A Bexar County jury found a man guilty of a cold case killing from 1987.
Larry Moore was convicted of capital murder Friday in the sexual assault and asphyxiation of Dianna Lowery on January 29, 1987. Moore was Lowery’s neighbor and landlord. DNA evidence that was collected from Lowery’s body gave rise to the first indictment against Moore in 2005. That case was later dismissed for further investigation. In 2018, the District Attorney’s Office reopened the case and sought a new indictment.
The jury’s guilty verdict came following more than six hours of deliberation, after which visiting Senior District Judge Maria Teresa Herr sentenced Moore to life in prison. Under the law existing in 1987, Moore is eligible for parole in 20 years. Moore is 69 years old.
“This defendant may have thought as time passed he had gotten away with this brutal crime. Time was on the side of science, which evolved to help identify Larry Moore as Ms. Lowery’s killer. The team of dedicated cold case detectives and our prosecutors finally brought justice to the memory of Ms. Lowery,” said District Attorney Joe Gonzales.
Assistant District Attorneys Talia Triesch and Kristen Mulliner of the Family Violence Division prosecuted the case in the 175th District Court. It was investigated by the San Antonio Police Department.
Also Friday, a San Antonio man with a history of violence was sentenced to 60 years in prison for murder.
Nabor Marquiz Ramos, 31, was found guilty in November 2021 by a jury in the 379th District Court. Evidence showed on Nov. 26, 2018, Ramos fired eight shots at Xavier Avila outside of the Dragon’s Sports Bar on Bandera Road. Avila died from his injuries.
Ramos was charged with the murder as a repeat offender because he was previously convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The enhancement meant Ramos faced a minimum of 15 years in prison.
“Violent crime is a priority in our office. When people use guns to settle their disputes, this is what can happen. This sentence not only means this defendant cannot harm anyone on our streets, it should also bring some sense of justice and closure to Mr. Avila’s family. I remain committed to keeping all of Bexar County safe,” said Gonzales.
Assistant District Attorney Jessica Schulze of the Criminal Trial Division prosecuted this case. It was investigated by the San Antonio Police Department.
Other court victories from last week:
Defendant’s Name | Charge(s) | Sentence |
Mario Guerra | Aggravated Assault w/Deadly Weapon | 7 Years in TDCJ |
Runcie Dookeran | Indecency W/Child By Contact; Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child | 20 Years in TDCJ; 20 Years in TDCJ (consecutive terms) |