Maryland man found guilty of killing girlfriend, unborn baby in county’s first-ever conviction of its kind

A shocking case in Montgomery County, Maryland has ended with a guilty verdict for Torrey Moore, a 33-year-old man convicted of murdering his pregnant girlfriend, Denise Middleton, and her unborn child. This landmark case marked the first time in Montgomery County history that a defendant was convicted of killing a viable, unborn child.

The jury found Moore guilty on two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Middleton and her unborn baby. Additionally, he was convicted on two counts of using a handgun in the commission of a felony, one count of a crime of violence against a pregnant person, and one count of illegal possession of a firearm. Moore now faces a possible life sentence without the possibility of parole, with his sentencing hearing scheduled for March 28.

The tragic events unfolded on October 9, 2022, when Middleton, who was eight and a half months pregnant, was seen alive for the last time in surveillance footage from an elevator in Moore’s apartment building. Shortly after the footage was captured, investigators believe Moore shot Middleton seven times, leading to her untimely death. Middleton’s body was later discovered in Moore’s apartment in an advanced stage of decomposition.

This case is not Moore’s only brush with the law. In a separate incident in May, he was convicted of killing a gas station employee at a Shell gas station in Silver Spring. Surveillance footage from the incident showed Moore shooting and killing the clerk before fleeing the scene. He is set to be sentenced for this crime on February 20, where he could face life in prison.

Following Middleton’s murder, police tracked Moore’s movements through cell phone data, which revealed that he traveled across the country for 26 days. During this time, his search engine history included disturbing queries such as “How long does it take for a dead body to smell?” and “How to move a dead body without being seen.”

The gravity of Moore’s actions and the heinous crimes he committed have sent shockwaves through the community. The justice system has spoken, delivering a verdict that ensures Moore will be held accountable for his despicable actions. As the community grapples with the aftermath of these tragic events, the hope is that justice will bring some solace to the loved ones of Denise Middleton and her unborn child.