Arrest Made In Kathleen Moore Missing Person Case

Updated at 5:13 p.m. Monday

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — The Pasco County Sheriff's Office announced about 4:30 p.m. Monday that an arrest has been made in the missing person case of Kathleen Moore of Largo.

Patch will provide details following a news conference with Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco at 8 p.m. Monday.

The sheriff's office says it will not release any information before the news conference.

The sheriff's office confirmed previously that detectives searched the home of Moore's boyfriend, Collin Scott Knapp, at 7149 Carmel Ave. in the Seven Springs area.

While no records for Knapp appear in a search of arrests in Pasco County, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office shows Knapp, 30, has a lengthy arrest record in Pinellas County including arrests for domestic violence by Clearwater police on Feb. 9, 2014, another arrest for domestic battery by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office on April 4, 2013, and an arrest for aggravated battery by the Kenneth City police on May 2, 2010.

In all, Knapp was arrested seven times in Pinellas County on charges including reckless driving, possession of cocaine, possession of meth, possession of Alprazolam (Xanax), possession of marijuana, possession of ecstasy, possession of oxycodone and resisting arrest.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office said earlier that Moore's disappearance is still classified as a missing persons case, not a criminal case.

"At this point, this case remains a missing persons case, not a criminal case," said Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco in a statement. "As such, there are no persons of interest or suspects at this time."

Moore, 34, has not been seen since Nov. 29. After spending a night out with co-workers, Moore left in her boyfriend's car to head to his home in New Port Richey.

The Pasco sheriff's office said she was last seen on Carmel Avenue in New Port Richey at 1 a.m. Nov. 29. She was wearing a long black shirt, jeans and black shoes. She is 5 feet 7 inches tall, about 160 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Family and friends say they're concerned. A bartender and waitress at Whiskey Wings on Roosevelt Boulevard in St. Petersburg, Moore failed to show up at school or work last week.

Her best friend, Nikki Wallen, said Moore left her car at Wallen's house on Nov. 28, and went to her boyfriend's home in his car. When Moore didn't return for her car on Monday or Tuesday, Wallen filed a missing persons report.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office says deputies have searched her boyfriend’s house and a landfill in Spring Hill. They also recovered Moore's cell phone from a dumpster behind a Walgreens in New Port Richey, less than a mile from her boyfriend's home.

"We continue to speak with Moore's family and friends to gain any additional information we can," Nocco said.

Since she lives in Largo, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office is also aiding in the search for Moore.

In the meantime, Nocco is asking the media to confirm information with the sheriff's office before reporting it to prevent the spread of false information.

"The PSO asks that you verify new information through PSO before reporting it to ensure the most accurate and up-to-date is shared in this case, which is active and ongoing," said the sheriff's office in a statement issued Monday.

However, Moore's cousin, Britt Kendrick of Clair-Mel, said she feels law enforcement has been slow to search for Moore and respond to tips. She plans to lead her own search Monday.

"Everyone's emotions and nerves are at a high, and that’s understandable," she said. "But we've got to stay focused. Today I’m going out to search myself. The police are moving too slow for me. We need answers; we need her home."

Moore worked at Whiskey Wings while studying to become a phlebotomy technician at Southern Technical Institute Pinellas Park. Her Facebook page is a scrapbook of photos showing her with family and friends intermixed with inspirational messages that are eerily prophetic:

"I can and will make it through this storm ... simply because I'm a survivor. It's what I do."

She also posted a photo of herself with the caption: "My story is not over."

Friends describe Moore as good-natured and full of life but reliable and responsible, not the type of person to leave without telling friends and family.

"We’re trying to stay strong. Me knowing she’s a fighter is what keeps me going and having faith," Kendrick said. "But somebody out there has to know something. The people last with her have to know what happened and where she went if they had nothing to do with it. This is just crazy. No calls, no showing up to work. That's not her."

The Pasco sheriff's office is asking anyone with information to call the sheriff’s non-emergency line at 727-847-8102, option 7.