Dallas

Man Accused in Drunken Driving Deaths of Former City Councilwoman, Daughter Now Faces 2 Murder Charges

A breathalyzer device and alcohol monitor were removed from Moore's car just days before the fatal crash, documents show

The man suspected of driving the wrong way and crashing into the car of former Dallas City Councilwoman Carolyn Davis, killing her and her daughter, now faces two additional murder charges, NBC 5 learned Friday morning.

The man is a repeated drunken driver with a criminal record dating as far back as 2005, NBC 5 has learned.

Davis, 57, was pronounced deceased at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas and her 26-year-old daughter, Melissa Davis Nunn, the passenger in her car, was hospitalized in critical condition and later died.

The suspect, identified by police as 36-year-old Jonathan Moore, was hospitalized with injuries that are not life-threatening and booked Wednesday into the Dallas County Jail.

He has been charged with two counts of intoxication manslaughter and driving with a suspended license.

He still faces those charges, in addition to the murder charges.

[[512870051,C]]

In an arrest warrant affidavit released Wednesday, police said Moore told them after the crash that he'd taken Xanax. While at the hospital, police overheard Moore joking with a nurse that he was there for a "penile enhancement procedure." He also told police that at the time of the crash he was riding with a young man he didn't know and his Aunt Dorothy, though no witnesses or EMS personnel every saw anyone else at the scene of the crash.

Dallas police said a breathalyzer performed on Moore at the scene recorded a preliminary BAC level of 0.00. Police said Moore failed six-of-six field sobriety tests, had likely introduced drugs into his system and "did not have the normal use of his mental and physical faculties." A warrant for a blood draw was signed by a judge to determine what was in Moore's system — the results of that test may take several weeks.

mugshots-johnathan-moore
NBC 5 News

Court records obtained by NBC 5 show Moore has a long criminal history, with repeated DWI arrests going back nearly 15 years.

Just three days prior to the fatal crash, a breathalyzer device and alcohol monitor were removed from Moore's car and ankle. He'd just completed a 5-year probation for driving while intoxicated in 2013.

In the 2013 case, police said Moore failed a field sobriety test and was placed under arrest. The 2013 incident lead to a judicial confession in which Moore admitted to driving while intoxicated that day.

A man with a history of DWI convictions is expected to face felony charges in a wrong-way crash that killed former Dallas City Councilwoman Carolyn Davis Monday night and left her daughter critically injured, police say.

During that same confession, Moore also admitted to driving while intoxicated in 2011. It was another incident in which a police report shows he failed a field sobriety test.

Moore then admitted to yet another offense of driving while intoxicated in 2005.

Moore's offenses also include driving with a suspended license and theft.

Davis' pastor, Jerry Christian, said he's frustrated that Moore's admitted behaviors resulted in this.

Records show that the man suspected of causing the crash that killed Carolyn Davis is a repeat drunk driver with a record dating as far back as 2005.

"It says a lot about our system. There's a breakdown somewhere. Nobody that has had more than one DWI should be allowed to drive or even be on the street," said Christian.

Efforts to reach Moore's family in Irving were unsuccessful Tuesday.

NBC 5's Frank Heinz and Eline de Bruijn contributed to this report.

Contact Us