Doug Mould also expressed relief he and the couple's three children wouldn't have to sit through a trial and again hear how Carol died.
Carol Mould was found strangled in her home near Benton in 2004, and her house had also been set on fire.
Last May, paramedics and law enforcement responded to Moore's house after he said he was afraid he might hurt his wife. Paramedics and investigators say Moore then confessed to killing Mould, saying he went to the house to have sex with Mould but not kill her.
Until Moore's confession, investigators had never listed him as a suspect in the case. Doug Mould still credited investigators for never giving up on the case.
Besides Moore's basic confession, part of the strength of the prosecution's case were details never released publicly that only the killer could know. They say Moore provided several of those details like the green cord used to strangle Mould.
"Obviously it's a great relief to be here," said Doug Mould. "I mean, I have a whole mixture of feelings, but probably relief is the dominant feeling."
After the hearing, Moore looked at his wife who was bent forward and crying silently in the courtroom gallery. He leaned forward and whispered, "I love you," before being led from the courtroom.
As part of the plea deal, Moore will not be allowed to appeal his prison sentence. He'll be back in court on May 10 for his sentencing hearing.
Judge John Sanders banned cameras from the courtroom for Tuesday afternoon's hearing. The judge did not give any reason for his ruling.
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Morning Update (3/1)
By Cliff Judy (BUTLER COUNTY, Kan.)
Butler County Attorney Jan Satterfield has confirmed she expects Bill Moore to plead guilty to killing Carol Mould in a hearing Tuesday afternoon. Jury selection for Moore's first degree murder trial had been scheduled to start Wednesday.
Satterfield tells Eyewitness News Moore will appear before Judge John Sanders at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday. He's expected to plead guilty after Satterfield amends the first degree murder charge to a lesser charge. To satisfy the plea, the judge will likely have Moore explain why he's pleading guilty and what he did.
Prosecutors say Moore killed Carol Mould in her home outside Benton in 2004 and then set the house and body on fire.
Last May, Moore was taken to a Wichita hospital after a 911 call where he said he was afraid he might hurt his wife. An ambulance paramedic testified during Moore's preliminary hearing that Moore said he'd killed Mould.
Butler County Sheriff investigators say Moore also confessed to them, saying he went to Mould's home to have sex with her, but not kill her. Mould was strangled, and prosecutors say a green cord was found next to Mould's body. The garage of her home was also was set on fire but not until after her death.
Mould's killer had been a mystery for five years before Moore came forward.
Mould's husband tells Eyewitness News Moore will plead guilty to second degree murder. Satterfield would not confirm the specific amended charge, but said Moore will not plead to the current first degree murder charge.
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Original Coverage (2/26)
By Denise Hnytka (BUTLER COUNTY, Kan.)
He's scheduled to go on trial next week, but new developments could mean no trial for Bill Moore.
Prosecutors say he killed Carol Mould in her home outside Benton in 2004. Investigators say Moore has already confessed. Now he may now do so in court.
Mould's husband Doug tells Eyewitness News that prosecutors have reached a plea agreement with Moore. He says Moore will plead guilty next week to the murder.
