State Historical Society of Missouri
Center for Missouri Studies
605 Elm St.
Columbia
Former Missouri Senator and Boone County Prosector Joe Moseley looks back on a groundbreaking case nearly 40 years ago where DNA evidence was used to convict Columbia, Mo. resident Ralph Davis of murdering his wife, Susan Davis. On June 10, 1986, Susan disappeared with her red Ford Escort car from her home. Police detectives immediately suspected Susan’s estranged husband in her disappearance due to threats Ralph had made against her. Previously, the court had issued an ex parte order of protection for Susan. On March 7, 1988, Susan’s Ford Escort was discovered in a storage facility outside of Jefferson City after Ralph Davis's rental invoice went unpaid. The unit had been rented by her husband on June 11, 1986, the day after she was reported missing. The interior of the car contained blood, bone fragments and shotgun pellets. Ralph was arrested in early April 1988 and tried for 1st Degree Murder on March 14, 1989. Without finding Susan’s body, the unprecedented use of DNA evidence was essential to proving Susan Davis had died in the car. It was the first use of DNA evidence in a criminal case in Missouri and the first use in a no body murder case in the United States.
About the Speaker: After graduating from Hickman High School, the University of Missouri and the MU Law School, Joe Moseley served two years as an Assistant Public Defender. In 1978, he was elected Boone County Prosecuting Attorney and served for 14 years. In 1992 he was elected to the Missouri Senate and chose to serve only one term. He was later hired by Shelter Insurance Companies where he served as Vice President and General Counsel and later as Vice President, Public Affairs. Moseley retired in 2014 and lives in Columbia with his wife of 47 years, Carol. They have four children, seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.