Murder With My Husband – Ep. 296: The Disturbing Death of Emily Noble

Release Date: November 24, 2025
Hosts: Peyton Moreland (A), Garrett Moreland (B)
Podcast Theme: True crime told by a wife who loves it and a husband who hates it.
Episode Focus: The mysterious disappearance and death of Emily Noble, the investigation into her husband Matthew Moore, and the broader complexities of mental health and true crime.

Episode Overview

In this emotionally charged episode, Peyton and Garrett explore the perplexing case of Emily Noble, a beloved Westerville, Ohio woman who vanished in May 2020. The episode scrutinizes the nuances of her disappearance, the discovery of her remains, the intense investigation and trial of her husband Matthew Moore, and the blurred lines between suicide and homicide. Through the case, the hosts emphasize the complexities of mental health—both in the context of crime and personal tragedy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Emily Noble: Life and Tragedy (06:22–15:00)

• Emily’s Background: Nature-loving, free-spirited, devoted to foraging, music, and photography. Worked as a financial analyst and lived life to the fullest.
• Personal Loss: Husband Mark died by suicide (2011), both parents died in accidents, then Emily met Matthew Moore (2015), whose own life was marred by tragedies—two sons, both of whom died young, one by suicide.
• Recent Events: In May 2020, Emily celebrated her 52nd birthday with friends and Matthew. Her demeanor was reportedly a little quiet, but not out of the ordinary.

2. Emily’s Disappearance (15:00–22:00)

• Timeline: Last seen the night of May 24th, 2020. Matthew claims to have gone to sleep in the guest room to avoid waking Emily. The next morning, she was gone—but her phone, wallet, keys, and car remained.
• Initial Response: Matthew waited several hours before calling Emily’s friend Celeste, who instructed him to contact police. Police found the home spotless, which was noted as typical for Emily.

3. The Investigation: Scrutiny on Matthew (21:26–29:00)

• Police Focus: Matthew’s calm demeanor, lack of immediate action (e.g., not searching the woods himself), and his presence during police search raised suspicions.
• Interrogation: Matthew was cooperative—handed over Emily's phone and agreed to a voice stress test. Detectives aggressively accused him despite having no body or evidence (27:01–28:36).

Notable Exchange (27:25):
Detective: "You killed her."
Matthew: "No, I didn't, sir."
(27:28)

• Aftermath: Matthew, feeling targeted, stopped communicating with police and “lawyered up,” which further fueled suspicions.

4. Community & Family Theories (30:08–32:00)

• Matthew’s Behavior: He did not participate in organized searches, citing discomfort with law enforcement, but offered a $10,000 reward and went public via a podcast (“The Vanished”).
• Friend and Family Reactions: Community and Emily’s relatives remained divided—some suspected foul play, others believed in Matthew’s innocence.

5. Discovery of Emily’s Body (32:00–36:00)

• Break in the Case: Five months later, Emily’s sisters and a friend found her skeletal remains in dense brush not far from her home—kneeling, with a USB cord tied around her neck and connected to a tree. A water bottle containing alcohol was nearby.
• Scene Observations: Emily’s right hand held her ankle; other hand rested on the bottle. The position appeared consistent with suicide, but police suspicion remained.

Peyton (36:14): "Her mummified remains are still in a kneeling position. She has a USB cord wrapped around her neck, which is tied to a tree behind her."
(36:10–36:15)

6. Suicide vs. Homicide: Conflicting Evidence (38:00–51:23)

• Theories:
  • For suicide: Pattern of losses, possible depression, Emily’s statements to Matthew, and some alignment in body positioning.
  • For homicide: Friends/family denied Emily was suicidal, allegations of controlling behavior and bruises, and Matthew’s alleged prior domestic violence.
• Autopsy & Expert Testimony:
  • Multiple neck and facial fractures, which Dr. William Smock claimed were inconsistent with ligature hanging (typical in suicide) but common in manual strangulation (homicide).
  • Defense experts rebutted: Fractures could occur from ligature in older women; prior nose injuries explained facial trauma.

Dr. Smock (45:08): "I've never seen these injuries with a hanging, but I've seen them many times with manual strangulation."
(44:19–45:08)

7. Trial of Matthew Moore (51:23–52:15)

• Prosecution’s Argument: Matthew followed Emily, attacked her in the woods, and staged the scene.
• Defense Counter: No physical evidence, alibi supported, defense experts disagreed, timeline inconsistencies in witness testimony, and lack of clear motive (Matthew had money already).
• Jury Decision: After three hours, Matthew Moore was acquitted on all charges.

Judge (52:15): "But I think the jury has also said that justice for Emily is not injustice for you."
(51:57–52:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Peyton (04:05): “One thing I’ve learned... you never really know what’s going on with someone behind closed doors.”
• Garrett (05:41): “Try not to compare on social media because 99% of it is a front. You’re not actually seeing people’s lives…”
• Matthew during interrogation (27:28): “No, I didn’t, sir.”
• Peyton (36:58): "Now Matthew hears the news later that night... For him, this is now a third major loss that he’s had in his life..."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 06:22: Introduction to Emily Noble and history of personal tragedy
• 14:35: Body cam footage and initial search details
• 19:45: Hosts discuss instinct to suspect spouse in missing persons cases
• 27:01: Interrogation and lie detector episode
• 32:00: Emily’s family finds her body after five months
• 36:10: Detailed scene description of where and how Emily’s body was found
• 41:39: Autopsy findings and expert disagreement
• 49:46: Defense expert testimony on fracture plausibility
• 52:15: Jury reaches “not guilty” verdict, justice and fairness weighed
• 54:01–55:44: Hosts reflect on mental health, true crime, and societal lessons

Episode Tone & Style

The hosts' conversational, empathetic style mixes respectful true crime analysis with frank, sometimes humorous asides and personal reflections. Peyton is gentle but thorough in her storytelling; Garrett provides skepticism and layman’s perspective, questioning investigative and legal assumptions. The episode’s tone is thoughtful, with serious attention paid to the emotional impact of the story.

Takeaways & Reflections

• The line between suicide and homicide can be perilously thin, especially when evidence is ambiguous and compounded by profound past trauma.
• Mental health struggles are deeply entangled with many true crime cases, and outward appearances seldom reveal the full story.
• The justice system, reliant on expert testimony and circumstantial evidence, can still see radically different interpretations—and the outcome sometimes hinges on which narrative the jury finds more credible.
• There are often many victims in such tragedies, and assumptions—by police, families, the public—can deepen the pain when definitive answers are elusive.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, resources are available. Call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.