A Sebastian man was jailed Thursday in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that occurred after a domestic dispute with a woman he was in a relationship with, deputies said. The identity of the woman who was fatally struck was not publicly released.
The woman’s body was found on the side of southbound U.S. 1, prompting a criminal and traffic homicide investigation, Indian River County sheriff’s officials said.
“We think her body was there for a couple of hours,” Sheriff’s spokesperson Lt. Joe Abollo said.
Drew Leibrock
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Drew Preston Leibrock, 52, of the 100 block of Crawford Drive, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident with a death and tampering with or destroying evidence. Leibrock was held Thursday at the Indian River County Jail on $100,000 bond.
The incident unfolded on the evening of Dec. 29, 2022. Leibrock and the woman drank alcoholic beverages throughout the night at a Sebastian business before traveling back to his home, deputies said.
The two were involved in an ongoing domestic dispute that continued into the next morning, sheriff’s officials said.
Deputies said Leibrock left the home, got in his vehicle and drove down southbound U.S. 1 to avoid further confrontation with the woman. Leibrock parked his vehicle in a parking lot at Whispering Palms RV Resort and manufactured home community – where he had worked – to sleep there overnight, Abollo said.
Deputies said the woman got in her vehicle and followed Leibrock to the Whispering Palms complex to continue the dispute. The woman got out, approached Leibrock’s vehicle and banged on the passenger-side window several times, sheriff’s officials said.
Deputies said the woman “refused to stop or leave.”
Leibrock then drove his vehicle to get away, running over the woman in the process, sheriff’s officials said.
“Leibrock fled the scene and did not report the incident,” sheriff’s officials said. “Indian River County Sheriff’s Detectives and Traffic Homicide Investigators were able to quickly put the case together and managed to identify Leibrock within hours of locating the victim. Leibrock was then located shortly thereafter in the city of Palm Bay.”
Deputies arrested Leibrock and booked him into the county jail. Details on Leibrock’s arraignment were not immediately available.
“Over 12 million people are affected by domestic violence each year and 1 in 4 women experience severe intimate partner physical violence. If you know someone experiencing domestic violence, please contact local law enforcement and report the incident immediately,” sheriff’s officials said.
“If you rather not have law enforcement involved, you may contact SafeSpace on their 24-hour crisis hotline at (772) 288-7023.”
