In the early morning hours of December 7, 2017, the community of Taylorsville, Kentucky, was shaken by a violent act that claimed the life of 33-year-old Joshua Moore, a White male from nearby Mount Washington. Kentucky State Police responded to a distress call reporting a shooting at a residence on Essex Way in Spencer County shortly after midnight. Upon their arrival, troopers discovered Moore suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite the immediate efforts of emergency medical services to transport him to a hospital, he succumbed to his injuries before he could receive medical care.
The investigation that followed pointed to a domestic situation, with authorities quickly identifying a person of interest. While details were initially sparse, it was determined that Moore had been shot by someone present at the Essex Way home. Neighbors in the quiet area reported seeing vehicle lights and hearing noises around the time of the incident but did not recall hearing any gunshots. The police spent considerable time at the scene, gathering evidence and interviewing potential witnesses to piece together the events that led to Moore's untimely death.
In February of 2018, a breakthrough in the case came when a Spencer County grand jury handed down an indictment against 31-year-old Heather Metts. She was charged with the murder of Joshua Moore, bringing a suspect to the forefront of the investigation. In addition to the murder charge, Metts also faced a charge of marijuana possession. Following the indictment, she was taken into custody and held at the Shelby County Detention Center.
