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A man accused of killing 80-year-old Hugh Moose back in January 2017 was arrested in Pennsylvania earlier this week.
During the course of the investigation, officials say a witness identified Mark Pinkerton, 31, as a possible suspect in Moose’s death while giving a statement to investigators. According to the witness, Pinkerton asked for his help in robbing Moose, but he declined the request.
Deputies eventually located Pinkerton in Pennsylvania after a nationwide search. On Tuesday, deputies from Iredell County and Crawford County Pennsylvania arrested Pinkerton.
While being interviewed by detectives, officials say he confessed to the murder.
Pinkerton is charged with one count of Murder, and will have to undergo an extradition hearing before being brought back to Iredell County. Officials have not said when that will take place.
Original Story (Jan. 10, 2018)
STATESVILLE, NC — The family of Hugh Moose is offering a $30,000 reward for information regarding his murder on January 10, 2017.
Moose, 80, was found shot and killed around 7pm in his home on Shiloh Road one year ago today after deputies responded to a 911 hangup call. So far, investigators have come up empty handed despite countless hours of interviews and following hundreds of leads. The family says they’re now offering a reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his death.
In hopes of gaining new information on the case, investigators have released more information on persons of interest wanted for questioning in connection to Moose’s murder.
The Wanderer
Last January, deputies released this sketch of a man seen in the area of Moose’s home leading up to and around the time of his death. This man is described as a white male, 25 to 35 years old, roughly 5 feet 10 inches tall, with light brown or sandy blond hair, medium skin tone, and wearing light colored Carhartt-style overalls or coveralls and carrying a dark backpack.
Investigators now say that the man was seen by witnesses in the area as early as 5pm, and even talking with Moose near his carport door about an hour before his body was found. Officials say they still do not know if the man knew Moose or simply walked to his door.
Witnesses say the man left Moose’s home and went to another house nearby to call someone for a ride. The man’s story, true or not, was that he had been walking from the area of East Broad Street and was trying to get to Old Mountain Road, according to reports.
He was then seen again in front of Moose’s home around the time of the 911 hangup call.
The Passenger
Another person of interest in the case is a female, roughly 25-years-old, that family and friends say was seen with Moose in the months prior to his death.
According to reports, Moose told witnesses that he had given her a ride to an apartment complex in the Raleigh-Durham area where she picked up a bag of needles. He also said he had trouble understanding her because of her accent.
She is described as a white female, with dark hair and a medium build, and detectives say they believe her to be an intravenous drug user.
The SUV
Detectives are also working to identify the owner of an SUV seen parked at a bridge on Shiloh Road around 4:30pm on the day of Moose’s death. It is described as a Lincoln Navigator or similar type vehicle.
Investigators say they’re not sure whether the woman or SUV are actually connected to the murder, but ask anyone with information, no matter how small, to please call the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Hotline at 704-928-9804.
