A jury in Florida delivered a guilty verdict on Thursday, April 24, 2025, finding Rachiel Moore responsible for the First Degree Premeditated Murder of Colby Vinson and Tampering with Evidence.
Circuit Court Judge Clifton Drake immediately sentenced Moore to life in state prison without the possibility of parole.
The verdict comes after a trial detailing the events leading up to the death of Colby Vinson on March 19, 2023. Mr. Vinson was fatally shot outside his apartment as he unloaded groceries, having just arrived home with his four-year-old daughter. The shooter was identified as Jason Curtis, Moore’s former stepfather.
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The subsequent investigation by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office revealed a chilling plot orchestrated by Rachiel Moore.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that Moore had been in constant communication with Curtis throughout the week leading up to the murder. The communication revolved around Curtis driving from Alabama to Santa Rosa County with the explicit purpose of killing Colby Vinson.
Authorities established that Moore provided Curtis with gas money for the trip and supplied him with detailed personal information about Mr. Vinson, enabling Curtis to locate and identify him.
The motive behind the murder appears to stem from a recent custody decision in which Mr. Vinson was granted shared custody of his daughter with Moore.
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The arrest and thorough investigation were conducted by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant State Attorney Mark Alderman successfully prosecuted the case on behalf of Ginger Bowden Madden, State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit of Florida.
“This was a deeply disturbing case that highlights the tragic consequences of manipulation and violence,” commented Assistant State Attorney Alderman. He commended the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office for their diligent work in uncovering the truth and bringing Moore to justice.
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