The spouse allegedly informed her husband to “develop a set” and “deal with your boy” — claiming the roommate assaulted her — earlier than the person, who was discovered bare, was “severely” overwhelmed with “numerous family implements” in what prosecutors name a “actually surprising” case.
A Virginia husband and spouse have each been convicted for killing a disabled man from their church who they invited into their dwelling, this based on prosecutors.
James Christian Lynch, 52, beforehand pleaded responsible to the second-degree homicide for his position within the 2023 demise of Jose Luis Moreno, 45. This week, his spouse, Kristie Marie Lynch, 45, was discovered responsible of first-degree homicide in Moreno’s demise, after she rejected the same plea deal and opted for a trial. Per the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Lawyer, James testified on his spouse’s behalf throughout her trial, which ended final week.
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“The phrase ‘surprising’ has been overused, however the struggling that the Lynches inflicted on Mr. Moreno — a disabled man they claimed to have been ‘serving to’ and who had ‘nowhere to go’ — is really surprising,” stated Commonwealth’s Lawyer Ramin Fatehi in an announcement, whereas breaking down the disturbing particulars of the case.
The Lynches allegedly informed police after Moreno’s homicide that they met him at church, earlier than inviting him to reside with them in 2022 as a result of he had “nowhere to go.” Per prosecutors, the sufferer “had a incapacity that brought about weak spot in his ankles and required him to make use of a walker,” including that he used his incapacity revenue to assist pay for family funds.
James purportedly informed authorities the pair “punished” Moreno bodily “on a number of events for not contributing to family chores on account of his incapacity and for talking in Spanish (Mr. Moreno’s native language) round them.” He additionally allegedly admitted that main up the Moreno’s demise, he “he had overwhelmed Mr. Moreno over the pinnacle a number of occasions with a frying pan, gashing Mr. Moreno’s scalp” — however refused to carry him to the hospital over concern of being arrested.
Prosecutors say Moreno “most probably” died on August 9, 2023, “after the Lynches severely beat and strangled him utilizing numerous family implements, together with the frying pan, a belt, a baseball bat, and a canine leash.” His demise wasn’t reported, nevertheless, till two days later — after they allegedly “requested to fulfill with an area pastor and informed him that Mr. Moreno was useless inside their dwelling.” It was that pastor who then urged them to name police, which James did.
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When authorities responded to the condo, Moreno’s physique was discovered “bare, lined in bruises and cuts, and with ligature marks on his neck,” stated prosecutors. There was blood spatter on the partitions and flooring, together with proof suggesting the pair “had tried to wash blood from completely different areas of the second ground.” Moreno was found on the foot of the first-floor stairs; his post-mortem allegedly confirmed he died from “a mixture of strangulation and blunt-force trauma.”
Talking with police, Kristie allegedly claimed she informed her husband that their roommate “had attacked and sexually assaulted her,” urging James to “man up, develop a set [and] go deal with your boy.” Prosecutors did not touch upon the validity of Kirstie’s assault claims of their press launch.
James allegedly informed authorities that when he confronted Moreno, the sufferer “tried to kick him and combat him off, and Mr. Lynch responded by, once more, beating Mr. Moreno with the frying pan.” Prosecutors identified that whereas James was 6’4″ and weighed 400 kilos on the time, Moreno was simply 5’7″ and 130 kilos — with James allegedly saying the sufferer “was possessed with a ‘demon’-like energy and wouldn’t be subdued.” So, James then allegedly grabbed a baseball bat to hit him, earlier than the 2 are accused of utilizing a belt to whip Moreno, and a canine leash to strangle him.
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As for why he was discovered bare, prosecutors had no clarification — however stated James claimed “he made Mr. Moreno take a bathe on account of his bleeding.”
Each have been indicted on first-degree homicide costs, earlier than Lynch accepted a plea settlement in Might 2025. He was sentenced to 25 years in jail, plus six months supervision after his launch. The decide reportedly gave James a sentence above the rules, because of the “horrendous nature of the offense.”
Kristie, in the meantime, might be sentenced January 16.
“It’s attainable to kill one other particular person immediately utilizing a gun, however to beat and strangle one other particular person to demise takes critical bodily exertion and a sustained willpower to inflict ache and to kill,” stated Fatehi within the launch. “It hurts the center to think about what Mr. Moreno skilled by the hands of the Lynches and the agony he felt as he died. The justifications the Lynches supplied for his or her crimes have been no excuse, and every of them will now face their penalties.”
Fatehi concluded, “We’ll proceed to face up for individuals who, like Mr. Moreno, can now not name for justice themselves and to prosecute these individuals who harm susceptible victims.”
In case you are experiencing home violence, name the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is out there 24/7 in additional than 170 languages.
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