A 44-year-old Allegan County woman is sitting in jail without bond after investigators say she shot and killed her boyfriend inside their Cheshire Township rental home, then called 911 to report what she had done. Deputies arrived last Wednesday to find the man dead inside, with a gunshot wound to the back of his head.
Charges and identification
Prosecutors have charged 44-year-old Jennifer Dana Moore with open murder and identified the victim as 54-year-old Joseph Wayne Worley, according to MLive. The shooting was reported at a home on East Baseline Road near 36th Street in Cheshire Township, just north of the Van Buren County line.
Court records and the 911 call
Investigators say court filings paint a stark picture of what happened in the minutes before Worley was killed. According to the records, Moore called 911 and told dispatchers, “I just shot my boyfriend.” Deputies arrived to find her outside the home and took her into custody.
Moore told investigators she picked up a revolver from a nightstand and mimicked a dramatic shooting motion she compared to “Doc Holiday” when the gun fired, striking Worley, according to reporting from News 8 (WOOD-TV). A television in the bedroom was also hit by a bullet, and neighbors told reporters the couple had only recently moved into the rented home.
Arraignment and custody
Moore appeared in Allegan County District Court on Monday for her arraignment on the open murder charge. Prosecutors urged the judge not to release her, and the court ordered Moore held without bond while the case moves forward, as reported by FOX 17.
Legal process
Prosecutors say Moore’s open murder charge could carry a life sentence if she is convicted, and she is scheduled for a preliminary examination on May 12, according to MLive. If a magistrate finds probable cause after that hearing, the case would be sent to Allegan County Circuit Court for trial, per FOX 17.
Investigative partners and neighborhood
The Allegan County Sheriff’s Office said several agencies assisted at the scene, including the Michigan State Police and the Allegan County Medical Examiner’s Office, according to News 8 (WOOD-TV). Neighbors told reporters the couple had only recently settled into the rented house, and authorities say there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Moore remains in custody at the Allegan County Jail while the investigation and court process continue. Her next scheduled court appearance is the May 12 preliminary examination, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Allegan County Sheriff’s Office.
