She Was Forced to Share Custody of Their Daughter — So She Had Someone Kill Her Ex in Front of the Girl
A Florida mother has been found guilty of premeditated murder after authorities say she encouraged her former stepfather to kill the father of her child after the victim won a shared custody arrangement for the daughter they shared.
Florida State Attorney Ginger Bowden Madden said in a news release last week that Rachiel Moore was found guilty of premeditated murder and tampering with evidence. Moore, 27, was sentenced to life without parole in state prison for the 2023 murder of Colby Vinson, according to Madden.
Vinson, 24, was shot and killed by Moore's former stepfather Jason L. Curtis shortly after returning home from the grocery store with his and Moore's young daughter, according to the 2023 warrant for Curtis' arrest, obtained by PEOPLE.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office warrant said Vinson was shot 'outside his front door' while he appeared to be loading groceries from his car. Police said Vinson had recently been 'awarded 50/50 custody' of his and Moore's daughter less than a week prior to his killing.
'The investigation revealed that Rachiel Moore, the mother of the minor child, communicated with her former stepfather Jason Curtis all week in reference to Curtis driving down from Alabama to kill Colby Vinson,' the Florida State Attorney's statement on Moore's sentencing said. 'Rachiel Moore paid Curtis gas money to make the trip and provided all of Colby's personal information for Jason Curtis to identify, locate, and murder Colby Vinson.'According to the warrant, Moore paid Curtis $50 for gas after communicating with him via Facebook Messenger. After Moore initially told Curtis about the result of her and Vinson's custody battle, Santa Rosa police said her former stepfather sent her photos of guns and knives, telling Moore 'not to worry about it.'Moore told police 'this looks bad for her' and that she 'didn't think [Curtis] would do something like this,' the 2023 warrant says. Moore later deleted the Facebook Messenger app from her phone, believing it would delete the conversation between them.
Deputies responding to the March 2023 murder scene said they found Moore and Vinson's then-4-year-old daughter sitting next to her father's body, according to local WEAR.
Curtis was sentenced to life in prison last year, according to the outlet.
Read the original article on People
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Yahoo
Father-to-Be, 19, Killed by Falling Tree Limb: 'A Smile That Would Just Melt Your Heart'
A 19-year-old soon-to-be-father and former high school football star has died after he was struck by a tree branch The El Paso County Sheriff's Office said that 19-year-old Aiden Hernandez, of Woodland Park, Colo., died on May 29, following the work incident The former football player was set to welcome his first child with his longtime girlfriend in JulyA 19-year-old soon-to-be-father and former high school football star in Colorado has died after he was struck by a tree branch, local authorities say. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office confirmed to local outlet KRDO that 19-year-old Aiden Hernandez, of Woodland Park, Colo., died Thursday, May 29. Deputies were called to the scene after a work accident in Colorado Springs, about 70 miles south of Denver, just before 10 a.m. local time on May 29. Although they administered CPR, Hernandez was pronounced dead on the scene, the Sheriff's Office told the outlet. Members of the local community have spoken out about Hernandez's death. The soon-to-be-dad was a well-known high school football player and was described in his obituary as "a talented athlete" who was "known on the football field as 'The Beast,' a nickname earned through his passion, strength, and dedication to the game." "Incredible young man, great energy, A smile that would just melt your heart. Very intense. Very driven young man, even from an early age," the teen's former football coach, Chad Drummond, told KRDO. "It dropped me to the floor," Drummond said of the 19-year-old's death. "I don't know if I've still accepted it." The El Paso County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for further information. Hernandez was expecting his first child, a boy to be named Zion, with his longtime girlfriend this summer. "He was preparing to be an incredible father and partner, ready to build a beautiful life full of love, adventure, and devotion," his obituary states. In his final Facebook post shared just hours before his death, Hernandez wrote: "I have no words for how much I love this woman, and for what we have coming! I'm forever grateful and I count the days down till we can meet little Zi." