Maryland – In a case that stunned Maryland and devastated two families, a 34-year-old man, identified as T. Moore, who fatally shot his eight-month-pregnant girlfriend, identified as 26-year-old D. Middleton, before murdering a 61-year-old store employee, identified as A. Wondimu, two months later has been sentenced to three life terms plus 80 years in prison. The disturbing crimes committed by Moore have drawn outrage over their brutality and the months-long concealment of one of the victims.
On Friday, Moore received the sentence for the 2022 killings of his Middleton, her unborn baby Ezekiel, and Wondimu. The State’s Attorney’s Office confirmed Moore was convicted by two separate juries: one in November for the slaying of Middleton and her unborn child, and another in May 2024 for Wondimu’s murder. The charges included two counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder, among others. Prosecutors say the killings demonstrated cold calculation and a complete disregard for human life. State’s Attorney J. McCarthy described the case as one of the most horrific he had ever seen.
Surveillance video from Moore’s apartment building captured Moore and Middleton on October 9, 2022, arguing in an elevator just before 7 p.m. Investigators believe the couple returned to their apartment, where Moore shot Middleton seven times. She was eight months pregnant with their baby boy, whom they had planned to name Ezekiel. Prosecutors say she was likely killed shortly after the elevator footage was recorded. Moore then left the apartment around an hour later. Over the next month, he traveled the country, even using search engines to look up grim phrases like “How long does it take for a dead body to smell?” and “How to move a dead body without being seen.” He returned to the apartment in early November and continued to live there—alongside Middleton’s body—for weeks.
It wasn’t until December 8, 2022, that Moore resurfaced in public to commit another act of violence. That morning, he walked into the store across from his home, where he had previously been banned. Surveillance footage showed Moore grabbing an iced tea, throwing items at Wondimu, and eventually pulling a silver handgun from his vest. He shot Wondimu at point-blank range and then fired additional rounds after the victim fell. Moore fled the scene, but law enforcement identified him and executed a no-knock raid on his apartment the following day. What they found inside shocked even seasoned officers. Hidden beneath a blanket was Middleton’s body. The smell had been so strong that officers noticed it as soon as they entered.
Middleton’s family was left devastated. Her father spoke at a press conference following the sentencing. “I’d really like to hear why,” he said, expressing frustration that no clear motive had ever been provided for Moore’s actions. Wondimu’s widow also addressed the court, saying through tears, “He was my everything. I am heartbroken.” Moore’s defense attorney claimed the defendant suffered from schizophrenia and argued that his mental illness disconnected him from reality. “The very fact that Mr. Moore was sleeping in the apartment with Ms. Middleton’s body emphasizes that Mr. Moore’s mental illness brought him out of touch with reality,” the attorney wrote.
However, the juries in both trials found Moore competent and guilty of the murders. Prosecutors maintained that the calculated nature of Moore’s internet searches and his behavior both before and after the murders contradicted any claim of complete mental detachment. With his sentencing now final, Moore will spend the rest of his life in prison, with no possibility of parole. Both judge and jury deemed his actions beyond redemption.
