Man arrested in death of Filipina near Florida highway

Jo Erlinda Maufit Gabot, 47, a web developer, was found dead off southbound U.S. 1 at 3:30 a.m. Dec. 30, FACEBOOK

Police in Indian River County, Florida arrested a man who was in a relationship with a Filipino woman who was found dead near a highway Dec. 30.

Jo Erlinda Maufit Gabot, 47, a web developer, was found dead off southbound U.S. 1 near the Whispering Palms RV Resort and mobile home community at 3:30 a.m. Dec. 30, reported TCPalm. Her father, Alfred Gabot, said she was also a part-time editor of Philippine News Today, based in San Francisco, California,

Drew Leibrock, 52, of Sebastian, Florida, was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident and tampering with evidence, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office. He was jailed on $100,000 bail. Gabot’s death allegedly followed a domestic dispute with Leibrock.

“Her death was senseless because she was always friendly, helpful, cheerful to all and she was loving to her four children, one with the U.S. Navy, and three in Manila who she has been supporting for their education, among others,” Alfred Gabot said in a written statement to TCPalm.

Investigators said the victim and Leibrock were quarreling after a night of drinking when he left in a vehicle and she followed.

Both stopped at the mobile home park where Leibrock worked. She got out of her car and Leibrock allegedly struck and ran over her with his car and then left.

Gabot died from “massive internal trauma” after being struck by both front and back sets of wheels, according to medical examiners.

Leibrock told investigators that Gabot hung onto his truck’s passenger side mirror as he tried to leave. He saw her fall but did not believe he ran over her, thinking he hit a pothole instead. Authorities said he could still face elevated charges.

Jo Erlinda Maufit Gabot was born in Makati, Philippines and immigrated to the United States three years ago, her father said.

Her son, Ian Nebres, set up a GoFundMe and said donations would go to paying expenses for his mother’s funeral and to help transport her remains to the Philippines for burial.