Kayla Vallee’s memorial (KOMO screenshot) and the home where Duane Dushon Moore allegedly killed her (PCSO)
A 42-year-old father in Washington state has been arrested for allegedly killing the mother of his child, gunning the 40-year-old woman down inside of his apartment as the two were in the midst of a bitter custody dispute.
Duane Dushon Moore was taken into custody last weekend and charged with one count of first-degree murder in the slaying of Kayla Vallee, authorities announced.
According to a news release from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, deputies at about 10:10 a.m. on Dec. 10 responded to an emergency call requesting a welfare check at a residence in University Place. The caller — later identified as Vallee’s stepfather — told the dispatcher that Vallee earlier that morning had borrowed her mother’s car and driven to University Place to pick up her 10-year-old son from his father’s home. The father was identified as Moore.
“Instead of their daughter returning, the child’s father arrived at their house and dropped off the son,” the release states. “The parents were concerned for their daughters well being, especially since they could not reach her by phone.”
According to a report from The News Tribune, Vallee’s parents said Moore stopped his car more than 100 yards from their home when he dropped off the child. Moore reportedly left his son crying in the driveway. The boy was crying because Moore had told him they would not be seeing each other ever again because Moore would soon be put behind bars for what he had done to the child’s mother.
Deputies responded to Moore’s residence at Hillside Glenn Apartments located in the 7300 block of 56th Street. In the parking lot of the apartment complex, deputies said they located the car Vallee had been driving. After obtaining a key to Moore’s apartment, investigators let themselves into the residence where they located Vallee’s body.
Deputies in Moore’s apartment noticed what appeared to be blood on his couch, The News Tribune reported. A closer look reportedly revealed that Vallee’s body had been wrapped in a blanket and stuffed in between Moore’s couch and another piece of furniture.
An autopsy performed by the Pierce County Medical Examiner determined that Vallee’s manner of death was a homicide and the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds, according to a news release.
“Me and all of her friends and her stepfather told her not to go in that apartment by herself. But she didn’t want to listen — she just wanted her boy back. I don’t think any of us thought he was going to kill her,” Vallee’s mother previously told The News Tribune.
Investigators immediately put out a bulletin for law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for Moore and his vehicle as forensic investigators were dispatched to document the crime scene.
A few hours later, at about 1:39 p.m., someone called 911 and reported seeing a suspicious vehicle parked on a trail in Buckley, Washington, in the area around the 13600 block of 300th Ave E. The vehicle matched the description of Moore’s vehicle that had been provided to authorities.
“Buckley Police and our Foothills Detachment Deputies responded to the location to setup containment and attempt to arrest the suspect. Deputies attempted to contact the suspect who was not listening to commands,” the sheriff’s office said. “Deputies and Buckley Officers utilized less lethal rounds to break the window and try to get the suspect to surrender. After an hour long standoff in the woods Deputies utilized a taser and were able to take the suspect into custody.”
The News Tribune further reported that when Moore finally got out of the car, it appeared as though he attempted to charge the officers at the scene, but he fell before he could reach them, which is when the officers hit him with the stun gun.
After a brief stint in the hospital, Moore was booked into Pierce County Jail on $1 million bond, records show. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Jan. 3, 2024.
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