The logo for the Daily Beast's Obsessed website. It reads: 'Obsessed: What to Watch, Binge, See, & Skip'
DAILY BEAST
CrosswordNewsletters
  • Cheat Sheet
  • Obsessed
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Media
  • Innovation
  • Opinion
  • World
  • U.S. News
  • Scouted
CHEAT SHEET
    POLITICS
    • Biden World
    • Elections
    • Opinion
    • National Security
    • Congress
    • Pay Dirt
    • The New Abnormal
    • Trumpland
    MEDIA
    • Confider
    • Daytime Talk
    • Late-Night
    • Fox News
    U.S. NEWS
    • Identities
    • Crime
    • Race
    • LGBT
    • Extremism
    • Coronavirus
    WORLD
    • Russia
    • Europe
    • China
    • Middle East
    INNOVATION
    • Science
    TRAVEL
      ENTERTAINMENT
      • TV
      • Movies
      • Music
      • Comedy
      • Sports
      • Sex
      • TDB's Obsessed
      • Awards Shows
      • The Last Laugh
      CULTURE
      • Power Trip
      • Fashion
      • Books
      • Royalist
      TECH
      • Disinformation
      SCOUTED
      • Clothing
      • Technology
      • Beauty
      • Home
      • Pets
      • Kitchen
      • Fitness
      • I'm Looking For
      BEST PICKS
      • Best VPNs
      • Best Gaming PCs
      • Best Air Fryers
      COUPONS
      • Vistaprint Coupons
      • Ulta Coupons
      • Office Depot Coupons
      • Adidas Promo Codes
      • Walmart Promo Codes
      • H&M Coupons
      • Spanx Promo Codes
      • StubHub Promo Codes
      Products
      NewslettersPodcastsCrosswordsSubscription
      FOLLOW US
      GOT A TIP?

      SEARCH

      HOMEPAGE
      Crime & Justice

      ‘Just Shocked’: Ex-Boyfriend Accused of California Mom’s Murder Four Years After Disappearance

      ‘REALLY SAD’

      Jennifer Coleen Moore went missing in June 2017 after dropping off her son with a friend. Her remains weren’t found until this year.

      Justin Rohrlich

      Reporter

      Updated Jul. 01, 2021 4:19PM ET / Published Jul. 01, 2021 1:57PM ET 

      California Department of Justice/Butte County Sheriff

      On June 19, 2017, a Northern California single mom named Jennifer Coleen Moore vanished. Last seen at a local Walmart, the 41-year-old had left her young son with a friend while she went with her boyfriend to buy a car. She never returned.

      Four years later, Moore’s remains were discovered by a passerby in a remote area of Forest Ranch, an unincorporated community northeast of Chico. Now, Moore’s ex-boyfriend stands accused of her murder.

      Dustin Kimball, of Magalia, California, was arrested in Chico during a traffic stop on Tuesday, and faces one count of murder, according to authorities. The Butte County District Attorney’s Office confirmed to The Daily Beast that the 47-year-old was on the list of detainees being transported Thursday from the local jailhouse to the county courthouse, and would be appearing before a judge at 3 p.m.

      The area has seen its share of high-profile murder cases in recent months. In May, a 37-year-old Butte County man was arrested for allegedly carrying out a serial killing spree in 2020. That same month, a 28-year-old Butte County man was arrested for allegedly killing his 63-year-old father. Last October, three men living in Butte County were arrested for allegedly carrying out a gruesome double murder.

      During their investigation into Moore’s killing, detectives learned that Kimball and Moore had been “in a dating relationship prior to her death,” the Butte County Sheriff’s Office announced in a news release. “Detectives located evidence that gave them cause to believe that Kimball murdered Jennifer in 2017,” it states.

      Kimball’s aunt, Karen Fruge, said she could hardly believe the news of her nephew’s arrest.

      “We’re just shocked,” Fruge told The Daily Beast. “Everybody’s just in shock. I really, truly think that he was wrongly accused, in my opinion. Knowing him all my life, he’s like a big teddy bear. He’s very kind, he’s a very sweet boy. He’s a father, he has two kids. So, it’s just really sad.”

      Others were less benevolent in their description of Kimball. A hospice nurse who has known him for several years told The Daily Beast, “I’m not shocked one bit.” She declined to elaborate.

      On social media, Kimball seemed proud of his children. In one 2020 holiday photo posted to his Facebook page, he can be seen smiling with a young girl, in front of a Christmas tree. But Kimball also appeared to have a darker side. About nine months after Jennifer Moore disappeared, Kimball posted a graphic to Facebook that said, “You don’t understand how much I hate myself.”

      The same day, he posted a quote attributed to Katherine Hepburn: “Life is hard. After all, it kills you.”

      A spokesperson for the Butte County Sheriff’s Office declined to provide additional details about the case. The investigation is ongoing.

      Justin Rohrlich

      Reporter

      @justinrohrlichjustin.rohrlich@thedailybeast.com

      Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.

      READ THIS LIST

      DAILY BEAST
      • Cheat Sheet
      • Politics
      • Entertainment
      • Media
      • World
      • Innovation
      • U.S. News
      • Scouted
      • Travel
      • Subscription
      • Crossword
      • Newsletters
      • Podcasts
      • About
      • Contact
      • Tips
      • Jobs
      • Advertise
      • Help
      • Privacy
      • Code of Ethics & Standards
      • Diversity
      • Terms & Conditions
      • Copyright & Trademark
      • Sitemap
      • Best Picks
      • Coupons
      • Coupons:
      • Dick's Sporting Goods Coupons
      • HP Coupon Codes
      • Chewy Promo Codes
      • Nordstrom Rack Coupons
      • NordVPN Coupons
      • JCPenny Coupons
      • Nordstrom Coupons
      • Samsung Promo Coupons
      • Home Depot Coupons
      • Hotwire Promo Codes
      • eBay Coupons
      • Ashley Furniture Promo Codes
      © 2023 The Daily Beast Company LLC