A former South Carolina deputy will spend over three decades in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of his neighbor.
Justin Moody, 43, was sentenced to 34 years without parole for the killing of 48-year-old Oscar Rubio in May 2023. Rubio’s girlfriend discovered his body in his living room with gunshot wounds to the head and chest.
Evidence at the scene indicated that Rubio had been shot outside and dragged into his home. Investigators quickly focused on Moody after witnesses reported that the two men had recently been involved in a dispute and that Rubio had previously loaned Moody money.
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When questioned by deputies, Moody initially denied involvement but displayed a suspicious level of detail about the crime scene. He later claimed to be “God” and able to hear others’ thoughts.
A search of Moody’s home revealed the murder weapon, blood-splattered pants, and a chilling funeral pamphlet with the inscription “RIP Oscar” and “you should love your neighbor.” Investigators also recovered Rubio’s car keys and a significant amount of cash.
“This is an absolutely senseless act of violence,” Solicitor Stumbo said. “I cannot say enough about the excellent work done by the law enforcement investigators and our prosecutors to put Justin Moody behind bars for essentially the rest of his life. My hope and prayer is that Mr. Rubio’s family can begin to gain some closure and truly grieve his loss with the court case now behind them.”
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Moody previously worked for several law enforcement agencies in South Carolina, including the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. He will now serve the remainder of his life in prison.
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