Blanche Taylor Moore, The Oldest Woman on Death Row (Part 1)

Episode of Morbid · June 29, 2026 · 1 h 1 min

The Morbid hosts recount the first part of the life of Blanche Taylor Moore, from her strict childhood through a series of suspicious deaths, fires and a lawsuit.

Summary

The hosts opened by reflecting on their live show at Radio City Music Hall and thanking the production crew and fans before turning to a two-part story about Blanche Taylor Moore, described as the oldest woman on death row in the United States. Drawing heavily on author Jim Schutz, the narrator traced Moore's 1933 birth in Concord, North Carolina, her hypocritical and controlling preacher father P.D. Kiser, her marriage to James Taylor, and her career at Kroger, where she rose to head cashier amid coworker suspicions that she was stealing from registers.

The episode described Moore's long, open affair with her manager Raymond Reed, her father's 1966 death with symptoms the narrator said matched arsenic poisoning, and James Taylor's 1973 death after he ate ice cream she served him, following which she slept on the couch and called relatives and Reed before an ambulance. Both deaths were recorded as heart attacks.

The narrator went on to cover a missing bag of Kroger cash in 1976, the closure of the Burlington store, Moore's relationship with regional manager Robert Hutton, two suspicious house fires that produced insurance payouts, and a $13.8 million sexual harassment lawsuit against Kroger that settled for $250,000 in 1987. The hosts noted that Moore had reportedly initiated sex with Hutton shortly before filing it. Part one ended with Moore's secret romance with Reverend Dwight Moore and Raymond Reed's 1986 death after an illness diagnosed as Guillain–Barré syndrome, followed by the discovery that silver bars and coins were missing from his safe.

Chapters

0:00
Post-Radio City catch-up
The hosts reflect on their Radio City live show, thank the production team, and banter about Mercury retrograde.
2:57
Blanche's childhood
Blanche Kiser's upbringing under a hypocritical, strict preacher father in Concord and Burlington, North Carolina.
7:58
Marriage to James Taylor and Kroger
Blanche marries James Taylor, joins Kroger, rises to head cashier and is suspected of petty theft.
Linked moment · 16:02Skip to 16:02 using a listen link in the info box.
16:02
Affair with Raymond Reed
Blanche begins a barely hidden affair with her boss Raymond Reed while her marriage deteriorates.
22:37
Death of P.D. Kiser
Blanche's father dies in 1966 with symptoms the narrator says match arsenic poisoning.
25:56
James Taylor's decline and death
After public fights and a heart attack, James dies in 1973 following ice cream served by Blanche.
33:48
Theft, store closure and Robert Hutton
Money goes missing at Kroger, the Burlington store closes, and Blanche pursues regional manager Robert Hutton.
41:37
Suspicious house fires
Two fires at Blanche's homes, blamed on an unidentified prowler, lead to insurance payouts.
46:25
Sexual harassment lawsuit against Kroger
Blanche sues Kroger over Hutton's alleged harassment and receives a $250,000 settlement.
49:22
Reverend Dwight Moore
Blanche meets and secretly begins dating the new pastor Dwight Moore.
53:47
Raymond Reed's illness and death
Reed falls ill, is diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome and dies, after which valuables vanish from his safe.
57:45
Wrap-up and fun fact
The hosts tease part two and share a Snapple-cap fun fact about gorillas.

People

Discussed

Jim SchutzAuthor who wrote about Constanzo's early life in Miami
James Napoleon TaylorBlanche Taylor Moore's first husband, who died in 1973
Raymond ReedKroger manager and Blanche Taylor Moore's longtime lover, who died in 1986
P.D. KiserBlanche Taylor Moore's father, an itinerant Baptist preacher who died in 1966
Robert HuttonKroger regional manager named in Blanche Taylor Moore's harassment lawsuit
Dwight MooreUnited Church of Christ pastor who began dating Blanche Taylor Moore in 1986
James TaylorSinger-songwriter Patterson met at McLean Hospital

Topics

Blanche Taylor Moore, The Oldest Woman on Death Row (Part 2)
Morbid · Jul 2, 2026 · 1 h 7 min
Morbid hosts Alaina Urquhart and Ash Kelley conclude the case of Blanche Taylor Moore, who poisoned Reverend Dwight Moore with arsenic and was sentenced to death.
Tillie Klimek: Mrs. Bluebeard of Chicago
Morbid · Apr 9, 2026 · 50 min
Ash Kelley and Alaina Urquhart recount the arsenic murders, sensational 1923 trial, and conviction of Chicago's Tillie Klimek.

From the publisher

When the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation opened an investigation and Blanche was charged with the attempted murder, the arrest came as a shock to those who knew her. How was it possible that someone they all knew as “a sweet, Christian lady”—was an attempted murderer? And if she had been cunning enough to hide that side of herself from her community, what else had she been hiding?

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 29, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: True Crime