LAKE VILLAGE, AR – Three years ago, Moria Kinsey, a nurse was killed while traveling with her boyfriend and former physician Tyler Tait, who was later charged and found guilty of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
According to court documents, on October 11, 2021, both Tait and Kinsey were spotted on surveillance video leaving Rick’s Express around 12:27 p.m. At 1:12 p.m., the sheriff’s office received a 911 call from Tait stating that his girlfriend was having a seizure and needed an ambulance on Highway 65 North about two miles north of Lake Village near the McMillan Corner Community.
Kinsey was found unresponsive and was transported to Chicot Memorial Hospital. An investigator was also called out to the scene.
When the investigator arrived, Tait was standing in a ditch with his fingers interlaced behind his head, and his shirt pulled up over his face. The investigator noted numerous scratches on Tait’s legs, and asked him about it, to which Tait responded, “You know why.” Tait, the investigator noted also appeared wet and was sweating heavily and that other officers noticed minor injuries on him. Upon inspecting Tait’s truck, the investigator found small amounts of blood in the driver’s seat and door panel. Court documents also revealed that he was acting erratically and was doing pushups at one point.
The medical examiner would later rule that the cause of her death was strangulation. Prosecuting attorneys stated that the cause of death was a “karate chop”, which the defense counsel had an issue with. However, Tait was convicted and is now serving a thirty-year jail sentence. Tait also had a history of domestic abuse and had an order of protection filed against him by his ex-wife.
Tait is currently appealing the case.
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you or someone you know is struggling with Domestic Violence, there is help. You can start now by calling 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or by texting “Start” to 88788.
