Sumter County Sheriff’s Office detectives have arrested a 76-year-old man who they believe is responsible for the fatal beating of an elderly Villages senior, Dean W. Zook, 87.
Robert E. Moore Jr. of The Villages was charged with aggravated manslaughter on an elderly person in connection with the attack that happened June 28 at the Glenview Country Club.
Detectives first spotted Moore when they obtained a photograph of him taken months earlier after he scored a hole-in-one on the sixth hole at The Villages' Tarpon Boil Executive Golf Course. He was wearing a distinct blue polo shirt with a dark blue collar.
Their suspicions were confirmed when video surveillance, a credit card record, and witnesses all pointed to Moore as the culprit.
According to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, Moore confronted a remorseful Zook in the parking lot and punched him after accusing Zook of causing minor damage to the bumper of a black 2010 Lexus RX350 with his white 2005 Toyota Avalon.
“The victim attempted to put his hands up to defend himself, but was unable to protect himself from the continuing punches,” Detective Scott Pettitt wrote in the arrest report.
Moore’s wife was in the car at the time of the confrontation and told deputies she witnessed the attack.
Zook was rushed to the Villages Hospital and then airlifted to the Shands Medical Hospital, where his condition went downhill and he eventually perished.
The case attracted the attention of retired FBI special agent Brad Garrett, who spoke to ABC News about the case.
“People who would go to this physical length to harm somebody in their 80s and beat them so badly they ultimately die, clearly have anger management issues of some sort,” Garrett said.
Using the evidence collected, detectives approached Moore’s home in The Villages on July 27 and he reportedly confessed his guilt when confronted with the evidence.
Moore has since been released on a $30,000 bond and his arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m., September 26. Sumter County Circuit Judge Mary P. Hatcher will be presiding over the case.