Suspect in Manchester rail trail stabbing plans insanity plea

Raymond Moore, 44, charged with second-degree murder, previously found competent to stand trial

Apr. 9, 2026 at 8:55pm

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An extreme close-up of a bloodied knife blade against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the violent nature of the alleged crime.A grim close-up of the alleged murder weapon exposes the stark, violent reality of this crime.Manchester Today

The suspect in a fatal stabbing along the Manchester rail trail in 2022 plans to plead not guilty by reason of insanity, according to court documents obtained by News 9 Investigates. Raymond Moore, 44, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Daniel Whitmore, 75. Moore was previously found competent to stand trial, but now plans to change his plea.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complex legal issues surrounding mental competency and the insanity defense, especially in serious violent crimes. The judge will now have to determine if Moore was mentally unstable at the time of the alleged murder, despite previous findings that he was fit to stand trial.

The details

Court documents show that Raymond Moore, 44, plans to change his plea to not guilty by reason of insanity after he was previously found competent to stand trial. Moore is charged with second-degree murder in the 2022 stabbing death of Daniel Whitmore, 75, along the Manchester rail trail. At the time of the killing, Moore was out on bail after being charged in an attempted stabbing incident.

  • In 2022, Moore allegedly stabbed and killed Daniel Whitmore on the Manchester rail trail.
  • A judge previously determined that Moore was faking symptoms to be sent to the state hospital instead of prison, ruling him competent to stand trial.
  • A status hearing in the case is scheduled for June 1, 2026.

The players

Raymond Moore

A 44-year-old man charged with second-degree murder in the 2022 stabbing death of Daniel Whitmore along the Manchester rail trail. Moore plans to plead not guilty by reason of insanity.

Daniel Whitmore

A 75-year-old man who was fatally stabbed by Raymond Moore in 2022 along the Manchester rail trail.

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What they’re saying

“What that means is the judge will then decide whether he is a danger to himself or to others. This was a very serious crime, obviously, a murder, so the judge has to look at that, so that would be the next step.”

— Patricia LaFrance, Legal analyst, Black, LaFrance and Bollinger

What’s next

A status hearing in the case is scheduled for June 1, 2026, where the judge will determine if Moore was mentally unstable at the time of the alleged murder.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex legal issues surrounding mental competency and the insanity defense, especially in serious violent crimes. The judge will have to carefully weigh the evidence and Moore's mental state to determine the appropriate outcome.