[bloodrayne]

Police say Valentine's date ended with woman driving car over man

CLEVELAND — A woman who police said drove her car over her date twice on Valentine’s Day was charged with murder.

Leah Kravochuck, 36, of Cleveland, was preparing to drive her baby sitter home after the dinner date when she backed her car over James Ivinskas, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor William Mason said. She then shifted into drive and drove over him again, Mason said.

Ivinskas, 36, of Euclid, had been standing behind the car, smoking a cigarette, Mason said. He died the following morning of massive injuries.

“There was an argument that occurred between the defendant and the victim as she was getting in the car to take the baby sitter home,” Kim Kowalski, the prosecutor’s spokeswoman, said Thursday.

A grand jury on Wednesday indicted Kravochuck on charges of murder, felonious assault, aggravated vehicular homicide, driving under the influence of alcohol and bribery.

The bribery charge stems from an accusation that Kravochuck offered a police officer $5,000 and sexual favors to drop the charges. The officer, James Simone, said Kravochuck insisted it was an accident.

Kravochuck’s brother, Paul, defended his sister.

“The driveway was real dark, and it was icy that night,” he said. “She said he fell and hit his head. I think it was an accident, I really do. The only witness was that little girl, and she is only 10.”

When Kravochuck and Ivinskas returned about 8:30 p.m. from their date, the warm mood had chilled noticeably, Mason said. Kravochuck had tears in her eyes when she walked in the door, Mason said the baby sitter told police.

Asked what was wrong, Kravochuck said, “It’s not him, it’s me. I miss my ex-husband,” said Mason, quoting the baby sitter.

Kravochuck has an unpublished phone number and could not be reached for comment Thursday.