Sanford man, ‘Pork Chop,’ buries boss with front loader, beats unconscious

A Sanford man was arrested Wednesday after he reportedly buried his boss in dirt and beat him unconscious at a job site in DeBary.
Volusia County deputies said the incident began around 6:30 a.m. when a superintendent of a work site – 57-year-old Perry Byrd of Orlando – started to fight with his employee, Erick A. Cox, 32, - nicknamed “Pork Chop”, of Sanford.
A witness on the job site at the new Wal-Mart in DeBary said he saw the two arguing then watched as Cox took a front end loader and dumped dirt onto Byrd. The witness told deputies Cox then backed up, scooped another load of dirt and dumped it on Byrd again, covering half of his body and immobilizing Byrd.
According to the witness Cox then exited the loader and took a 6-foot aluminum level and began beating Byrd over the head. The witness said Cox was standing over Byrd cussing and laughing, as the man lay unconscious.
In a 911 call a witness told the dispatcher, “He just hit him with a loader and is about to kill him. The guy is trying to kill him on my job, please come out.”
The witness had to call other workers to help dig out Byrd.
When deputies arrived they found Byrd unconscious. He was transported to the Central Florida Regional Hospital where he was treated for a large gash on the side of his head. According to the arrest report he had to get staples on the cut and doctors monitored his internal bleeding by performing several CT scans.
When deputies interviewed Cox he told a different story. Cox said as soon as he arrived to the work site Byrd approached him and began harassing him. Trying to do his work, Cox said he got into the loader and began to move dirt.
He told deputies Byrd again approached him – this time inside the loader – and tried to punch him. While Cox attempted to leave and grab the keys from the loader, he said he accidentally bumped the level and dumped the dirt on Byrd.
He also informed deputies that he and Cox have had words in the past.
Cox was charged with aggravated battery and taken to the Volusia County jail. He has since bonded out.

- Rachel Delinski, Herald Publisher/Editor, RDelinski@MySanfordHerald.com