Oklahoma Doctor Charged with Murder in Arkansas During Road Trip

Arkansas State Police arrested an Oklahoma doctor after a woman who needed immediate assistance was discovered along an Arkansas highway.

34-year-old physician, Dr. Tyler Tait, was arrested on Monday, Oct. 11, by Arkansas State Police in Lake Village. According to authorities, Tait is believed to be involved in the death of 37-year-old Moria Kinsey, an emergency room nurse of Tahlequah, Oklahoma. 

Approximately 2 miles north of Lake Village, Kinsey was discovered lying outside a parked vehicle on U.S. Highway 65 on Monday afternoon. She was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead the next day.

An autopsy will be performed to identify the cause of Kinsey’s death. As of today, no other information has been released by the coroner regarding her death. However, state police said investigators discovered “signs of a physical altercation” inside the vehicle.

After a preliminary investigation, results revealed that Tait and Kinsey had traveled to Mississippi. Investigators believed the two had been involved in a physical conflict, but no further information was released about the altercation.

This map shows where Kinsey’s body was found, close to Lake Village in south east Arkansas

Read also: 3 Arkansans Take U-Haul Adventure After Southwest Airlines’ Flight Cancelled

Domestic Violence History

The Cherokee Nation Communications team reportedly said that Dr. Tyler Tait is a Cherokee Nation Health Services (CNHS) physician. Kinsey was also listed as an employee and allegedly worked together with Tait at the CNHS. In addition, nothing has been said about the nature of their relationship.

According to court records acquired by the Tahlequah Daily Press, Tait has a history of domestic abuse. Earlier this year, a woman by the name of Shelby Nicole Burris requested a restraining order against the physician. Tait was accused of violating the order, which resulted in the case being dismissed. Burris sought another restraining order against Tait in 2020, which is scheduled to be reviewed in June 2022.

Tait was also charged in May 2017 with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The lawsuit was dropped without levying a fine or incurring any costs.

He was accused of domestic abuse, assault, and violence in January 2021. However, as with his other cases, the accusations were dropped ‘for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.’

Tait is charged with first-degree murder and detained in the Chicot County jail, but it was unclear whether an attorney represented him.

Related article: Arkansas Police Chief Faces Claims Of Sexual Assault; Victim Speaks Up, Demands Accountability