A Maryland man has been convicted of a heinous crime in Montgomery County, marking a historic moment as the first time a defendant has been found guilty of killing a viable, unborn child in the area. The jury's verdict on Friday found the 33-year-old man guilty on two counts of first-degree murder in the tragic deaths of his pregnant girlfriend, Denise Middleton, and her unborn baby.
In addition to the murder charges, the defendant was also convicted on two counts of using a handgun in the commission of a felony, one count of a violent crime against a pregnant person, and one count of illegal possession of a firearm.
Surveillance footage presented during the trial captured the last moments of Middleton's life, showing her with the accused in an elevator of his apartment building on October 9, 2022. Tragically, Middleton, who was eight and a half months pregnant, was later found shot seven times in a state of advanced decomposition in the defendant's apartment.
The defendant now faces the possibility of a life sentence without parole, with the sentencing hearing scheduled for March 28. This conviction is not the only crime linked to the defendant, as he was previously convicted in May for the murder of a gas station employee. The sentencing for that case, where he could face life imprisonment, is set for February 20.
In the gas station incident on December 8, 2022, the defendant was captured on surveillance cameras fatally shooting the clerk before fleeing the scene. Subsequent police investigation led to the discovery of Middleton's body in the defendant's apartment the following day.
Cell phone data revealed that after Middleton's murder, the defendant embarked on a 26-day journey across the country. During this time, his online search 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.'