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Drummond told KRDO that his family was extremely close-knit. "If he had an event, everyone was there. If someone else in the family had an event, they were all there," Drummond said. "They supported each other from morning to night, which is why my heart breaks for this family. It is absolutely a catastrophic loss." The 19-year-old's family shared in his obituary that he "lived life to the fullest." "Whether he was jumping off cliffs, climbing mountains on camping trips, or swimming across Pueblo Reservoir, he approached every adventure with a fearless heart and a bright smile," the obituary adds. "Even during difficult times, Aiden's focus was always on lifting others and making the most of every moment." A celebration of life is set to be held on Sunday, June 7. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
Escaped ex-police chief recaptured 1.5 miles from his Arkansas prison: Authorities
The former Arkansas police chief who escaped prison while serving a 30-year sentence for murder and rape has been recaptured after nearly two weeks on the run, authorities said. Grant Hardin was captured by law enforcement officials Friday afternoon, approximately 1.5 miles west of the northern Arkansas prison he had escaped, according to the Izard County Sheriff's Office. His identity was confirmed by fingerprint analysis, the sheriff's office said. Hardin, 56, escaped the Calico Rock North Central Unit in Izard County on May 25 after donning a uniform and impersonating a corrections officer and being allowed to walk through a sally port pulling a cart. Arkansas law enforcement officers and the U.S. Border Patrol located Hardin near Moccasin Creek in Izard County and he was taken into custody shortly after 3 p.m. local time Friday, according to the Arkansas Department of Corrections. "Tracking dogs were able to pick up a scent in the area, and Hardin was apprehended a short time later," the department said in a press release. Arkansas' secretary of corrections, Lindsay Wallace, thanked those who helped "bring this search to a peaceful conclusion." MORE: 'Evil man': Search continues for ex-police chief who escaped Arkansas prison Hardin, the former police chief of Gateway, Arkansas, pleaded guilty in October 2017 to first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of 59-year-old James Appleton, according to The Associated Press. He was also convicted of the 1997 rape of an elementary school teacher in Rogers, Arkansas, a crime highlighted in the 2023 television documentary "Devil in the Ozarks." During the search, officials deployed helicopters, drones and K9 officers. A U.S. Border Patrol tactical unit from Texas, known as BORTAC, had also been deployed to Arkansas to assist in the manhunt, officials said. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders expressed gratitude for local, state and federal law enforcement -- and especially thanked the Trump administration for sending a Border Patrol team "that was instrumental in tracking and apprehending Hardin.' "Thanks to the great work of local, state and federal law enforcement Arkansans can breathe a sigh of relief and I can confirm that violent criminal Grant Hardin is back in custody,' she said in a statement. MORE: US Border Patrol tactical unit deployed to help manhunt for escaped Arkansas inmate The FBI and U.S. Marshals offered a combined $25,000 reward for information leading to his capture. Arkansas officials urged residents of the surrounding Izard County to stay vigilant and lock the doors of their homes and vehicles following his escape. "I am very scared that this guy is going to hurt or kill somebody before this is over with," Stone County Sheriff Brandon Long told ABC News amid the manhunt. Nathan Smith, the former Benton County prosecutor who helped put Hardin behind bars, told Arkansas ABC affiliate KHBS the escaped inmate is "a sociopath."
