after suffering a heart attack.
“I seriously just cannot believe we have another officer who had a heart attack within these few months,” Kim Carson said. “I’m just working to do whatever I can do to help him.”
Legieza’s family has endured tragedy before.
Destin Legieza, a Brentwood Police officer, was killed in a car crash on June 18, 2020, after a Thompson’s Station woman drove on the wrong side of Franklin Road and crashed her vehicle into his police cruiser. The woman, Ashley Kroese, was convicted of four charges, including vehicular homicide by intoxication.
His death inspired an outpouring of community support, leading to vigils, memorial rides, a blood drive, a memorial wall at the Brentwood Police department headquarters and a portion of US Highway 31 now named Officer Destin Legieza Memorial Highway.
Once again, the family said they appreciate how the community has supported them. At the end of her phone call with The Tennessean, D’Errico-Mawson gasped when she saw how many individuals had donated to the fundraiser: 282.
“That was Destin’s badge number. I mean that’s like, oh, my God,” D’Errico-Mawson said.
“Destin’s sending a message.”
Cole Villena covers Williamson County at The Tennessean, part of the USA Today Network — Tennessee. Reach Cole at cvillena@tennessean.com or 615-925-0493. Follow Cole on Twitter at @ColeVillena and on Instagram at @CVinTennessee.
