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FLORIDA MURDER LINKED TO CLAY RESIDENTS - Victim Stabbed 27 Times |
| (08/12/2006) |
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Two former Clay County residents, Tressy Beth Moore, 28, and Harry Arnold Tanner, 29, have been arrested for the stabbing death of 47-year-old Wilhelmos Van Kempen of Ocala, Florida. Moore allegedly stabbed Van Kempen on July 31 about 27 times, with Tanner being a primary assessor to the murder, robbery is the alleged motive. Moore has been charged with first-degree murder and Tanner has been charged with second-degree murder. Tanner had reportedly been involved in at least one meth operation in Clay, before going to Florida with Moore, identified as his girlfriend. Moore relayed important details about the murder to at least two fellow inmates in a northeast Florida jail. Inmate Sandi B. Fryer said Moore reportedly told her that she and Tanner were wandering around Marion County when Van Kempen asked them if they needed any help. Tanner then reportedly sold Van Kempen a cell phone and got his home phone number. Both Tanner and Moore went to a few other places, before they decided to call Van Kempen. The couple then reportedly developed a plan. Moore was to entice Van Kempen to have sex with her. When Moore and Van Kempen went into a room, Tanner barged in with a knife and attacked Van Kempen, according to an affidavit. Van Kempen fought back, stabbing Tanner in the "upper side area," and Moore stabbed Van Kempen in the upper back. The statement said Tanner and Moore listened to Van Kempen "beg for help" for 10 minutes, Fryer said. Finding the keys to Van Kempen's vehicle, they went to a few convenience stores, and stopped to order food at a McDonald's in Green Cove Springs, where they were arrested. Inmate Lisa M. Thacker said that Moore told her that after meeting Van Kempen, Moore and Tanner planned to rob and kill him and take his vehicle to West Virginia, likely back to Clay County. Moore told the inmate she stabbed Van Kempen about 27 or 28 times. They left the crime scene and went from place to place in an attempt to clean themselves, "because it was making her sick." Neighbors told police they were asleep when a naked Van Kempen knocked on their front door, saying "Help me." Van Kempen told the neighbor, "He stabbed me" and "they took my truck." The neighbor then called the police. When paramedics arrived, Van Kempen was unresponsive and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said there was blood everywhere. Bloody clothes, believed to have belonged to each of the defendants, were discovered in a toll box in the victim's truck. Tanner's mother, Llyn Drake, of Clay, said her son and Moore grew up together in Clay and they were boyfriend and girlfriend for about a year. Drake said Tanner is being treated for two stab wounds. One is under his chest, and another by his stomach. "My heart is broken for the Van Kempen family. I can't imagine what they're going through," Drake said. "I'm absolutely numb, this isn't my son." "Once they execute the warrant (in Ocala, Florida) I'll be there," Drake said. Florida has the death penalty. |
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