Martinez murder suspect claimed he beat ex-boyfriend to death without recognizing him, police say

"MARTINEZ Contra Costa prosecutors have charged a local resident who allegedly used a baseball bat to beat his ex-boyfriend to death, then called police to report he'd failed to recognize an intruder as his ex, court records show. Kyle Daniels, 31, of Martinez, was charged with murder and a special allegation of using a deadly weapon in the March 15 killing of 40-year-old Dual Moore, of Oakland."

"The charges were filed in September, after a lengthy investigation that picked apart Daniels' initial statement to police that he failed to recognize Moore, a man he'd dated, and believed to be defending himself against an intruder, according to court records. After killing Moore, Daniels allegedly told police he was swinging for the fences with his baseball bat, according to court records. The case centers on a Hale Court residence, where Daniels was living."

"He told police that he thought someone rang his doorbell around 2 a.m., but no one was there when he answered it. He went to sleep, but hear someone enter around 4:45 a.m., authorities said. Daniels then claimed the intruder struck Moore with a selfie light, but that he lightly struck the person with a bat, believing the whole thing was a prank."

A Martinez man, Kyle Daniels, was charged with murder and a special allegation of using a deadly weapon in the March 15 killing of 40-year-old Dual Moore. Authorities say the killing occurred at a Hale Court residence and followed an account in which Daniels reported an unknown intruder entering in the early morning hours. Daniels allegedly told police he lightly struck the intruder, then began swinging his baseball bat aggressively until Moore stopped moving. Moore suffered internal bleeding, multiple contusions and other blunt force trauma and was pronounced dead later that morning. The charges were filed in September after an investigation that questioned Daniels' initial statements. The charged man did not enter a plea at his first court appearance and is being held without bail.

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