Gas station clerk’s murder still unsolved

More than 40 years after the murder of a young woman leaves several questions to remain unanswered.

Vicki Moser, 20, was expected to work her normal shift at a gas station but was instead found dead in front of an in-ground safe by two customers.

“They found a store clerk deceased from a gunshot wound,” said Sergeant Lori Franklin, Yuma Police Department.

Moser worked the late-night shift at what used to be a Circle K near 24th Street and Kennedy Lane. It is now a vacant market building.

“Some people went to the Circle K to get gas. This is late at night. They had to go into the station to get the pumps turned on,” said Sgt. Franklin.

Moser’s body was found on July 26, 1978, but the person who pulled the trigger remains at large.

“They figured a getaway vehicle was parked, maybe a couple of streets over, so not right there on Kennedy lane or 24th Street, but kind of over in the Manors area,” explained Sgt. Franklin.

Police said at the time a Hispanic, or African-American man was last seen near the gas station.

“There’s like 15-16 suspects that have been interviewed, polygraph exams were given. Again, not enough probable cause to make an arrest in this case,” said Sgt. Franklin.

Police did recover one major piece of evidence of the murder weapon.

“We actually got it a couple of months later after another armed robbery had taken place and the people were actually arrested,” said Sgt. Franklin.

Officers were not able to trace the gun back to the suspects in that robbery because the gun was passed from person to person.

If you have any information on this case, you are asked to call the Yuma Police Department.

If there is a case you would like me to follow up on for a future Cracking the Case, contact Ciara Encinas.