The family of Mark Senti is asking state officials to reexamine a criminal case stemming from a May 6, 2024, fight at Ichabod’s Dockside Bar and Grill in Melbourne. Senti later died on January 11, 2025, after he was found in the water at Melbourne Harbor Marina. Family members and their attorney Alexa Moia say law enforcement and prosecutors did not pursue battery charges related to the injuries Senti sustained in the incident, while Melbourne police and the State Attorney’s Office have indicated the available evidence did not support additional criminal filings.
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Documents obtained by The Space Coast Rocket include police reports, a case supplement, a citizen complaint, and correspondence reflecting internal review and the family’s requests for further action.
The May 6, 2024 incident and filed charges
According to law enforcement reports and sworn statements referenced in the case file, the disturbance began around 8 p.m. when an argument involving brothers Gavin and Warrick Smith and other patrons escalated. Two other alleged batteries from the same night resulted in charges against Gavin Smith:
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Thora Snow (May 6, 2024): Records indicate Snow, an employee, was struck while attempting to escort Gavin Smith out of the business.
Nicholas George (May 13, 2024): Records indicate George, a patron who intervened, was later identified as another alleged victim in the altercation.
The family and Moia allege the video evidence also shows Senti being struck during the same sequence, and they contend that probable cause paperwork was prepared for a battery charge related to Senti but was not filed.
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Senti’s injuries and subsequent medical care
Medical records cited by the family describe significant injuries after the incident, including a traumatic brain injury and a jaw fracture that required wiring. The records referenced by the family also describe seizures and follow-up neurological care.
The family states Senti later signed a prosecution affidavit. In a later case supplement dated September 8, 2025, Detective Evan Harrison concluded there was not probable cause to proceed, citing considerations such as how the encounter began and how the events were interpreted under Florida law.
Death investigation and medical examiner language
Senti was found deceased on January 11, 2025, beside his vessel at Melbourne Harbor Marina. The Brevard County Medical Examiner ruled the death a drowning and noted a possible “traumatic seizure disorder” in connection with earlier injuries, according to the family’s summary of the report and documents referenced in their complaint. The extent to which the prior injuries were a legal cause of death is central to the dispute between the family and authorities.
Family complaint and MPD internal review
On October 28, 2025, Senti’s son Wade Senti filed a citizen complaint asserting the investigation was mishandled. The complaint cites issues such as the handling of video evidence and investigative steps the family believes should have been taken.
In a January 27, 2026 letter, Melbourne Police Chief David Gillespie reported an internal review found no policy violations by the officers involved. The family disputes that conclusion and argues it does not resolve what they see as inconsistencies in the case documentation.
State Attorney’s Office position
The family and their attorney say the State Attorney’s Office declined to file battery charges related to Senti and did not pursue homicide charges after his death. The case file reflects prosecutors raising concerns about proof, including arguments related to self-defense, evidentiary sufficiency, and identification issues described by the family.
Attorney representation and next steps being considered
Attorney Alexa Moia represents Senti’s estate. Her firm, Moia Law, lists practice areas that include wrongful death and personal injury. In an October 21, 2025 letter to State Attorney William Scheiner, Moia argued the family was denied justice and asked for the case to be addressed.
The family is also considering a request to the Governor to reassign the matter to a different prosecutor under Florida Statute 27.14, a process that is sometimes sought when a party alleges a conflict or lack of confidence in the handling of a case.
Separately, the family is pursuing civil claims, including a wrongful death lawsuit, according to their attorney.
Background on Mark Senti
Senti, 63, was an inventor and technology executive in Brevard County. His obituary published in Magnetics Magazine describes a career that included work at Cray Research, founding GSMA Systems in Palm Bay, and later involvement with Advanced Magnet Lab in Melbourne, as well as patents and industry recognition.
Contact information provided by the family
The family has encouraged members of the public who wish to share concerns to contact the following offices:
