In the quiet hours of an early Saturday morning in Midwest City, Oklahoma, a single gunshot shattered the peace and ended the life of 51-year-old Denise Ann Moon. On April 22, 2017, the woman known for her love of peace signs, hummingbirds, and the color purple, was found inside her vehicle in the driveway of her home, having suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the chest.
The tranquility of her yard, filled with the roses she lovingly tended, became the backdrop to a tragedy that would unravel a story of domestic violence.
Denise, born on February 26, 1966, in Oklahoma City, was a proud graduate of Star Spencer High School. She had built a life centered around her children, for whom her love was described as overwhelming and unending. Friends and family remembered her as a generous and kind person who brought light into the lives of everyone she met. She found joy in nature, traveling, and the simple pleasure of walking barefoot through her gardens. Her career path led her to Unisys, where she had the opportunity to travel, and later to Jordan's Crossing, where she found a calling in helping young women on their journey to sobriety.
The initial call to the authorities came from a startling source. At 12:45 a.m., Denise's husband, 50-year-old Robert Lee Moon, contacted the police with a chillingly direct confession: 'I just shot my wife.' When officers arrived at the scene, their investigation confirmed his statement. The events that led to the fatal shooting reportedly began with an argument between the couple. Robert Moon would later claim that his wife had fired at him first, leading him to shoot her in response. Despite this claim, authorities arrested him for first-degree murder.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, those who knew Denise were left to grapple with the sudden and violent loss of a woman who embodied peace and love. Her memorial service was a testament to her vibrant spirit, with attendees encouraged to wear her favorite color, purple, and symbols of peace. The investigation into her death proceeded, and though police records indicated no prior history of domestic violence between the couple, the incident served as a stark and tragic escalation of conflict. In March 2018, Robert Lee Moon pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to twenty years in prison, with ten of those years suspended.
