Man Sentenced for Murder of Pregnant Girlfriend and Store Clerk in Maryland
A 34-year-old man from Maryland has been sentenced to three consecutive life terms for the murders of his pregnant girlfriend and a convenience store clerk.
Torrey Moore was involved in a violent incident on December 8, 2022, when he shot Ayalew Wondimu, a 61-year-old clerk, over a dispute about a bottle of iced tea. After shooting Wondimu, Moore shot him several more times as he lay on the ground, according to Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy.
Following the shooting, authorities found the body of Moore’s girlfriend, Denise Middleton, who was eight-and-a-half months pregnant, in his apartment. Middleton’s body was discovered under a blanket in a state of decomposition. Surveillance footage revealed that Moore had been seen forcing Middleton into an elevator just weeks before the incident, leading to the discovery that he had shot her seven times in their shared home.
After the murders, Moore traveled to North Carolina and California. Investigators later found disturbing internet searches on his phone, including queries about how long a dead body takes to smell and how to move a body unnoticed. He also looked up information on pleading insanity, raising concerns about his mental health during the trial.
On May 16, 2023, Moore was convicted of first-degree murder in Wondimu’s case and was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder in Middleton’s case on November 22, 2024. Notably, this marked the first conviction in Montgomery County for the murder of an unborn child.
During the trial, Moore did not testify, but his attorneys argued that he struggled with mental illness and schizophrenia, which contributed to his actions. The presiding judge, Rachel McGuckian, reflected on the case, noting, “We’re left to wonder why he did what he did. And really no one knows but him… maybe not even him.”
Moore is unlikely to qualify for parole until he is in his 90s, guaranteeing that he will spend the rest of his life in prison for these horrific crimes.
