Timothy Bernard Moore, a 27-year-old African American male from Belhaven, North Carolina, was found deceased on December 24, 2017. His body was discovered on a dirt road off of Beech Ridge Road in Belhaven. An autopsy revealed that Moore had been shot 13 times. The investigation into his death led to the arrest of Jayquwan Lamar Newmones, a 23-year-old male, who was charged with Moore's murder.
Newmones was apprehended in Augusta, Georgia, after evading arrest for several weeks. He had significantly altered his appearance, disguising himself as a ninth-grade high school student to avoid detection. Two additional individuals, Khalif Newmones and Alicia Polen, were also arrested in connection with the case. They were charged with accessory after the fact to murder and were awaiting extradition to Beaufort County.
During the trial, Newmones testified that he shot Moore in self-defense, claiming that Moore had made aggressive sexual advances towards him.
However, the prosecution argued that Newmones' motive was robbery, as he attempted to use Moore's bank card and drove Moore's rental car after the murder. The jury found Newmones guilty of first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, and felony larceny. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The trial was a difficult experience for Moore's family, who had to relive the events of his murder nearly five years later. Moore's mother, Kathy, and her husband, Lane, were present at the trial, along with other family members and friends who supported them throughout the proceedings.
