PASCO COUNTY, Fla — The Pasco County Sheriff's Department continues to follow every lead as they search for Kathleen Moore. She has been missing since November 29 when she was seen in New Port Richey near Carmel Avenue around 1 a.m.
On Monday, Dec. 6, Pasco deputies said they made an arrest related to the missing person case.
Since then, friends and family of Moore have been joining the search trying to find the missing woman. Investigators said they have found her phone and the forensic team searched the home she visited last.
Below, ABC Action News will publish the latest development on the search from the Pasco County Sheriff's Office as they become available.
Update 12/6/21 6 PM:
Kathleen Moore's manager, Jaime Poe, is speaking out, asking for anyone who has information to let authorities know.
Update 12/6/21 4:39 PM:
Pasco deputies have made an arrest related to the missing person case for Kathleen Moore.
Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco will hold a press conference Monday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. to provide more information.
Update 12/6/21 10 AM:
In a press release, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office said the case for Kathleen Moore remains a missing person case and not a criminal case.
"There are no 'persons of interest' or 'suspects' at this time. We continue to speak with Moore's family and friends to gain any additional information we can."
Anyone with information relating to this case should call 727-847-7102, option 7.
Update 12/4/21 6 PM:
Pasco Sheriff's deputies left a search area behind 7-Eleven on Seven Springs Boulevard in New Port Richey with what appeared to be a bag of evidence.
Close friends of Moore's told ABC Action News they first searched the woods behind the gas station and found, what they believe to be, Moore's clothes she was reportedly last seen wearing. Friends said they alerted detectives after discovering the clothes.
A Pasco Sheriff spokesperson did not confirm if the discovered clothes belong to Moore. The spokesperson told an ABC Action News reporter in a text message:
"For the integrity of the investigation, no factual information such as that is available at this time."
"I miss her. I miss her so much," Faith Zessin, Moore's goddaughter told ABC Action News. "She was my God mom, but more like my best friend. She's been there for everything."
That is why, Zessin said, it was unlike Moore to stop responding to calls or texts.
"When I found out that her phone had been found in a dumpster, I was like, 'Okay, this is serious.'" she said. "We all have a bad gut feeling about it because we know what she's a fighter, but there's only so much that...you know."
Zessin's confidence waivers, but her memories with Moore do not. Her godmother stays with her through old pictures and videos of cherished times together.
"It's like she's with me when I watch them, and even if she is gone, I know that she's forever going to be with me, and I feel like she's with me right now," Zessin said.
Update 12/3/21 9:30 PM:
Pasco Sheriff's cleared the search scene at the New Port Richey house where Moore was last seen.
Friday night, close friends of Moore's joined together at Whiskey Wings in St. Petersburg where Moore is a bartender.
Nikki Wallen is Moore's best friend of 20 years. Wallen says Moore left her vehicle at Wallen's house, Sunday, November 28, before leaving in her boyfriend's vehicle. Wallen helped file a missing person report after Moore never showed up to get her vehicle on Monday or Tuesday.
"Sunday, when she walked out my front door and took her heels off that were hurting her feet, they are still by my front door, I never heard from her again," Wallen said.
Moore's friends lit candles at a memorial set up in the corner of the sports bar. Tim McGoff, a regular at Whiskey Wings, says Moore is his favorite bartender.
"Not to say the other ones aren't great," he said.
After years of getting to know Moore, McGoff considers her not only a friend, but a happy-hour family.
"It's been very hard for everybody. I would like to think that she's okay," McGoff said. "I hope that, but I don't know."
Update 12/3/21 3 PM:
Pasco Sheriff's deputies and the forensics team are set up at a home on Carmel Avenue in New Port Richey where a missing Largo woman was last seen.
Original Story:
Pasco deputies are searching for Kathleen Moore. She was last seen in New Port Richey on November 29.
According to the sheriff, Moore is 5’07”, approx. 160 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes.
Moore was last seen on November 29 around 1 a.m. in the Carmel Avenue area of New Port Richey, wearing a long black shirt, black jeans, and black shoes.
The sheriff's office said her phone was also found in New Port Richey.
If you have any information on Moore’s whereabouts, you can call the Pasco Sheriff’s Non-Emergency Line at 727-847-8102, option 7.
