The last of the three defendants charged in the 2020 murder of Joshua Ramos in Potter County has been sentenced to at least 22 years in state prison.
Kyle Moore, 33, of Galeton, was sentenced Dec. 16 in Potter County Court to serve 22 to 44 years in state prison, with credit for time served of 1,624 days. He is not eligible for the state drug treatment program, the state boot camp program, or any recidivism risk reduction incentive (RRRI) sentence, any of which might have lessened his sentence.
He pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and kidnapping. Krysten Crosby, 25, and Felicia Cary, 38, are the other two defendants in the case, both of whom have pleaded guilty to similar charges. Crosby was sentenced to 31 to 62 years in prison. She had pleaded guilty to an additional charge of tampering with evidence.
Cary, who was sentenced Nov. 18, will serve 30 to 60 years.
District Attorney Andy Watson had been seeking the death penalty against the three defendants in the case. That was not pursued in consideration of the plea agreements.
Ramos, who grew up in foster homes in New Jersey, had been dating Crosby. They, along with several other people, were living at a residence in Galeton. In late March 2020, Crosby and Ramos had some sort of disagreement, and he allegedly pushed her.
According to the complaints, Crosby, Cary, Moore, Ramos and a fifth person — whose name was redacted — were at a home in Galeton. The fifth person, who eventually came forward to tell police about the alleged murder, told police that Cary and Crosby were smashing dishes, with Cary using a bat for smashing. A short time later, Moore punched Ramos, knocking him to the floor, and began kicking him in the ribs; soon all three were striking and swearing at him, the complaint stated.
Court records indicate they beat him for about an hour, then began humiliating him.
The complaint stated that they then all got into a van and told Ramos to lie down in the third-row seat. They drove to Ole Bull State Park in Stewardson Township, but, concerned they would be spotted on a trail camera, they started driving to Whitman Road in Harrison Township.
On the way there, the van was pulled over by a Westfield Borough Police officer — with Ramos lying in the third seat under a blanket — for a loud exhaust, according to court records. They were issued a verbal warning and sent on their way.
When they arrived at Whitman Road, Crosby, Cary and Moore allegedly took Ramos into the woods. They were gone for about two hours, and came back without Ramos, the witness told police. On the way back, the three told the witness they had left Ramos in the woods, and began to brag about their actions. The witness told police he heard the three talking about “how tough the victim was and that he wouldn’t die,” the complaint stated.
On July 6, after the alleged crime was reported to state police by the fifth person, Ramos’ body was found in a wooded area near the intersection of Harrison Rooks Road and Whitman Road in Harrison Township.
The defendants were arrested, and have been held without bail ever since.
Moore is represented by Edward Rymsza of Williamsport and Thomas Walrath of Wellsboro.