Former Gophers defensive back Benjamin St-Juste named in wrongful death suit

Former Gophers defensive back Benjamin St-Juste was named as a defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit along with Washington Commanders teammate Jamin Davis and ex-Commanders teammate Deshazor Everett. The suit claims the three were racing their cars when Everett’s longtime girlfriend, Olivia Peters, was killed in a crash.

The Washington Post reported the news, and according to the Post, the lawsuit filed in Loudoun County, Va., court by Peters’ mother, Kathleen Peters, on Dec. 22 is seeking $25 million in damages and a jury trial.

The suit claims that the defendants were driving recklessly, which resulted in Peters’ injuries and death on Dec. 23, 2021. It also claims Everett’s car was equipped with nitrous oxide — which can increase a car’s horsepower and is illegal in Virginia — racing tires and a roll cage.

St-Juste, Davis and Everett were all Commanders teammates at the time of the incident. Everett recorded the events on a GoPro, according to the Washington Post.

St-Juste played for the Gophers from 2019-20, recording 59 tackles and 11 passes defended across his two seasons in Minnesota. He was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2019.

He was selected with the No. 74 overall pick in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft by the Commanders. 

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s office initially found that Everett had been traveling at speeds of more than 90 mph before the crash, but a black box and witness accounts had painted a different picture. St-Juste told police that Everett had been driving at about 50 mph.

Everett was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter but instead plead guilty to a charge of reckless driving and was sentenced to three months of house arrest, according to the Washington Post. His license was also suspended.