Parties give opening statements in Disappearance, Homicide Case

By Hunter Krienke [former] - June 7, 2023
Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

On June 6, attorneys presented their opening statements and began introducing evidence in a homicide case going back to 2010.

Issac 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. While her body was never recovered, an investigation conducted by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) made Moye the primary suspect.

The prosecutors opened saying there is a, “Missing girl in DC, only she’s not missing; she’s gone.”  And even if the defense suggests “no body, no crime,” the victim has been legally declared dead.

Meanwhile, defense attorney, Jason Tulley, opened saying the investigation failed to show credible proof, in particular overlooking suspects who were not properly investigated. Further, the “government is gambling with Moye’s life.”

“Investigation of this case was doomed from the very start,” said Tulley.

Prosecutors asked the victim’s sister about Harris’s life and involvement with her children. The witness also discussed her efforts to locate her sister. She then identified the contents of her sister’s purse that were left at the scene. Harris’s disappearance was described as an unusual circumstance and that she would not have left her children behind.

During cross examination, Tulley asked the victim’s sister why there were no signs of struggle when she arrived.  The witness made it clear that the scene was not comparable to the way her sister lived.

The prosecution then called a former Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detective assigned to the case who testified about the procedures that officers follow when investigating missing persons. 

During her investigation she said she met with potential suspects and began to eliminate them based on evidence found at the scene. The former detective discussed her interview with Moye conducted in 2011 and the prosecution presented video of the session.  Moye indicated he was interested in finding Harris.

The former officer also discussed the early stages of the investigation and a couch cushion with a tear recovered from the scene that became part of the evidence. 

The trial is slated to resume before DC Superior Court Judge Anthony Epstein on June 7