On February 24, Daniella Moore resolved her 2019 case by entering guilty pleas to second degree murder of Hannah Hayhurst and assault with a deadly weapon upon Misty Miller (PC 245(a) (1). Moore withdrew her not guilty by reason of insanity plea and waived her right to appeal.
The conditional plea details were reported in my last post. The sentence for second degree murder is 15 years to life. Term for the assault charge was to run concurrently, according to the plea.
After a brief statement by Moore and very lengthy victim impact statements, Moore was sentenced today by Judge Kelly Neel 15 years to life with a concurrent term of 4 years for the assault charge.
Moore has 1374 days of credits for jail time served, she will not get good time credits since this is a homicide. If released from custody when she is eligible for parole, Moore will remain on parole for the rest of her life. Standard restitution fines and fees were imposed.
Judge Neel told Moore, "I don't think you will ever come to terms with what you have done."
I have written previously that I knew Hannah's mother Lynn. We worked together at CWS. Lynn passed away before Moore's plea. The last time I saw Lynn was with family at one of her favorite local restaurants, Pachanga. Even that day, you could see that Lynn was devastated and the family left shortly after dinner was served without finishing their meal.
I saw the difference in Lynn after the tragic and brutal murder of Hannah. I also know some other members of Hannah's family and for four years have kept in contact with those who couldn't always be in court and kept them informed.
Hannah's father asked District Attorney Stacey Eads if they could speak after Moore made her statement. Moore stood silent with her head down as the victim impact statements were read. At times, she bent over putting her head down on the wooden barrier of the jury box where inmates usually stand. Family and friends sat in the front row and had photos of Hannah.
No coverage of victim impact statements can do justice to the loss Hannah's father Robert, her cousin Melody and other family members feel. When Moore goes to prison, maybe Hannah's family and friends can begin healing and get some closure for two deaths. Based on the victim statements, it looks like that won't start until Moore leaves the county jail. Robert said once Moore leaves the Humboldt jail for prison, he intends to scatter Hannah and Lynn's ashes in Trinidad.
Lately it has not always been possible for me to be at the Courthouse as often as I used to be years ago. I made sure to be there today, especially after the family contacted me yesterday asking if I would be there for the sentencing. I sat behind family members and friends. Even in their grief, we were able go briefly chat before sentencing proceeded. In the midst of their own tragic loss, they have thanked me for my support more than once. It was not necessary but it is appreciated.
The family thanked DA Eads and former DA Maggie Fleming in court today.
Deputy Public Defender Casey Russo is Moore's attorney. There were some women and a young girl in the courtroom. They could have been family members or friends of Moore based on their reactions to Robert's victim impact statement. Hannah's family and friends sobbed through all the victim impact statements. When Robert spoke and Moore made her two brief statements, these women wiped tears.
Daniella Moore's initial statement:
"I wrote something your honor." She expressed sorrow and regret and said,"Nothing can bring Hannah back."
"My lack of mental health care, meds, post partum depression led me to take the life of a woman I never met."
"Time is all I have to give and it pales in comparison to what I took."
Moore referenced the pain and suffering she caused Hannah's family and to her own children and family.
Melody Hayhurst:
Melody told Judge Neel that after listening to Moore's statement, "I hope you will take a few minutes" to listen to what Moore took from Melody and the family. Melody wanted to share who her cousin Hannah was and who her aunt Lynn was through her statement.
"One very important person is missing from court," Melody said, referring to Lynn. She is unable to be here for Hannah. Ms. Moore's actions on July 4 caused her death.
Melody spoke of Lynn's career at CWS. "All Lynn wanted to be was a mother. Lynn was unable to have children biologically. After several failed adoptions, Bob and Lynn adopted Hannah. Ms. Moore took a random stranger off the street and brutally murdered her. Ms. Moore took my uncle Bob's entire nuclear family in less than two years."
"15 years to life is not enough for what you took."
DA Eads read a letter from Melody's parents, Eileen and William Hayhurst. "Lynn had health issues but she died of a broken heart."
Skylar Myers:
Skylar had been friends with Hannah since grade school. She called Hannah her soulmate. "Days turned into weeks into months and the pain is still the same."
"I can hear Hannah's screams" Skylar said referring to the brutal torture and murder of Hannah and details such as her organs being laid outside her body.
"15 years to life for killing a 19 year old."
Maria Monroe was Hannah's counselor. She worked at the Children's Center and met Lynn at CWS. Monroe said it was because of Lynn that she became a social worker. Her statement focused on Hannah, Lynn and Robert and the loss to the family.
Robert Hayhurst:
Robert had prepared remarks but he decided to forego that option. He started by apologizing to Judge Neel. "I want to apologize for interrupting your last hearing."
"You don't need to apologize," said Judge Neel.
"I would like to address the murderer directly."
"You know about me, I know some about you."
"I don't know why this bitter cup passed my way but I have had to drink from it every day since July 5, now I will pass it on to you."
"Every day up to now has been just survival for me.
He told Moore, "We probably know some of the people." Spoke about growing up in Humboldt all his life, most people are "upstanding citizens" but there are some "outlaws."
"I was approached by someone saying the problem I had could have been taken care of, money was involved." I told the person, "let me sleep on it."
