50-year-old Florida cold case ends in not guilty verdict

Jury acquits James Dudley of 1976 murder of Richard 'Dick' Moore after nearly 50 years

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Jurors in the trial of James Dudley, who was charged with first-degree murder in the 1976 shooting death of Richard 'Dick' Moore, acquitted him after deliberating for several hours. Dudley, who was 15 years old at the time of the murder, was considered a suspect but not arrested until 2024 when the Big Bend Cold Case Task Force took up the unsolved crime.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges of prosecuting decades-old cold cases, where witness memories can fade and evidence may be lost over time. It also raises questions about the reliability of eyewitness testimony and the use of photo lineups, which have been criticized for potentially leading to false identifications.

The details

Moore, 68, was shot and killed at his Basin Street store during an armed robbery on Dec. 29, 1976. Veronica Knight, who was 14 at the time, told detectives she saw Dudley holding a gun to Moore after she went into the store to buy candy. However, the defense was able to punch holes in her story by pointing out inconsistent statements she had made over the years. Other witnesses, including Knight's brother and a neighbor, also provided conflicting accounts of what they saw that day.

  • On Dec. 29, 1976, Richard 'Dick' Moore was shot and killed during an armed robbery at his Basin Street store.
  • In 2024, James Dudley was arrested for Moore's murder after the Big Bend Cold Case Task Force took up the unsolved crime.
  • The trial of James Dudley began on Feb. 3, 2026 and ended with a not guilty verdict on Feb. 4, 2026.

The players

James Dudley

A man who was charged with first-degree murder in the 1976 shooting death of Richard 'Dick' Moore. He was 15 years old at the time of the murder.

Richard 'Dick' Moore

A 68-year-old kindly clerk at a Basin Street store who was shot and killed during an armed robbery on Dec. 29, 1976.

Veronica Knight

A 14-year-old girl who was in the store right before the murder and told detectives she saw Dudley holding a gun to Moore.

Tom Coe

A former Tallahassee Police Chief who was a young homicide detective at the time of the investigation in 1976.

Jack Campbell

The state attorney who is personally prosecuting Dudley.

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What they’re saying

“I'm positive' it was him”

— Veronica Knight (Tallahassee.com)

“And she didn't say too much over the years because of fear. Even today, she's scared.”

— David Dewberry, Veronica Knight's brother (Tallahassee.com)

“Back in '76, this was a major crime for Tallahassee.”

— Tom Coe, Former Tallahassee Police Chief (Tallahassee.com)

“Dick Moore was Santa Claus. He was a truly kind and wonderful human being who didn't deserve to die with a bullet in his head in the back of a beer cooler … four days after Christmas.”

— Jack Campbell, State Attorney (Tallahassee.com)

“Mr. Dudley is not guilty. Mr. Dudley is innocent. He did not do anything the government has accused him of doing — nor have they proved it.”

— Aimee Lim, Assistant Public Defender (Tallahassee.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow James Dudley out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges of prosecuting decades-old cold cases, where witness memories can fade and evidence may be lost over time. It also raises questions about the reliability of eyewitness testimony and the use of photo lineups, which have been criticized for potentially leading to false identifications.