Inset left: William Turnage (Hamilton County Sheriff”s Office). Inset right: Tamara Moore (Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office). Background: Belgreen Lane in Springfield Township, Ohio (Google Maps).
In a chilling and heart-wrenching case that has gripped Ohio, Tamara Moore, a mother accused of unspeakable cruelty towards her adopted son, has been sentenced to the maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Moore, 53, faced charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment following the tragic death of 16-year-old Jeremiah Moore, who was found starved and chained in his home.
The case has been described by authorities as a display of “depravity.” Moore’s boyfriend, William Turnage, who was 59 at the time, also pleaded guilty to similar charges. The plea agreement resulted in the dismissal of murder and failure to report a crime charges. Turnage’s cooperation, which included testifying against Moore, led to his sentencing of 11 to 15 years in prison, as reported by Cincinnati’s Fox affiliate, WXIX.
The investigation began in February 2024 when law enforcement discovered the lifeless body of Jeremiah Moore in the basement of his family residence. The child, who had autism, was found in a closet wearing only a t-shirt and a heavily soiled diaper, according to prosecutors.
Authorities described a harrowing scene, noting that restraints were fixed to the side of the bed and marks were evident on Jeremiah’s wrists. The most harrowing detail was the complete absence of food in his digestive system, indicating prolonged starvation. This grim discovery underscored the severity of the neglect and abuse Jeremiah suffered in his final days.
Authorities’ involvement in the case began in February 2024, when Jeremiah Moore was found dead in the basement of his family home. Prosecutors said law enforcement officers found the child, who had autism, in a closet “in nothing but a t-shirt and an absolutely disgusting pull-up diaper.”
“There were restraints strapped to the side of the bed. There were marks on his wrist,” prosecutors added, per WXIX. “There was not a trace of food in any part of his digestive tract, not in his stomach, not in his intestines, nothing.”
He was treated “worse than an animal,” according to then-Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers, who vowed to secure justice for the child.
“Words alone cannot describe the level of depravity displayed by these two defendants,” she said. “My heart breaks for this little boy. He was treated worse than an animal, forced to live in a basement closet unwanted, unloved, and denied the most basic of necessities.”
An obituary for Jeremiah Moore says he “had a smile that would light up a room” as well as “a gentle soul.” He loved to eat, to sit outside, and to spend time with his dog and cat. “He didn’t let his delays keep him, from living his life to the fullest,” the obit added.
