In a quiet neighborhood in Ware Shoals, South Carolina, the life of 48-year-old Oscar Rubio, a Hispanic male, came to a violent end on May 11, 2023. His girlfriend discovered his body inside his Green Acres Drive Extension home, where he had been shot three times, once in the head and twice in the chest. Evidence at the scene suggested a brutal struggle had taken place on the front porch and in the yard before his body was dragged back inside.
The investigation quickly zeroed in on his next-door neighbor, Justin Rawlins Moody, a 43-year-old former police officer with a nearly 15-year career across various South Carolina law enforcement agencies.
Neighbors informed investigators that Rubio and Moody had been embroiled in recent disputes, potentially over money that Rubio had loaned to his neighbor. When deputies arrived at Moody's home, he was initially uncooperative. Once he did speak with investigators, he denied any involvement but possessed an unusual amount of detail about the crime scene. His behavior became increasingly bizarre as he claimed to be God and asserted that he could hear other people's thoughts. This strange demeanor, coupled with witness statements, led authorities to obtain a search warrant for his residence.
The search of Moody's home uncovered a wealth of incriminating evidence that tied him directly to the murder. Investigators found the gun used to kill Rubio, a pair of pants spattered with blood, and boots that matched a bloody footprint left at the crime scene. They also discovered thousands of dollars in cash and the keys to Rubio's vehicle. Perhaps the most chilling discovery was a funeral pamphlet with the words 'RIP Oscar' and 'you should love your neighbor' written on it, found on Moody's kitchen table.
Faced with the overwhelming evidence against him, Justin Rawlins Moody pleaded guilty to murder shortly before his trial was set to begin in Greenwood County. In October 2024, a judge sentenced him to 34 years in prison. Under South Carolina law, he will not be eligible for parole. The case, described by the Eighth Circuit Solicitor as an 'absolutely senseless act of violence,' concluded with the hope that the conviction and sentence would bring some measure of closure to Oscar Rubio's grieving family and friends.
