Suvechha Sarkar
In May 2005, the busy stretch of the Ohio Turnpike bore witness to a crime that would capture international attention and leave a close-knit community in utter shock. Dr. Gulam Moonda was a respected urologist who was loved by many due to his kind nature. However, everything ended up in a whirlwind when he was brutally shot along the highway. Discovery Plus’ ‘Highway To Hell: Murder in the Fast Lane’ unveils a shocking conspiracy fuelled by greed and deception. It also provides accounts from the loved ones and the officials related to the case.
Gulam Moonda’s Peaceful Drive With His Family Turned Fatal Due to a Botched Robbery
Gulamhusain Hajiahmed Moonda, AKA Gulam, was born on August 10, 1935, in the vibrant state of Gujrat, India. He grew up surrounded by the unwavering support of his parents and was a beloved brother to his siblings. Gulam had two sisters- Zubaida Bai and Hajyani Kulsum Bai, and two brothers – Hajee Satter and Hajee Dada Ahmad Sait. Since childhood, he had been drawn toward helping others, leading him to pursue his medical education in India. Gulam’s passion gradually took him across continents when, in the 1960s, he moved to Philadelphia to complete his residency training in Urology at the prestigious Albert Einstein Medical Center.
It was in the 1970s when Gulam met the love of his life, Donna Moonda. She was also committed to her passion in the medical field, and the duo hit it off instantly. Although there was a 20-year age gap, their love flourished over time, and they got married in 1990. The couple never had children of their own, but when his nephew, Faroq Moonda, came to stay with them, he became like a son. Gulam lived a happy and fulfilling life with his wife and nephew until his fate brought a cruel twist on May 13, 2005. He was traveling to Toledo, Ohio, with Donna and his mother-in-law, Dorothy Smouse, to see a house his nephew wanted to purchase.
However, Donna felt stomach cramps while driving along the Ohio Turnpike, and they pulled over to the side of the highway around 6:25 pm. As soon as Gulam stood out from the passenger seat to switch with his wife, an armed robber approached the vehicle and threatened him, asking for money. After taking his wallet, the masked gunman shot him and fled from the location. When the Ohio State Highway Patrol arrived at the scene, they found Gulam deceased with a single gunshot to his right temple. They found gunshot residue on his remains due to a close-range shot and a 9mm caliber shell casing at the scene. The autopsy revealed that Gulam’s cause of death was due to a gunshot wound, and they launched a full-blown investigation.
Gulam Moonda’s Murder Traced Back to a Secret Affair and a Conspiracy
The police first questioned Donna and her mother about the event since they were key witnesses. Donna reportedly informed them that the killer was 5’3″, was wearing a ski mask, and was driving a dark-colored minivan. Although initially, the detectives presumed that it was a robbery gone wrong, it reportedly seemed to them that the crime was calculated. While searching for the armed assailant, they pulled over a similar-looking vehicle seen at the crime scene. However, it led to a dead-end after verifying the driver’s information. Shortly after, Donna alleged that she suspected a male nurse who got fired due to Gulam. The detectives soon discovered that the nurse had a solid alibi and eliminated him as a suspect.
Officials also suspected the perpetrator might have followed the family from their stoppage at Service Plaza since Gulam always carried a lot of cash. To their dismay, the surveillance footage from the rest area captured nothing besides the cash section. Surprisingly, within a week of the murder, two calls reportedly tipped the police about 23-year-old Damian Bradford. On May 20, 2005, officials searched his home and seized two cell phones. The cellular records reportedly revealed that he was following the victim’s car from the moment he and his family left home. They also found steroids and fentanyl at his apartment and arrested him for possession of the drugs. During the questioning, Damian reportedly denied any involvement with the crime, but an account from his girlfriend changed the course of the case.
The girlfriend reportedly informed the police that Damian was having an affair with Donna. They discovered that Donna was caught stealing fentanyl due to addiction and was convicted and sentenced to attend a rehab program. This is where she met Damian, which marked the beginning of their affair. Donna had asked for a divorce from Gulam but was not satisfied with the money she would receive. Damian eventually confessed that she had planned it for the estate and insurance money. He was charged with interstate stalking and using a firearm during interstate stalking. However, the collection of the evidence against Donna took a while, and she was arrested and formally charged with interstate stalking, resulting in death, one count of murder for hire, and two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence, resulting in death on July 24, 2006.
Donna Moonda and Damian Bradford Are Serving Their Respective Sentences in Prison
The trial of Damian began in July 2006, and when Donna refused to testify during his trial, he entered into a plea agreement with the prosecution. It stated that he would receive a reduced sentence in exchange for testifying against her. He pleaded guilty to interstate stalking and using a firearm during interstate stalking and was sentenced to 17 and half years in federal prison with a supervised release of 5 years. Donna’s trial commenced on June 18, 2007, and the prosecutor reportedly pointed out that Donna had conspired with Damian to murder her husband to gain access to his estate, which was estimated between $2 million-$3 million.
The prosecution also presented evidence of the affair between her and Damian, which included text messages and testimonials. They reportedly indicated that she had promised him a share of the inheritance in exchange for committing the murder. The defense argued that Damian manipulated Donna, and she did not orchestrate her husband’s murder. After deliberation, the jury convicted her on one count of interstate stalking resulting in death, one count of murder for hire, and two counts of using a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in death on July 6, 2007. Ultimately, on September 21, 2007, Donna was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder-for-hire count, along with an additional 360 months for the remaining charges to run concurrently.
Despite several appeals from Donna, the court has upheld the original conviction. At present, she is serving her sentence at Tallahassee Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee, Florida. On the other hand, after his supervised release in 2020, Damian was again arrested in 2022 for shooting a Pennsylvania police trooper. He was convicted of the charges of attempted homicide and aggravated assault against an officer and sentenced to 36.5 to 73 years in state prison in November 2023. In December of the same year, the district court added a consecutive 10-year sentence for violating the terms of his supervised release. As of writing, Damian is serving his sentence at the State Correctional Institution – Albion, located in Albion, Pennsylvania.
