For the first time in county history, a conviction has been secured for the murder of a viable fetus, according to officials.
Torrey Moore, 33, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his girlfriend, 26-year-old Denise Middleton, and their unborn son, Ezekiel. He was also convicted of a violent crime against a pregnant person, alongside multiple weapons charges. Middleton was 38 weeks pregnant at the time of her death, meaning her baby could have survived if delivered naturally.
In December 2022, Moore fatally shot 61-year-old Ayalew Wondimu, a convenience store clerk, following an argument over purchases at a Shell gas station. Surveillance footage showed Moore throwing bottles at Wondimu, who responded by swinging a metal pole at him. Moore then pulled a handgun and shot Wondimu three times, continuing to fire even after Wondimu collapsed.
The next day, authorities discovered Middleton’s decomposing body in Moore’s apartment. Moore admitted to being in a relationship with Middleton and told detectives she was eight months pregnant. He initially claimed her death was the result of an altercation a month earlier but denied shooting her, despite saying the same gun was likely used in both cases. An autopsy revealed Middleton had been shot seven times.
Surveillance video from October 2022 showed Moore pushing Middleton toward the elevators in their apartment complex and preventing another man from entering with them. Moore later confessed to slapping and choking her during an earlier argument. After her death, he left for California for over a month. During the investigation, police found internet searches on Moore’s device, including queries about how to conceal or move a dead body.
At a press conference, Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy described the case as deeply tragic. Middleton’s father, Dennis, expressed his grief, saying, “We were robbed of Denise and Ezekiel.” Her cousin Taylor added, “While justice was served, it doesn’t erase the loss we feel.”
Moore faces life in prison without parole, with sentencing for Middleton and Ezekiel’s deaths set for March 28. He also awaits sentencing for Wondimu’s murder, with a hearing scheduled for February 20.
