Kathleen Dorsett

Kathleen Dorsett (born July 2, 1974) is a former Neptune, New Jersey schoolteacher who was convicted of the August 2010 murder of her ex-husband, Stephen Moore, in May 2013. Her father, Thomas Dorsett, also pleaded guilty to the murder, and her mother, Lesley Dorsett, a former member of the Ocean Township Board of Education, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in 2013. The case made headlines across New Jersey and throughout the United States.

Background Kathleen Dorsett, a kindergarten and third grade teacher at the Gables School in Neptune Township, New Jersey,

After the divorce, Kathleen's parents, Thomas and Lesley Dorsett, planned to move to Florida with their daughter Kathleen and her daughter. However, the couple would have had to help Stephen Moore move there too, so he could have access to their daughter. This would require Thomas Dorsett providing financial assistance to Moore for the first six months following the move.

Investigation Shortly after the murder on August 23, Kathleen Dorsett was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of fourth-degree tampering with evidence. Following his daughter's arrest, Thomas Dorsett attempted suicide by ingesting refrigerant outside his attorney's office. He survived and was charged with one count of first-degree murder, two counts of fourth-degree tampering with evidence, and one count of third-degree witness tampering. Another man, Anthony Morris, was charged with arson and desecration of human remains; he had allegedly been paid $3,000 by Thomas Dorsett to burn Stephen Moore's mother's car with his body in the trunk. Kathleen and Thomas Dorsett were held at the Monmouth County jail on $1.5 million and $2.5 million cash bail, respectively.

Convictions In April 2011, Anthony Morris pled guilty to conspiracy to disturb or desecrate human remains. Under his plea agreement, he was sentenced to less than seven years in prison. Since her incarceration, the New Jersey Department of Education has stripped Kathleen of her teaching certificates.

Thomas Dorsett was sentenced to 30 years for murder and 15 years for conspiracy to commit arson. He is serving his sentences at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton, New Jersey. He will be eligible for parole in August 2040, he will be 93 years old.

Lesley Dorsett was sentenced to 7 years for conspiracy to commit murder. Like her daughter, she was incarcerated at the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women. She became eligible for parole in December 2016 and has now been released.

Evlyn Moore, Stephen Moore's mother, had custody of Stephen and Kathleen's daughter, Elizabeth, until 2021 when she died at the age of 86. Elizabeth continues to live with other family members.

In the media Stephen Moore's murder was featured on Dateline NBC in April 2015 and the Oxygen channel's series Snapped in August 2015.

It was also featured on Dateline NBC on May 1, 2021 episode named Family Affair