The male accused of killing beloved Lafayette’s Tunes Home executive chef Jody Moyt has been convicted of murder before.
According to Memphis law enforcement, Jonathan Brush, 57, identified as 911 and told an operator Moyt ran him off the highway in his Toyota Camry. Brush then said Moyt remaining his vehicle when threatening to get rid of him.
Brush allegedly told law enforcement he stabbed Moyt multiple periods. Initially-responders located Moyt in the driver’s seat of his car he was pronounced lifeless at a area healthcare facility.
The two Brush and Moyt had been career support market people who labored in eating places through Memphis. It is not quickly distinct if the two realized one particular a different.
In late December 1991, Brush killed a guy by throwing him off of an 11th-ground balcony, per archived reporting from the Tampa Bay Times.
In accordance to The Periods, Brush was arrested Dec. 29, 1991, immediately after Daniel McClendon was thrown from a balcony at the Sandestin resort in Walton County, Florida.
Witnesses told law enforcement McClendon and Brush ended up in a heated argument inside the apartment Brush owned. As the battle intensified, the two adult males moved exterior to the balcony.
A spokesperson for the Walton County Sheriff’s Office told The Moments Brush “tossed” McClendon more than the side of the balcony. A girl was a witness to the fight, the sheriff’s workplace said. The Moments identified Brush as a resident of Bartlett.
It is not clear if Brush was a full-time resident of the condo, or if he rented it. Walton County is located near Destin, Florida — a preferred tourist vacation spot for Mid-Southerners.
Records from the Florida Division of Corrections exhibit Brush was sentenced to 22 decades for the criminal offense. He served approximately 10 several years and five months before getting launched.
Pursuing his release, Brush returned to the Memphis area.
Shelby County court documents clearly show Brush racked up a complete of eight rushing tickets among 2003 and 2011 and was requested to go to defensive driving faculty for four of these infractions.
Brush is presently in jail on a $1,000,000 bond.
The Professional Enchantment arrived at out to Brush’s legal professional, Blake Ballin, who was unable to straight away return the inquiry.
Those people who labored with Moyt explained him as quiet, even-tempered particular person who was not confrontational.
“Jody has been with me for 9 yrs. He was my backbone. He’s a family person into his work. He cared so substantially about his daughter, and his operate,” reported Oscar Peña, the culinary director at Beale Avenue Blues Enterprise. “There is no way Jody is a confrontational particular person. He was a fantastic human becoming, and nothing at all like this really should transpire to a person like him.”
In addition to getting the govt chef at Lafayette’s Music Space, Moyt was promoted about a yr ago to Assistant Company Chef for all of the Beale Avenue Blues Firm eating places, which incorporate B.B. King’s Blues Club, Moondance and Lafayette’s.
Moyt experienced a 6-yr-previous daughter.
Brush is future due in court on Might 3.
Dinning reporter Jennifer Chandler contributed to this report.
Micaela Watts is a reporter for The Commercial Attractiveness and can be reached at [email protected].