Crash victim excels in military; attacked couple keeps on giving

Edward Woodward says he doesn't obsessively check his rearview mirror any more. If he had checked it on a late night in June 2000, while driving north on Interstate 275 near Busch Boulevard, he would have seen the 1995 Ford that rammed him from behind.

Woodward's vehicle flipped and rolled several times. Woodward and his two friends climbed out with minor cuts and bruises. Woodward's twin brother, Eugene, was wedged inside the Bronco, unconscious.

As Woodward tried to pull his brother free, a fire erupted. Woodward was pulled away just before the Bronco exploded with Eugene still inside.

The driver who hit the Bronco, Jermaine Bostick, 20, was charged with DUI manslaughter, fleeing a fatal accident scene, and driving with a suspended or revoked license. Bostick was previously charged with reckless driving and burglary, and had spent six months in prison.

In February, Woodward, 26, testified in Bostick's trial, which ended in mistrial. Woodward has been subpoenaed again for the next trial, scheduled to begin Jan. 7. "It's hard to relive it," said Woodward, "day after day, especially with the mistrial and having to live without closure . . ."

But Woodward has coped by excelling. The St. Petersburg native is now a second lieutenant stationed at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He recently graduated from navigation school there and was awarded the AETC (Air Education and Training Command) Commander's Cup and Ira J. Husik award for being a distinguished graduate of the Air Force.

He shares an apartment with his wife, Amanda, and after additional training, expects to be stationed at Warner Robins Air Force Base in Georgia. After two years of flying on KC-135 tanker jets there, he hopes to apply for F-15 fighter pilot training. "I want to. Whether or not I get it is a different story."

As a registered nurse, Ardath Moore says she knows a drugged-out person when she sees one. Besides, the man had an unusual reaction when she said, "Take what you want. You can have anything you want." He became even more enraged and violent after that.

The attacker eventually left after taking $610, a briefcase, checkbook and a good chunk of Moore and her husband Kenneth's well-being. Kenneth Moore, 79, suffered a dislodged eardrum, some hearing loss, seven fractures on his face, jaw, and collar bone, and damaged teeth. Mrs. Moore, 77, had damaged teeth and a severely bruised face that required surgery.

The Ormond Beach couple were in town in June to visit Busch Gardens. They were staying at a nearby Red Roof Inn when their attacker surprised them outside their room. Two days later the couple themselves surprised many at a news conference attended by Mayor Dick Greco, Police Chief Bennie Holder and other local dignitaries when they expressed sympathy for their attacker and continued affinity for Tampa.

Perhaps it's less surprising when you consider that charity is a way of life for the Moores. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, they raised seven foster children. They moved to Ormond Beach in 1971 after Mr. Moore retired as a professor at Ohio State University. He later became a registered nurse like his wife, and the two created the Christian Free Clinic. They run it from their house, providing care and transportation for the indigent and elderly.

The Moores are members of the First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach and, under its auspices, travel on annual medical missions to Ecuador.

In October, the Moores returned to Tampa for a five-day vacation, on the house. The Tampa Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau coordinated a free stay at the Hyatt Regency Tampa, meals at restaurants including Hops and the Columbia in Ybor City, and visits to Busch Gardens, the Florida Aquarium and the Museum of Science and Industry.

WFLA-AM 970 held a money drive shortly after the attack. Listeners were asked to send a dollar each to replace the $610 stolen from the Moores. Mrs. Moore said they received $3,400 from the drive, and donated $1,000 of it to two recent Tampa assault victims. The rest they will use for this year's Ecuador trip.

Police say they have a suspect in the attack who already is in jail on unrelated charges, though he has not yet been charged in this crime.

-- Michael Canning can be reached at 226-3408, or canning@sptimes.com.

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