IN IN - Burney 'David' Moore, 30, Evansville, 8 April 1977

[bessie]

Here are the basic facts.

At the time of his death, Burney David Moore (who went by David) was a 30-year-old bartender and father of a three-year-old son.

Moore had been divorced from his son's mother, ESM, for over a year.

Moore had temporary custody of the child.

After leaving work on April 8, 1977, Moore went to pick up his son from the babysitter's home on Keck St in Evansville at about 1:00 A.M. As he approached the babysitter's house, an unknown assailant fired at him with a shotgun from a distance of about four feet.

Moore's body was found in front of a neighbor's residence at 410 Keck.

His car was still running and the lights were on. His wallet, ID, and about $9.00 were inside one of his pockets.

The shotgun pellets were concentrated in his upper left chest with a few striking his face, according to an autopsy report. He suffered massive internal bleeding.

The shotgun and a shell casing were found behind the house at 410 Keck.

Police believed the murder "may have been the work of a professional killer."

Moore was to be awarded permanent custody of his son on the following Monday.

Moore's boss, and the owner of the Gemeca Inn where he worked, stated Moore was a friendly man who got along well with everyone, and he hadn't been involved in any problems at the restaurant/bar.

The ex-wife was interviewed by police two hours after the shooting at her residence in South Bend.

Following Moore's death, the ex and one of Moore's brothers and his wife were parties in a custody suit. The aunt and uncle won, and went on to raise the boy with their own children.

The family posted a $1,000 reward soon after the murder, and raised it to $2,000 about six months later.

Moore was a former U.S. Marine.

David Moore's good friend Robert Meredith, also a bartender, disappeared in 1979 and has never been heard from since.

LINKS:

http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=671990

http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=672082

http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=671981

http://local.evpl.org/views/viewimage.asp?ID=671978

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=104718324

2013 article about Robert Meredith's disappearance, and his WS thread

http://www.14news.com/Global/story.asp?S=6469420

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?49499-IN-Robert-Allen-Meredith-39-Evansville-1979

 

[Montjoy]

Strikes me as unusual that a father (especially one who was a bartender) would be granted custody of a child in 1977.

 

[STANDREID]

Strikes me as unusual that a father (especially one who was a bartender) would be granted custody of a child in 1977.

Yes, even though there's nothing wrong with being a bartender, there must have been something very unsavory about the mother, especially in 1977.

 

[meanmaryjean]

You're right about it being unusual. OT: My father was the FIRST man in Indiana granted sole custody of his children back in the mid-60s. It was due to my mother's alcoholism and abandonment. It was strange back then. The elementary school actually hired a psychologist to help us kids (four girls) 'deal with being raised by a man'! My parents eventually re-married, added a fifth girl, and mom left again.

Anyway, back to the case at hand.....

 

[bessie]

Strikes me as unusual that a father (especially one who was a bartender) would be granted custody of a child in 1977.

What could be considered even more noteworthy is the fact that after David's death and a court battle, custody of the son was awarded to David's family members. JMO

 

[Chuck Norris' Chin]

After 41 years, sadly there has been no new leads in this case. Hopefully one day we will find out who murdered David Moore.

 

[Superslash]

Bumping for David and his family!