Montpellier — This month’s “Unsolved Murders” article examines the 1978 double murder of a young married couple in Montpelier.
Bruce Moser, 20, and Margaret Moser, 22, had been married for three years and lived in a mobile home on State Route 3 in Wells County with their 17-month-old daughter, Kerri.
Bruce worked at Bob’s Fine Foods in Huntington, while Margaret was a stay-at-home mom.
On January 4, 1978, Bruce left work early to go home and pick up Margaret for an appointment.
Bruce did not show up for work or call in over the next two days. His manager became concerned and contacted the police, requesting a welfare check.
When police arrived at the Moser home and went inside, they discovered Bruce lying on the bedroom floor. His hands were bound behind his back, and he had been shot in the head.
Margaret was tied to the bed. She had been sexually assaulted and shot repeatedly in the head. It was discovered that Bruce’s rifle was used to shoot the couple.
Kerri was discovered in the home, unharmed but hungry and dehydrated.
Police believe Bruce arrived home that day and walked in while Margaret was being assaulted.
Initially, it was suspected that the couple’s murder was related to an incident that occurred several years prior, in March 1974.
While still in high school, Bruce was returning home from a date with Margaret when he discovered the body of a man who had been shot in the stomach. The victim’s name was Ronald Parks. Bruce saw three males flee the scene and watched as they got into a car and drove away.
Three men were later arrested in connection with Parks’ murder: Pete Walters, Jon Kennedy, and Richard Mills. Walters was believed to be the one who shot Parks. Kennedy testified against Walters in exchange for immunity, and Mills received a reduced sentence after pleading guilty to his involvement.
Bruce was called to testify for the state at Walters’ trial. Walters was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Kennedy and Mills were questioned, but both denied any involvement in the deaths of Bruce and Margaret. Both men gave alibis.
Another possible suspect was a truck driver named Robert Leslie. Leslie, originally from Indiana, was wanted for questioning in connection with homicides in several states, including Indiana, Alabama, and Georgia, as well as a kidnapping in Florida. It was determined that the Mosers’ trailer was on one of Leslie’s routes, and Leslie reportedly admitted to police that he stopped at the Moser home in December, shortly before Christmas, to use their phone when his truck’s brakes failed.
However, before police could arrest Leslie for further questioning, he committed suicide in a motel room.
Leslie left several letters for family members, including one to his sister in which he admitted to the rape and murder of 16-year-old Trena Biddle, whose body was discovered on a rural Indiana road.
