Montgomery County Man Sentenced Three Life Terms for 2022 Triple Murder Including Unborn Fetus

Torrey Damien Moore of Silver Spring was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences plus 80 additional years in prison for the 2022 murders of his pregnant girlfriend Denise Middleton, her viable unborn fetus, and a gas station clerk, marking the first conviction in Montgomery County for the murder of a viable fetus. Moore was convicted in two separate trials: first in May 2024 for killing the gas station employee, Ayalew Wondimu, and later in November 2024 for the murders of Middleton and her fetus. The killings were described as executions and a grave danger to the community by the Montgomery County State’s Attorney, who noted Moore would be eligible for parole only in his 90s. Middleton’s body was found in Moore’s apartment in an advanced state of decomposition, and autopsy reports indicated she was shot seven times. The case gained attention for its historic nature in the county, as it was the first time a person was convicted for the murder of a viable fetus. Moore had been banned from the convenience store where Wondimu worked prior to the fatal shooting, which led police to discover Middleton’s body during their investigation.