Florida News Beep
  • News Beep
  • Florida
  • Jacksonville
  • Miami
  • Tampa
  • Orlando
  • Port St. Lucie
  • United States
Florida News Beep
Florida News Beep
  • News Beep
  • Florida
  • Jacksonville
  • Miami
  • Tampa
  • Orlando
  • Port St. Lucie
  • United States
Tallahassee mother to stand trial this week after 3-year-old son died from ingesting fentanyl
TTallahassee

Jury returns not guilty verdict in 1976 Tallahassee cold case murder

  • February 5, 2026

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A jury returned a not guilty verdict in a 1976 cold case murder in Tallahassee.

Testimony wrapped up on Wednesday in the 50-year-old cold case murder trial.

James Dudley was accused of killing Richard Moore at a Tallahassee convenience store in December 1976.

Prosecutors say Dudley was arrested in 2024 after a cold case unit re-interviewed witnesses in the case.

More on crime in our area:

On Wednesday, the jury saw photos of Moore and his vehicle.

During the trial, Dudley’s defense team said no evidence pointed to him, and called it a case of “altered memories.”

To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Nextdoor and X (Twitter).

Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here to get started.

Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.

  • Tags:
  • 1976
  • 50 years
  • arrest
  • capital city
  • Cold Case
  • convinience store
  • court
  • crime
  • Murder
  • shooting
  • Tallahassee
  • Tallahassee Headlines
  • Tallahassee News
  • testimony
Florida News Beep
www.newsbeep.com