ee also: Erlene Lee, a co-accused against whom the charges have now been dropped.
Willie Clyde Moore was arrested on September 20, 2019 and charged with first-degree murder in the September 18, 1983 death of 39-year-old Anthony Baltes in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Baltes had been tied up, strangled, and beaten to death inside a Tulsa Sandman Motel room. His body was found by cleaning staff. A DNA profile of the suspect was obtained from a cup found under a table in his room.
The proceedings against Erlene Lee were dismissed on February 24, 2020 at the request of the state, reportedly because she was cooperating with authorities. Charges proceeded against her co-accused, Willie Moore. He passed away while awaiting trial, on December 13, 2020, at the age of 62. The case has now been dismissed, but Baltes’ family is grateful to have learned something about what happened to him.
Sources:
Clay, Nolan. “Death Ends Hope for Justice in 1983 Oklahoma Cold Case.” The Oklahoman, January 13, 2021. Accessed January 15, 2021. https://oklahoman.com/article/5680203/death-ends-hope-for-justice-in-1983-oklahoma-cold-case.
Hutchins, Ethan, and KTUL Staff. “Judge Finds Probable Cause in Preliminary Hearing to Send 1983 Tulsa Cold Case to Trial.” ABC News 8 Tulsa, February 12, 2020. Accessed December 24, 2020. https://ktul.com/news/local/judge-finds-probable-cause-in-preliminary-hearing-to-send-1983-tulsa-cold-case-to-trial.
State of Oklahoma v. Erlene G. Lee. State Motion to Dismiss Case. Case No. CF-2019-4489. Filed September 20, 2019. Closed February 24, 2020. Accessed December 24, 2020. https://www.oscn.net/dockets/GetCaseInformation.aspx?db=tulsa&number=CF-2019-4489&cmid=3294732.
Querry, K., and KFOR-TV. “Update: Two Arrested, Charged in Connection with Nearly 40-Year-Old Cold Case Murder.” Oklahoma News 4, September 20, 2019, last modified September 21, 2019. Accessed December 24, 2020. https://kfor.com/news/two-men-charged-in-connection-with-nearly-40-year-old-cold-case-murder/.
Sokmensuer, Harriet. “Man and Woman Charged in Nearly 40-Year-Old Cold-Case Murder of Man in Okla. Motel Room.” People, September 23, 2019. Accessed December 24, 2020. https://people.com/crime/two-charged-with-cold-case-1983-killing-of-oklahoma-man-in-motel-room/.