Naman Shrestha
The New Year’s Eve of 2020 turned out to be a deadly one for a mother of five named Stephanie Plumb and her son, Dylan Moore. They met their respective demise in their apartment in Springfield, Missouri, where they were accompanied by her other daughters, who were also severely harmed during the incident. The episode titled ‘A True Act of Evil’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Evil Lives Here: The Killer Speaks’ chronicles the horrific double homicide that left a void in the hearts and lives of the victims’ loved ones. The documentary also features the perpetrator’s sister, Kristin Phillips, who opens up about her stance on the entire case.
Stephanie Plumb and Dylan Moore Were Killed Inside Their Missouri House
Stephanie Marie Swadley Plumb was welcomed into this world by Sharon Griffith and Steve Swadley on January 24, 1988. She was raised in a nurturing household alongside the company of her brothers, Ted, Shane, and John Griffith, who cared for and likely supported her every step of the way. She grew up to be a kindhearted and loving individual who treasured her time with her family and friends. Stephanie’s infectious smile and magnetic personality could light up the dullest of rooms, and she also possessed the ability to lift the spirits of just about anyone. Naturally, she was adored by everyone who knew her. She was deeply passionate about everything related to music and dance, and loved entertaining her close ones by spontaneously breaking into a performance.
Stephanie knew how to have fun and would often showcase her goofy and silly side to those she trusted and confided in. She was a resilient and determined individual who would never let anything deter her from her goals. She reciprocated the energy she received without prejudice and would never differentiate between people according to their race or sexual identity. Her life changed when she met Jason, and they developed a liking for each other. Soon, one thing led to another, and they had kids of their own. And just like that, Stephanie became a doting mother whose world revolved around her kids. While things didn’t work out between her and Jason, and they ultimately parted ways, the two remained an active part of the lives of their kids.
At the time of her death, the 32-year-old was dating a guy named Brandon, whom she was introduced to at a gas station by the latter’s father in 2011. As per reports, back then, Stephanie was in her early 20s and already a mother. She appreciated how Brandon easily embraced her kids as his own, and the two got serious about their relationship. He eventually moved in with Stephanie and the kids and began serving as a father figure to the latter. The Springfield, Missouri, resident was a proud mother to Candice, Alisa, Sierra, Elizabeth, and Dylan Matthew Moore, who was born on December 16, 2007. The 13-year-old shared a tight bond with his mother, father, and siblings — Candice, Alisa, Sierra, Elizabeth, Kyleigh, Kayla, Wesley, and Wyatt.
A bright 7th grader at Niangua School in Niangua, Missouri, he found great joy in riding his bicycle, fishing, hunting,g and also showcased interest in the simplicity of farm life. An avid sports enthusiast, Dylan loved playing basketball and was a huge fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and the St. Louis Cardinals. With many things to look forward to, Stephanie had a lot going on in her life until fate intervened on December 31, 2020. Around 1 pm, the authorities were called to the 32-year-old mother’s residence on West Scott Street in Springfield, where they found her and her 13-year-old son, Dylan, dead. Meanwhile, her two daughters were severely injured with stab wounds. They were rushed to the hospital, where they received medical treatment for their injuries. Upon inspecting the remains, the detectives learned that both Stephanie and Dylan had succumbed to the multiple stab wounds on their bodies. Thus, a homicide investigation was launched immediately.
Stephanie Plumb and Dylan Moore’s Killer Was Apprehended Shortly After the Murders
After tending to the victims and survivors in the Springfield residence, the authorities began searching the West Scott Street area for the perpetrator. They were tipped by several witnesses in the area, claiming to have seen a suspect with bloody clothing near the area of Division and LaFontaine. Within the next couple of hours, they managed to track down the possible suspect in the 1400 block of North Brown Avenue. It was none other than Stephanie’s boyfriend, Brandon King, who was rushed to the hospital for treatment and then taken into custody. With blood on his hands and clothing, he was accused of killing his girlfriend, her son, Dylan, and injuring her other two children, and was held at the Greene County Jail without bond.
During his taped police interrogation, Brandon eventually confessed to his crimes. He told the detectives he was facing a check forgery charge in Christian County at the time, because of which he planned to “kill everyone in the house” before stealing money and a van to escape Missouri and prevent getting jailed. However, much later, he came up with a different version of the events that transpired on the fateful day. As per his accounts, on December 31, 2020, Brandon stopped by Stephanie’s residence, but everyone had been asleep at the time. Around noon, he claimed that 13-year-old Dylan woke up.
While they were talking, he said that he saw a shadow of someone, which led him to swing the knife in his hand, accidentally stabbing the teenage boy. After that, he claimed that his adrenaline took over, which led him to stab Stephanie to death when she confronted him. He then went on to harm her other two children. After his chilling confession, he was charged with 14 felonies, including two counts of first-degree murder, seven counts of armed criminal action, two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of abuse of a child, and one count of child abuse resulting in death. Upon digging deeper into his past, the authorities also found a history of other criminal charges against Brandon in Greene County, dating back to 2011.
Brandon King is Currently Incarcerated at a Missouri Prison Facility
When it was announced that Brandon King was scheduled to stand trial in 2024 and the prosecution was seeking the death penalty, he decided not to take any chances and pleaded guilty on December 15, 2023. As part of his plea deal, not only was the death penalty off the table, but the child abuse charges and two of the armed criminal action charges were also dropped. In exchange, he officially admitted to the stabbing and killing of his girlfriend, Stephanie Plumb, and her 13-year-old son, Dylan Moore, on New Year’s Eve of 2020.
Ultimately, 32-year-old Brandon King received multiple life sentences, including two life sentences without the possibility of parole for the two murder charges, two life sentences with the possibility of parole for the two assault charges, and four 15-year sentences for the four armed criminal action charges. The judge ordered him to serve all the sentences consecutively. At the plea and sentencing hearing of the killer, Dylan’s father, Jason Moore, took the stand and recounted how he felt on the tragic day. He said, “My whole world was forever changed…I prayed and prayed my daughter would come out of surgery and be alright. Dylan was already gone. Life was different and everything that used to matter meant nothing.”
Even one of the two injured daughters of Stephanie Plumb, Alisa Moore, gave a victim impact statement. Talking about how her mother saved her, she said, “She was the reason I was alive. I just ran. I know I will never be the same person. I don’t look at people the same way. When I hear someone scream, I have a panic attack.” As of today, he is serving his sentence at South Central Correctional Center in Licking, Missouri.
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