🚨 ONE OF THE DARKEST CASES IN MARYLAND HISTORY: A 34-year-old man, Torrey Damien Moore, has been sentenced to THREE CONSECUTIVE LIFE SENTENCES plus 80 years after shooting his pregnant girlfriend seven times and then living with her decomposing body for nearly a month… all while carrying out another shocking crime. 😱💔

How could someone hide such horror for weeks? This heartbreaking story has left families devastated and communities demanding justice.

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In a case that has gripped the Washington, D.C. suburbs with its chilling details, 34-year-old Torrey Damien Moore was sentenced on May 30, 2025, in Montgomery County Circuit Court to three consecutive life sentences plus an additional 80 years in prison. The punishment stems from two separate but related murder convictions: the October 2022 shooting death of his 26-year-old pregnant girlfriend, Denise Middleton, and their viable unborn son Ezekiel, as well as the December 2022 fatal shooting of 61-year-old convenience store clerk Ayalew Wondimu.

Judge Rachel McGuckian handed down the maximum penalties following jury verdicts in 2024. The sentences for the deaths of Middleton and the fetus run consecutively, with the additional time for firearm charges running concurrently. Prosecutors from the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, led by State’s Attorney John McCarthy, described the outcome as ensuring Moore will likely remain incarcerated for the rest of his life, with parole eligibility not expected until his 90s.

The saga began on October 9, 2022, when surveillance footage captured Middleton and Moore entering their Oak Leaf Drive apartment complex in Silver Spring around 7 p.m. It was the last time Middleton was seen alive. An autopsy later determined she had been shot seven times, with at least four bullets entering her back. Middleton was eight-and-a-half months (approximately 38 weeks) pregnant, and the fetus — a boy the couple planned to name Ezekiel — was deemed viable, meaning he could have survived outside the womb had the shooting not occurred.

After the shooting, Moore allegedly left the apartment alone about an hour later, as shown on elevator footage. Cell phone data revealed he traveled across the country for approximately 26 days. During this period, his search history included queries such as “How long does it take for a dead body to smell?” and “How to move a dead body without being seen,” according to court documents cited by outlets including The Washington Post and People magazine.

Moore returned to the apartment and continued living there with Middleton’s body, which was found under a blanket in an advanced state of decomposition when authorities arrived. The discovery came on December 9, 2022, following a separate incident the day before. On December 8, Moore entered a Dash In convenience store across the street from his apartment, placed a bottle of iced tea on the counter, and became involved in a confrontation with clerk Ayalew Wondimu. The argument escalated, and Moore fatally shot Wondimu multiple times before fleeing back to his residence.

Police responded to the store shooting and obtained a warrant for Moore’s arrest. A SWAT team entered the apartment, where they found Moore armed and, in another room, the decomposing remains of Middleton and the fetus. This marked the first time in Montgomery County history that a defendant was convicted of first-degree murder for the death of a viable fetus, under state laws recognizing such losses as separate homicides.

Moore faced two separate trials. In May 2024, a jury convicted him of first-degree murder, use of a handgun in the commission of a felony, and illegal possession of a firearm in Wondimu’s death. In November 2024, another jury found him guilty on two counts of first-degree murder (for Middleton and the fetus), two counts of use of a handgun in a felony, one count of crime of violence against a pregnant person, and illegal possession of a firearm. Prosecutors noted that the same handgun was used in both incidents.

Family members of Middleton expressed profound grief following the convictions and sentencing. They described her as a loving woman excited about motherhood, having already chosen the name Ezekiel for her son. The family supported the plea and sentencing resolutions, which avoided further trials and additional trauma.

The case has raised questions about domestic violence awareness, mental health, and the handling of firearm-related crimes. Moore had no prior public criminal history detailed in reports, but the rapid escalation from the domestic shooting to the public store killing underscored the dangers of unchecked violence. Community leaders in Silver Spring and Montgomery County have called for continued vigilance in recognizing signs of abuse, particularly in relationships involving pregnancy.

Authorities emphasized that the investigation was thorough, relying on surveillance video, cell phone records, forensic evidence, and the autopsy findings. The delay in discovering Middleton’s body stemmed from Moore’s travel and the apartment’s isolation, highlighting challenges in missing persons cases when victims live with their assailants.

This conviction for fetal homicide is significant in Maryland, where laws treat the unlawful killing of a viable fetus as a separate offense. It provides some measure of justice for the unborn child, a point stressed by prosecutors as a landmark achievement.

As Moore begins serving his sentences, the focus shifts to remembrance. Denise Middleton was remembered by loved ones as a vibrant young woman with dreams for her family. Her son Ezekiel never had the chance to take his first breath. Ayalew Wondimu, a hardworking clerk, lost his life in a senseless confrontation over a simple purchase.

The Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office continues to advocate for strong penalties in violent crimes, particularly those involving vulnerable victims. For the families, the long legal process has brought closure, though the pain of loss remains permanent.

In a statement following the sentencing, State’s Attorney McCarthy noted the courage of the victims’ families and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable. The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of domestic and gun violence on communities.

With Moore facing no realistic path to freedom, the courts have imposed what many see as fitting punishment for a series of acts that shocked the region. Yet for those left behind, no sentence can fully restore what was taken — two lives, one future, and the innocence of a child who never arrived.