Where is Kathleen Dorsett now? ‘Dateline: Secrets Uncovered’ delves into family that 'murdered' Stephen Moore
OAKHURST, NEW JERSEY: Kathleen Dorsett is currently in prison, serving consecutive sentences for her crimes. Her convictions include 30 years for murder, 20 years for attempted murder, and 8 years for conspiracy.
These sentences are being carried out at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Union Township, New Jersey. She becomes eligible for parole in August 2057, at the age of 83.
Thomas Dorsett is currently serving his sentence at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, New Jersey. He received a 30-year sentence for murder and 15 years for conspiracy to commit arson. His parole eligibility is scheduled for August 2040, at the age of 93.
Lesley Dorsett was sentenced to 7 years for conspiracy to commit murder. Similar to her daughter, she was incarcerated at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women. Lesley became eligible for parole in December 2016 and has since been released.
When was Kathleen Dorsett first arrested?
Following the murder on August 23, 2010, Kathleen Dorsett was promptly arrested and charged with first-degree murder, along with fourth-degree tampering with evidence.
In the aftermath, Thomas Dorsett attempted suicide by ingesting refrigerant outside his attorney's office. He survived the attempt and faced charges including first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and witness tampering.
Anthony Morris, another individual involved, was charged with arson and desecration of human remains for his role in burning Stephen Moore's mother's car with Moore's body inside, allegedly at the behest of Thomas Dorsett.
Kathleen and Thomas Dorsett were held at the Monmouth County jail on high cash bail. While awaiting trial, Kathleen and her mother Lesley faced additional charges of conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder for attempting to hire a hitman to kill Stephen Moore's mother, Evlyn, who had received custody of Kathleen's daughter after her arrest.
Additionally, investigations unveiled the Dorsett family's implication in money laundering, resulting in charges against all three Dorsetts for money laundering in November 2010.
What details of the 'Stephen Moore' case came out during the trial of Kathleen Dorsett?
Kathleen pleaded guilty to the murder of Stephen Moore, aged 42, of Manchester during the trial.
Additionally, she pleaded guilty to attempting to murder her former mother-in-law and conspiring to desecrate her ex-husband's remains. On August 8, 2013, she was sentenced to 58 years in prison, with no possibility of parole before serving 51 years.
During her plea hearing, she admitted that on August 16, 2010, after her ex-husband arrived at her Ocean Township residence to drop off their 20-month-old daughter, she instructed him to retrieve some tools he had left in the driveway. She acknowledged, "I took my daughter into the house, knowing all the time my father was back there, waiting to kill him."
Kathleen also confessed to aiding her father in placing Moore's body into the trunk of a car owned by the victim's mother, which her father then drove away. She recounted meeting her father at Rooney’s Oceanfront Restaurant in Long Branch and subsequently following him to another location, where they abandoned the car.
Afterward, she drove her father home, where they proceeded to "clean up the area" where Moore had been killed.
Thomas Dorsett talks about the 'happy family life he lived before the killing' during the sentencing
During his sentencing hearing, Thomas Dorsett spoke about the happy family life he had before he murdered Stephen Moore.
He delivered a peculiar half-hour statement, veering into mundane details about his previous family life, even highlighting his wife's ability to make "perfect pea soup." Thomas Dorsett described his family as "close-knit". He and his wife lived just two doors away from their daughter, highlighting the physical closeness of their familial bonds.
Assistant Prosecutor Marc LeMieux responded to this unusual tangent by urging Dorsett to express remorse for Stephen Moore's death.
LeMieux emphasized the gravity of Dorsett's actions, highlighting how they "robbed" Stephen Moore of his life and his role as a brother, son, and father to his young daughter, Elizabeth.
Judge Anthony Mellaci Jr. says the murder of Stephen Moore is 'an American family tragedy'
Although all three Dorsett appeared emotional and expressed apologies for their actions during the sentencing, Judge Anthony Mellaci Jr was skeptical of Kathleen Dorsett's display of emotion, echoing sentiments from her pre-sentence report that characterized her as narcissistic.
"This is truly an American family tragedy on multiple levels," stated Mellaci. "The weight of responsibility rests squarely on the shoulders of this defendant."
During the court proceedings, Kathleen Dorsett disclosed that she and her father collaborated to transport Stephen Moore's body into the trunk of his mother's car. Subsequently, her father drove away with the vehicle.
She recounted meeting her father at a restaurant in Long Branch and then trailing him to another spot in the same area to discard the car. Afterward, she drove her father back home, and together they sanitized the area where Moore had met his demise.
In court, surveillance footage was presented, revealing Thomas Dorsett casually disposing of items related to the murder of Stephen Moore.
Stephen Moore’s mother Evlyn Moore says she feels 'satisfied' and her son has 'gotten justice'
Evlyn Moore, the mother of Stephen Moore, expressed her gratitude towards the Prosecutor's Office for their exceptional work and unwavering support of her family.
Speaking outside the courthouse, she remarked, "I want to say I'm as satisfied today as I will ever be. I feel that Stephen has gotten justice today, and I thank you very much."
Evlyn was granted custody of Elizabeth, her granddaughter. Reflecting on the outcome, she expressed a bittersweet sentiment, acknowledging that while she now has custody of Elizabeth, it doesn't fill the void left by the loss of her son, Stephen. She stated, "It's a hollow victory — Stephen's not here. They got the punishment they deserve."
'Dateline: Secrets Uncovered' Season 12 airs new episodes every Wednesday at 8 pm ET on NBC and is available for streaming on Peacock the following day.