Wife Arranged Husband's Murder Because She ‘Just Didn't Like Him': Bay County Sheriff's Office

The man's wife initially reported the man missing in Bay County.

A missing man's wife, daughter and son-in-law were arrested in what is now considered a homicide investigation in Bay County, officials said.

Investigators said wife Lottie Moore arranged for her son-in-law to kill her husband Arthur Moore on Sept. 8th and then reported him missing the next day.

Bay County Sheriff's Captain Jimmy Stanford said the woman "just didn't like her husband," so she came up with the plan to kill him, reported NBC affiliate WJHG.

Lottie Moore originally told investigators her husband had left on foot at about 6:15 a.m. after having a verbal argument with their daughter Mary Clanton and her husband David Clanton, according to authorities. She told them he was known to leave for long periods of time. Officials noted Arthur Moore's vehicle, keys and wallet were left at the home.

The area around his home was searched by several agencies during the next six weeks without results.

Investigators did not get a break in the case until Oct. 16 when David Clanton made joking statements describing a scenario in which he strangled Arthur Moore, deputies said. When he and his wife were taken in for questioning, they both admitted Lottie Moore had asked them to kill her husband and that David Clanton had strangled the 70-year-old man as he slept, according to officials. They told deputies they then buried him in the woods off Steelfield Road on Panama City Beach.

Lottie Moore, David and Mary Clanton were arrested and charged with murder, deputies said.

Authorities continue to search the burial site for the body, officials said.

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