Arrest Made in New Tampa Homicide

A 25-year-old New Tampa man stands accused of second-degree murder in connection with the July 19 death of Grant Woodham.

Woodham, 18, of Mulligan Court, was found by a homeowner bleeding to death on a Fox Hearst Road sidewalk. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Benjamin Lee Powell of 18522 Otterwood Ave. in New Tampa was arrested July 20 on charges of second-degree murder, grand theft auto and possession of marijuana, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office media release.

When Woodham was found, “it appeared the victim had been stabbed with a metal object, which was protruding from his chest cavity,” the release said.

The initial investigation uncovered that Woodham left a friend’s home on the night he died “in order to sell narcotics to an unknown black male. The victim left the residence in his black 2010 Dodge Charger, bearing FL tag# AUZ I08, which was not located at the scene when the victim was initially discovered.”

Further investigation pointed detectives to Powell as a person of interest in the case. Authorities found Woodham’s Dodge at 4601 E. Citrus Circle in Tampa around 6 p.m. July 20. Powell was found inside and was arrested without incident.

Powell was booked into the Hillsborough County Jail without bond. He has prior drug-related arrests, according to jail records.

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