Jury Gets Murder, Disappearance Case After Final Arguments

By Hunter Krienke [former] , Jenna Gainsboro [former] - June 22, 2023
Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

On June 21, the trial for a 2010 homicide case ended as defense attorneys and prosecutors presented their closing arguments to the jury.

Isaac Moye, 45, is charged with second-degree murder for his alleged involvement in the disappearance and death of Unique Harris, 24. Harris, who was last seen near the 2400 block of Hartford Street, SE, was declared missing on Oct. 10, 2010. Moye was charged in connection to the case on Dec. 21, 2020.

While her body was never recovered, an investigation conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) led to Moye’s becoming the primary suspect in her alleged murder.

During their closing arguments, prosecutors attempted  to demonstrate that Harris was dead based on evidence and testimony presented in the trial.

“If you knew that you were going to leave forever, what would you pack?” the prosecutor asked while presenting Harris’s personal belongings, including her glasses which witnesses said she would never leave behind because she had poor vision.

Then, prosecutors showed interviews between Moye and police investigators.  In each interview, the defendant appeared to change his characterization of events.

“He told on himself,” the prosecutor said when referring to Moye’s inconsistencies during questioning.

Meanwhile, defense attorney Jason Tulley argued prosecutors failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt Moye is responsible murdering Harris.

Tulley maintained prosecutors do not have a theory about how the murder occurred, nor did they establish a clear motive or discover human remains all of which suggests there is reasonable doubt that Moye committed the crime.

Tulley also targeted what he characterized as mishandling of the police investigation, mentioning that the police did not question other potential suspects and failed to follow leads.

Prosecutors responded they are not required to provide a body or motive for second-degree murder. They returned to the notion that the jury is in charge of reviewing the evidence to conclude whether Moye was responsible for the murder.

“Bring her home,” the prosecutor told the jury before they were sent to deliberate.

Harris’s sister handed a written statement to D.C. Witness which read, “I want [Moye] to be held fully responsible for taking such a beautiful, loving, caring soul for no reason at all. She was truly an angel on earth. I feel like that’s why God has led us to [Moye]). I have prayed for closure for years.”

Jury deliberations are slated to begin on June 25.