Court papers: Murder victim died from choking, beating

The victim in Sioux Falls’ sixth homicide of last year was choked and beaten in her home, according to an indictment filed Wednesday in Minnehaha County.

Timothy Darnell Moses, 39, was indicted on alternative counts of first- and second-degree murder and three counts of manslaughter in the Dec. 28 death of 36-year-old Angel Schroeder.

A search warrant filed in the homicide investigation says Moses’ mother called police that morning to report that her son was threatening suicide by “telling the family goodbye” via text message.

Moses answered the door bleeding from both wrists when officers arrived at the home he shared with Schroeder on West 22nd Street.

He reportedly told police that his girlfriend was sleeping the bathroom, and officers found her on the floor, her head in the doorway and her feet propped up on the edge of the bath tub, “obviously deceased.” There was blood on the victim’s chest, shoulders, head and the floor.

Police also spoke to the 13- and 11-year-old boys who’d been asleep in the basement and learned that the couple had been “fighting like crazy” the night before. The boys heard “hitting and yelling.”

The older boy tried to persuade the younger one that they ought to try to break up the fight, the document says, but they ultimately decided to stay in the basement.

Moses was indicted Wednesday after grand jurors heard from two officers and the Minnehaha County coroner, Dr. Kenneth Snell. One manslaughter charge accuses Moses of unintentionally killing a human being while committing the act of aggravated assault by causing serious bodily injury, another references killing during commission of aggravated assault by choking.

Moses had been charged twice with aggravated assault by choking for alleged attacks on Schroeder and on a former roommate.

If convicted of first-degree murder, he faces mandatory life in prison or death. Second-degree murder carries a penalty of mandatory life in prison, and manslaughter carries up to life.

Moses remains in custody at the Minnehaha County Jail on a $1 million cash bond.