"Your life was a click away. The angel of death was hovering above your bunk. "
"In the morning, I said, don't touch her. I did not want blood on my hands." Robert said he did not want to be involved with "such people."
"You owe your life to me." Robert said had this person approached him after the preliminary hearing, when he knew the details of what was done to his daughter and the brutal way she died, his decision would be different.
"They shielded us," Robert said turning to DA Eads. He said the only silver lining was Lynn died before the preliminary and didn't have to hear the details.
"Lynn would burst into tears at least once a day." Robert talked about how helpless he felt watching his wife.
"I thought I knew what pain was after Hannah's death. Then I lost my mate of 37 years. That was 10 times worse.
"You probably think I hate you. You murdered my daughter. You killed my wife. I haven't had the luxury of hating you. I don't want to carry around the burden of hating you the rest of your life. When you leave this County, my hate is gone with you."
"Hannah's birthday is 11 days from now. "
"Every soul is worth saving. Even a degraded soul like yours."
Robert asked Moore if she had anything to say to him. After consulting with Mr. Russo and referring to him as he requested by his street name, "Hannah's dad, again, I apologize. I will pray for your family as I do every night."
Robert went on to tell Moore she is a marked woman, better hope she is in PCP because in prison they do not like monsters.
"I don't forgive you. I hope you are released today so I can hunt you down. I would show no mercy."
At this point, Judge Neel stopped him and said,"The victim impact statement is to address the court. " Out of respect, she allowed him some leeway but she said, "You have gone past that."
Robert made some additional remarks about heaven and hell and telling Moore she would have plenty of time in prison to think about what she did.
At one point in his statement, Robert told Moore that she "lured Hannah probably with the promise of getting high."
DA Press Release (4:40 p.m.)
Today, Judge Kelly Neel sentenced Eureka woman, Daniella Patricia Moore (43 years), to serve 15 years to life in state prison for the murder of 19-year-old Hannah Hayhurst, and assault with a deadly weapon upon Misty Miller. Family and friends of Ms. Hayhurst addressed Moore and Judge Neel, sharing the anguish, loss and heartbreak caused by these terrible crimes.
On July 4, 2019, Moore attacked Misty Miller causing significant wounds to her head. Some hours later, Moore stabbed and disemboweled Hannah Hayhurst, leaving her body near the foot of Hilfiker Lane in Eureka. Moore then drove to Garberville, still dressed in clothing drenched in Ms. Hayhurst’s blood. Sheriff’s deputies located her there in the early morning hours of July 5. Moore appeared to be psychotic, a condition that evidence indicated was brought on by use of illegal narcotics. Deputies initially intended to detain Moore on a mental health hold pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code section 5150, but soon realized she was a suspect in the Eureka Police Department’s (E.P.D.) investigation into the suspected homicide of Ms. Hayhurst. They transferred her into the custody of E.P.D. officers. Detective C. Watson led the investigation into the murder, ultimately arresting Moore for the murder of Ms. Hayhurst. The additional investigative efforts of Detective R. Harpham led to evidence revealing Moore as the previously unidentified assailant of Misty Miller.
The District Attorney filed charges against Moore for her crimes against both victims, including allegations that Moore had tortured Ms. Hayhurst. The torture allegations made Moore eligible for a sentence of life without the possibility of parole. Moore initially pled not guilty by reason of insanity to the charges, and the court appointed three forensic psychologists to evaluate Moore. Two of the three filed reports indicating their expert opinion that Moore was, in fact, not guilty by reason of insanity when she committed her offenses. One of the psychologists disagreed, and he opined that she was sane. If found true by a jury, Moore’s insanity plea would have made her eligible to serve her sentence at a mental health facility and could have resulted in her release if she was found to have recovered from her mental illness.
Prior to trial, on February 24, 2023, Moore changed her plea to guilty of violations of Penal Code sections 187(a), murder in the second degree, and 245(a)(1), assault with a deadly weapon. She also withdrew her previously entered pleas of not guilty by reason of insanity and waived her right to appeal. As part of the plea, District Attorney Stacey Eads agreed to dismissal of the torture allegations, which had made Moore eligible for a sentence of life-without-parole.
District Attorney Eads stated: “I extend my deepest sympathies to Hannah’s family and friends for the unbearable grief and tragedy suffered with the loss of her life. Although evidence demonstrated Ms. Moore experienced severe psychosis when she committed her violent crimes, her years of voluntary methamphetamine use significantly attributed to her mental state. Ms. Moore will now serve her sentence in prison, not a state hospital, and be held accountable for her choices that led to her senseless acts of violence and tragic loss of a young life. She is serving a life sentence, and my office will vehemently oppose her release on parole under any circumstances.”
Previous posts:
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2023/02/after-years-daniella-moore-resolves-her.html?m=1#more
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2023/01/jury-trial-for-murder-suspect-daniella.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/12/murder-in-2019-and-all-that-keeps.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/09/jury-trial-for-daniella-moore-could.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/08/defense-makes-offer-moore-admits.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/08/trial-judge-orders-intervention-in.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/08/hannahs-mother-passed-away-and-this.html?m=1
(there are way too many previous posts to link for this 2019 case; you can access all previous coverage via the search feature on this blog
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