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Harvey Weinstein Doubles Down On Innocence Anthem Ahead Of Retrial Verdict
Harvey Weinstein is standing on business concerning his innocence. The film producer insists he might have been an extremely sexually expressive person, but never did he forcefully have his way with someone of the opposite sex, as his accusers have alleged. Harvey Weinstein was convicted of first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape in his 2020 trial, receiving a 23-year sentence. Weinstein recently spoke out during the jury's deliberations in his rape retrial, expressing "regrets" about his immoral behavior while maintaining his claim of innocence. In a phone interview conducted at Manhattan's Bellevue Hospital, where he is receiving medical treatment, Weinstein reiterated familiar lines he has used in the past. This interview took place on Thursday with "Good Day New York" host Rosanna Scotto, highlighting his ongoing legal situation while he continues to address various health issues while in custody. The disgraced Hollywood film mogul expressed his regrets about the impact of his actions on his family and friends. He acknowledged the emotional pain he caused his wife and others close to him, describing his behavior as immoral and foolish. Yet, he maintained that he never engaged in anything illegal or criminal. As the jury in his Manhattan retrial for rape and a criminal sexual act began their deliberations after six weeks of testimony, TMZ shared that he admitted to feeling "nervous" about the upcoming verdict. As noted by PEOPLE, Combs and Weinstein have now both been accused of sexual assault by model Crystal McKinney. McKinney, in an amended complaint filed against Weinstein on May 30, alleged that Weinstein raped her and a friend in 2003. McKinney had previously filed a lawsuit in 2024, accusing Combs of drugging and sexually assaulting her. In McKinney's new complaint, she allegedly received a call from an unnamed executive at a modeling agency who arranged a business meeting with Weinstein at a popular lounge in the West Village. McKinney explained that she took a fellow model and roommate with her, hoping that Weinstein might also consider her for an acting role. After waiting at the lounge, they were eventually directed to Weinstein's table. It was there that McKinney noted Weinstein expressed a desire to get to know them better, suggesting they move their meeting to his place, as he deemed the lounge "too loud and crowded" for a discussion about potential acting opportunities. Upon returning to their hotel room, McKinney alleges in her complaint that the film producer excessively provided alcohol, serving multiple bottles of Boulevardier and Dom Pérignon, along with vodka cocktails. She claims that during this incident, Weinstein inappropriately touched her by grabbing her breasts and tearing at her tank top, causing drinks to spill onto her shirt and prompting a quick trip to the bathroom. In her complaint, she stated that her friend had accompanied her when Weinstein entered the bathroom uninvited. He allegedly demanded that the two women strip and join him in the bathtub, where he then exposed himself. McKinney and her friend felt coerced and complied with his demands, fearing retaliation if they resisted his advances. The model further recounted an incident involving Weinstein, where she alleged that he coerced her and her friend into engaging in sexual acts in a bathtub before forcibly dragging them to the bed. She accused him of raping both women and leaving the hotel room abruptly afterward. McKinney described herself as feeling disgusted and frightened at Weinstein's actions and emphasized that she had been heavily intoxicated at the time of the incident. Afterward, she claimed that when she reported the assault to Weinstein's assistant over the phone, instead of addressing her concerns, the assistant instructed her to leave the hotel room immediately. Following this traumatic experience, McKinney reported suffering from a range of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, anger, self-blame, suicidal thoughts, body image problems, and a sense of demoralization. Since he resumed serving time at the correctional facility, the producer has been exposed to a plethora of illnesses. As noted by The Blast in April, his legal team said that he was battling cancer and diabetes alongside severe coronary artery disease that caused chest pain from reduced blood flow to the heart. He also reportedly struggled with obstructive sleep apnea, thyroid problems, obesity, chronic pain in his lower back and legs, anemia, and hypertension, among other ailments. Some of these illnesses did not happen overnight or on their own; according to his attorney, his living conditions at Rikers Prison did damage to his health. Weinstein reportedly had to survive under freezing temperatures and was made to wear dirty clothes. All this worsened his already failing health, making him susceptible to COVID-19 and double pneumonia. The producer also had to undergo critical surgery to address a fluid buildup in his heart and lungs. His lawyer, Imran Ansari, criticized New York City officials for contributing to his client's suffering. Ansari revealed that he had made multiple attempts to have Weinstein transferred from Rikers Island to Bellevue Hospital, but city officials consistently ignored those requests. He emphasized that this transfer was vital for Weinstein's health, asserting that it could potentially save his life and prevent premature death. The convicted sex offender's attorney also demanded a monetary settlement for their troubles. As noted by The Blast, Weinstein and his attorney requested a $5 million settlement from Bellevue Hospital, which has treated Weinstein multiple times in 2024, including a stay in the ICU. Despite their previous care, Weinstein criticized the hospital for releasing him back to prison before he had fully recovered. His compensation claim extends beyond the hospital; he also demanded remuneration from the City of New York and its agencies. Weinstein alleged that he had suffered both physically and psychologically due to "horrific" treatment and adverse health conditions while incarcerated. His lawyers argued that the prison had severely mismanaged his health and failed to provide optimum medical care. What verdict awaits Harvey Weinstein in his retrial?
