WEST MELBOURNE, Florida — A West Melbourne woman remains in critical condition at a local hospital after being severely beaten on April 12, 2014. The woman had been in an induced coma and had been unable to breath on her own, but her condition has slightly improved now, police say.
West Melbourne Police Detectives have been investigating this case since it occurred, and had identified thirty-three-year-old Oakley Brooks as a significant person of interest in this case but lacked physical evidence to charge him with the crime. Police say that all changed this week when Detectives received DNA test results from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Crime Lab.
According to police, the forensic report revealed Brooks’ DNA was on the victim’s clothing, which police say directly conflicts with Brooks’ version of events that he was asleep in his bedroom all night on the night of the attack and hadn’t even seen the victim.
West Melbourne Police Detectives secured an arrest warrant for Brooks and he was taken into custody without incident on May 14, 2014 at 270 Bossieux Blvd in West Melbourne, which is the location of where the crime occurred.
Police say that Brooks and the woman reside in the same residence as “romantic roommates” which enhanced his charge of aggravated battery with domestic violence provisions. He is being held at the Brevard County Jail on no bond.
