March 10, 2023 -Springfield– On Friday, March 10, 2023 Frederick Pinney was sentenced by a Superior Court Judge to 9-10 years in prison. The sentencing comes after a Hampden Superior Court Jury found him guilty on March 6, 2023 of manslaughter in the 2014 homicide of Ms. TayClair Moore. At the sentencing hearing, the prosecution sought the maximum penalty for manslaughter, 18-20 years.

The charges stemmed from March 23, 2014 when Ms. Moore’s body was discovered by her boyfriend in Frederick Pinney’s bedroom in a home they shared in Springfield. The Medical Examiner ruled Ms. Moore had been strangled at the time of her death. Frederick Pinney was then arrested by members of the Springfield Police Department and charged with first degree murder.   

Frederick Pinney was initially tried for murder in 2016, however a mistrial was declared due to improper communication by two jurors. His conviction comes after seven years from the initial trial and countless motions by defense counsel, delaying the trial.

Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni stated, “TayClair’s family was forced to endure so much on their journey for justice. Their grace, resiliency, and resolve inspired me and our trial team and presented all of us with a powerful experience of the impact of violent crime and loss. I hope this verdict brings a measure of justice to TayClair and her family. I would like to thank our entire team, and especially Assistant District Attorney Matthew Green for trying this case twice and remaining unwavering in his advocacy for justice and for the victim for over nine years. While we share in the family’s disappointment over the sentence, ultimately, the defendant will finally be held accountable for his crime.”

Assistant District Attorneys Matthew Green, Kelsey Baran, and William Joyce successfully represented the Commonwealth in this case.