Justice Delayed, But Not Denied: Man Sentenced in 1996 Cold Case Killing of Pregnant Bronx Mom

Imagine waiting nearly three decades for an answer, for some semblance of justice. That’s precisely what Ramona Moore’s family has endured. After 27 excruciating years, a man named Eric Ransom, now 50, has finally been held accountable for the tragic 1996 killing of the pregnant Bronx mom. It's a moment of closure, yes, but also one tinged with the profound sadness of what could have been.

Ramona Moore was just 20 years old, expecting a baby, when her life was cruelly cut short. Her body, bearing signs of trauma from being strangled and beaten, was discovered on December 23, 1996, in a vacant lot off East 150th Street. Can you even begin to fathom the horror and the immediate heartbreak for her loved ones? It was a crime that sent shivers through the community, a young life extinguished far too soon, and then… a chilling silence as the case went cold.

For years, the case remained stubbornly unsolved, a constant ache for Ramona’s family. But the wheels of justice, though incredibly slow, sometimes do turn. The crucial break came, rather surprisingly, from something as seemingly innocuous as a few discarded cigarette butts found near her body back in '96. DNA collected from these butts initially led to a misidentification. But with advancements in forensic science and the tireless efforts of cold case detectives, those same samples were re-examined and finally, definitively, linked to Eric Ransom. It’s truly amazing what science can uncover decades later, isn't it?

Ransom was ultimately arrested in 2021, a monumental moment for the family. However, bringing a decades-old case to trial is fraught with challenges. Think about it: witnesses disappear, memories fade, and original evidence can become compromised over time. Given these hurdles, and the very real risk of a full acquittal if the case went to a jury, prosecutors made the difficult decision to offer a plea deal. Ransom pleaded guilty to manslaughter in December, admitting his role in Ramona’s death. It’s a compromise, for sure, but sometimes it’s the only path to any conviction.

This week, Eric Ransom received his sentence: 12 years in prison. For Ramona’s mother, Glenda Moore, it was a moment overflowing with complex emotions. "It's justice for Ramona, but it's still not enough time," she shared, her voice undoubtedly heavy with grief and a mother's unending pain. And honestly, who could blame her? How do you put a number on the value of a life, especially one so tragically stolen? While she expressed some relief that Ransom will be behind bars, the pain of losing her daughter and an unborn grandchild remains a wound that time simply cannot fully heal. It’s a heavy reminder that even with a conviction, the deepest scars often linger.

Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, reflecting on the arduous journey, acknowledged the immense difficulty in solving such a long-standing case. "This case shows that we will never give up on solving cold cases and bringing some measure of closure to the victim's loved ones," she stated. It's a testament to the dedication of law enforcement and prosecutors who refuse to let these cases simply gather dust. Even after all these years, the pursuit of justice, however imperfect, continues.