In the spring of 2019, a 22-year-old mother named Monica Moynan vanished from her life in Holly Springs, North Carolina. She was last seen on April 7, 2019. At the time, Monica was a vibrant young woman, raising two young daughters while working as a waitress and nurturing a side business making and selling elderberry syrup. She even had aspirations of becoming a doula.
Her mother, Melanie Tucker, became concerned when her typically frequent communication with her daughter dwindled to only text messages, which felt out of character. It wasn't until July 2019, when Monica's apartment manager called her mother to report that Monica hadn't been seen in months, that a welfare check was requested and an official missing person investigation began.
When police arrived at Monica's apartment, they found her ex-boyfriend and the father of her children, Brian Sluss, living there with their two daughters. Sluss told investigators that Monica had developed a heroin addiction and had abandoned her family in June. For months, he had used her phone and social media accounts to impersonate her, sending messages to her family and friends to create the illusion that she was alive and had left on her own. This deception initially allayed the immediate fears of her loved ones, who believed the texts they were receiving were genuinely from her. However, the investigation soon uncovered a much darker reality. Authorities learned that no one besides Sluss had seen Monica since April, and they found her car and personal belongings still at her residence.
The investigation quickly zeroed in on Brian Sluss, revealing a disturbing history of domestic violence. Monica had previously taken out a domestic violence protective order against him after he had assaulted her on multiple occasions. A search of her apartment uncovered grim evidence; investigators found traces of her blood on the kitchen floor tiles and signs that someone had attempted to clean the area with bleach. In May 2020, Brian Sluss was arrested and charged with Monica's murder. His ex-wife, Jarlyn Sluss, was also implicated and charged with obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact to murder for allegedly helping him cover up the crime, including by impersonating Monica in a phone call to the apartment manager. The case against Brian Sluss marked a significant moment for Wake County, as it was the first time prosecutors pursued a murder charge without the victim's body having been found. In April 2022, a jury found Brian Sluss guilty of first-degree murder, and he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Though the verdict brought a measure of justice, Monica Moynan's body has never been recovered.Last Seen: Apr 7, 2019
