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Arrest made in 2021 hit-and-run that killed beloved manager of ‘The Mansion’

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From Melbourne Police Department:

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Melbourne Police have made an arrest in a deadly hit-and-run crash involving a pedestrian that happened in the early morning hours of November 28, 2021, near the South Harbor City Boulevard and West New Haven Ave.

Authorities arrested 33-year-old Benjamin Jay Moore from Palm Bay and charged him in the death of 28-year-old Natanael Real from Melbourne who was a pedestrian at the time of the crash.

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Police say on November 28, 2021, the vehicle Moore was driving was involved in the crash was located abandoned on Emerson Drive Northwest, approximately one-half of a mile east of St. Johns Heritage Parkway in Palm Bay.

After an extensive investigation, on July 14, 2023, officers with the Melbourne Police Department Traffic Enforcement Unit determined that Benjamin Jay Moore was the driver who fled the crash scene.

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Probable cause was developed for his arrest, and a warrant was secured for the charges of Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Death, Vehicular Homicide, and Tampering with Physical Evidence.

On July 17, 2023, Benjamin Moore was taken into custody for the above-listed charges.

He was placed into the custody of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office on a no- bond status until a first appearance hearing.

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