TACOMA, Wash. — A 39-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection to the death of 18-year-old Chloee Moore in Tacoma in September of 2023.
Anthony Marcel Millspaugh was arrested on Aug. 27 and booked into Pierce County Jail for homicide by controlled substance. He was formally charged Aug. 29 with first-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter.
Millspaugh has pleaded not guilty. Bail was set at $2 million.
Millspaugh has a prior second-degree murder conviction.
The charges come nearly a year after Moore was found dead.
Around 1 a.m. on Sept. 3, 2023, Tacoma fire crews responded to a report of a brush fire in the 2900 block of Upper Park Street. After extinguishing the fire, firefighters discovered Moore's remains in the debris.
Detectives believe Moore, a resident of Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood, was dowsed with accelerant and intentionally set on fire.
Prior to the fire, surveillance video shows a sedan pull up to the area and two people get out. The driver, later identified as Millspaugh, is seen dragging a suitcase from the trunk into the wooded area where Moore's body was found, according to charging documents. The other person, identified as a relative of Millspaugh, appears to be acting as lookout. A flash of fire can be seen in the video and the two people get back into the car and drive off.
Detectives identified Moore after learning of a missing person bulletin. Moore had been reported missing since Aug. 30, 2023. A relative of Moore told police she had begun using drugs and would sneak out at night, according to charging documents.
Analysis of Moore's blood revealed she had fentanyl and bromazolam in her system when she died. A medical examiner determined Moore died of a drug overdose.
Detectives continued to investigate and eventually obtained text messages between Moore and MIllspaugh, in which Moore would allegedly ask for drugs.
Surveillance video shows Moore and Millspaugh outside his apartment complex on Sept. 1, 2023. The two eventually walk into an alcove between two buildings. A short time later, Millspaugh is seen carrying the victim in his arms. According to charging documents, she "appears to be completely unconscious at that point."
Millspaugh can eventually be seen carrying Moore into his apartment.
The next day, Millspaugh is seen on video dragging a suitcase out of his apartment with the help of another person - the relative who later told police he was unaware of what was in the suitcase, but eventually pieced it all together after seeing posts on social media about Moore's body being found.
During an hours-long interview with Millspaugh, he told detectives that Moore had overdosed and she died in his apartment. He said he should have called 911 and eventually admitted to putting her body into the suitcase. He did not say who started the fire.
In the days after Moore's death, family said she was studying to become a dentist. Her cousin said she was full of life and adored her parents and her brother.