By Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter
Raleigh, North Carolina – On Thursday, for the first time in local history, a Wake County jury convicted a man of murder – without a victim’s body – to prove a crime.
Brian Slush was sentenced to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of killing his 23-year-old ex-girlfriend Monica Moynan.
The state has managed to bring first-degree murder charges against Slus, although Moynan’s body has never been found.
The trial began in 2019 as a missing person case and ended today as a murder.
The victim’s mother, Melanie Tucker, cried and applauded as the sentence was read out in Wake County Court on Thursday. The family hugged, and Moinan’s parents went to court before his sentencing.
“He was supposed to take care of her and protect her, but instead he killed her,” said Curtis Moinan, the victim’s father.
Her stepfather, Brandon Tucker, added: “There is mental agony when you know what you did to Moni. Agony that causes sleepless nights and leaves an eternal hole in our hearts.
Crying, her mother, Melanie Tucker, said: “I will never hug my middle child again. I will never be able to listen to her, to feel comfortable with her, to talk to her about all things. Literally for all things.
The jury members were emotional, embracing the family after the verdict.
Slus showed no emotion on his face.
Prosecutors said a documented history of domestic violence, along with blood found in their shared home, could lead to only one conclusion.
The state uses a law called the Britney Act, which allows the jury to detect elements of first-degree murder if there have been previous convictions for domestic violence involving the same victim.
Tucker gave a passionate and emotional speech after the jury’s decision was announced.
“She was a life force, she was magnetic, her energy was very strong,” said her mother. But most of all, he took a mother from her children. “
As the verdict was read, Wake County Assistant District Attorney Catherine Pomeroy also began to cry.
Tucker said he was even more hurt that Slush was pretending to be Moinan and decided to plead not guilty.
For more than two hours of direct examination on Wednesday, Sluss described in detail the unstable relationship with Moinan, which included physical battles. At one point, he was charged and Moinan was ordered to defend against domestic violence.
Sluss said that at the time Moinan disappeared, they were living together and he was taking care of the children, but they had no connection. Slus claims that he did not kill Moinan and that she left him of her own free will.
Pomeroy said Sluss set up fake Facebook accounts to pretend that Moinan was having affairs with other women.
Investigators said Slush drove Moynan’s car and used her cell phone, even pretending to be in text messages and Instagram posts to family and friends.
“Everything was disgustingly well thought out,” Tucker said. “Brian Sluss is a predator. He stalks his prey, manipulates and manipulates, plans and steals, cheats and kills.”
In court on Wednesday, Slus admitted that he had been deceived and was sometimes outspoken. Sluss also admitted that she was on dating sites after her disappearance.
Slush said he lied to Moinan about his age at the beginning of their relationship to cover up the significant age difference between them.
According to prosecutors, Moinan met Slus when she was 18. Slus, now in her 40s, was 20 years older than her.
The process lasted three weeks.
Prior to the trial, the district attorney decided not to prosecute the death penalty against Slus. It is very rare for a homicide to end in the death penalty.
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