No Remorse, Three Life Sentences: The Killing of TereseAnn Lynch Moore

On November 11, 2009, Randy Moore kidnapped, raped, and murdered his estranged wife, TereseAnn Lynch Moore

The sad incident happened just a month after she left and filed a protective order against him. 

The horror didn’t end there that day.

Moore also shot Des Moines Police Officer Todd Roland as he responded to the desperate cries for help coming from their shared apartment.

TereseAnn Lynch Moore, a veteran who served three tours overseas, was a young mother from West Des Moines who fought bravely for her country. 

Tragically, on Veteran’s Day 2009, she faced her greatest battle. 

TereseAnn was abducted by her estranged husband at gunpoint from a Target parking lot. 

He then took her to his apartment, where she was tragically murdered.

TereseAnn was just a few weeks shy of her 31st birthday.

At the sentencing hearing, TereseAnn's mom, Sheila Lynch, looked at Moore and spoke confidently as she gave her victim impact statement.

“You couldn’t destroy her spirit, so you took her life instead,” she declared. 

The courtroom was tense as Lynch's words filled the room, and her sadness was obvious to everyone.

Looking back on TereseAnn's life, Lynch explained how her daughter's marriage to Randall Moore was filled with control and isolation.

Moore, who had a chance to speak before sentencing, showed no remorse. 

For more than ten minutes, he tried to defend his horrible actions, saying he had no regrets about TereseAnn's death.

“It could have all been prevented if you’d let me see my kid. Now you’re never going to see her again,” he said, his words dripping with malice. 

Even his apology to his family and the Officer he shot was cold and disturbing.

“Todd, I could have killed you. I could have shot you 25 times. I chose not to,” he said, showing a disturbing lack of empathy.

Judge Joel Novak, clearly disturbed by Moore's lack of remorse, responded firmly. 

“I just can’t believe what I’ve heard. If anyone didn’t know what a piece of work you are before you started talking, they know it now,” he said. 

Novak sentenced Moore to three life sentences for the crimes against TereseAnn and an additional 25 years for shooting Officer Roland. 

The sentences will be served one after the other, highlighting how serious Moore's actions were.

Outside the courtroom, a tearful Sheila Lynch expressed a bittersweet relief. 

“Today, my daughter’s killer is sent away and my family moves forward,” she said. 

“TereseAnn was a very, very loving, giving person and she’s still here with me every day. I know sometimes she hugs me and pats me on the shoulder and says it’s all right. And we go on from there.”

TereseAnn's Mother

In October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Rural Iowa Crisis Center held a candlelight vigil to honor victims of domestic violence. 

Sheila Lynch, the keynote speaker, urged attendees to be vigilant and offer support to those in need. 

“You can shine your light and extend a helping hand by simply offering a listening ear to your family members, your neighbors, your friends, your coworkers,” she said.

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