Police Find Missing Florida Woman Kathleen Moore, Charge Boyfriend With Murder
Investigators in Florida identified on Tuesday (Dec. 7) the body of Kathleen Moore, 34, who was last seen alive on Nov. 28, and charged Moore’s boyfriend with her murder, The Washington Post reports.
That announcement came shortly before Collin S. Knapp, 30, was arraigned. Authorities charged him with second-degree murder for allegedly slaying Moore. The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office said investigators found Moore’s decomposing body near Knapp’s home in Port Richey, Fla.
One day earlier at a news conference, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco announced Knapp’s arrest after tests of blood on his clothes linked him to Moore, who was still missing at that time, according to CBS News. The sheriff also said Knapp, who has a felony criminal record that includes domestic violence, was not cooperating with their investigation.
“We have the evidence. We have Kathleen now. If he wants to make a positive difference in someone’s life, help the family out now and answer their questions,” Nocco said on Tuesday night.
Nocco said the couple was last seen together at a bar on Nov. 28. They were seen arguing at the bar before leaving together in Knapp’s car and driving to his home.
Moore’s friends became concerned after they didn’t hear from her. She routinely posted messages on social media, but her accounts fell silent. Two days after she was last seen, a homeless man found Moore’s smashed mobile phone in a dumpster and answered the device when it pinged. That prompted Moore’s friends to report her missing.
Knapp admitted to investigators that Moore returned to his home with him after they left the bar. However, he claimed that Moore left his house and he went to his workplace, Harold Seltzer's Steakhouse in Port Richey, to “complete a meat inventory order” at about 1:30 a.m.
The investigator doubted Knapp’s story. Surveillance footage indicated that Moore entered his house but didn’t leave. There were other holes in his version of what happened.
Moore’s best friend Jessica Brumett said the victim had plans to enroll in the Galen College of Nursing, according to the Post. Brumett added that her friend of 23 years was funny and vivacious, as well as a Drake fan.
