How could PJ’s just disappear?

morganseye

There are the choices you have, and the choices that are made for you.  When Steve and I need a room painted, or some gardening done we do it ourselves. But what about all the others who hire someone for the task?  It is always nice to have at least one glowing recommendation before you hand over the job.  And what about a babysitter?  Someone trustworthy, and competent enough to watch your most precious youngster in your absence.  That requires far more looking into than the painter or gardener, doesn’t it?  Can’t be too safe with a decision like that.

Then comes a decision you would have never thought you would have to make, and you quietly find out it is not your decision at all, it is made for you, with no discussion or input from you at all.  Our daughter was dead, and people I had never met were streaming in to our home, I could have assumed whatever I wanted about these people, but in reality I knew nothing, nothing at all about their qualifications to do what they were about to do – this at a time when their actions will easily have a profound effect on the rest of our life.

A long time law enforcement investigator in this valley explained his feelings, and knowledge of Morgan’s death scene investigation.  He felt that when limited to just the local talent in this County there was no way Morgan would have a “microscopic” investigation.  Which basically means things would have been missed.  Perhaps a tiny piece of evidence that could have set the wheels in motion to apprehend Morgan’s killer, as I see so often on crime TV, that would not happen and that evidence would go uncollected, and forever lost.

The obvious becomes that I never had the choice, the decision was made for me, as well as Steve, Morgan’s brother and sister, and of course Morgan, that she did not need to have microscopic evidence collected.  OK, so they do not have the expertise, or capability to collect really tiny pieces of evidence, but what about the larger, more obvious pieces of evidence?  Or what about things that should be there, but are missing, and don’t even require collection at all, just a report on the missing item(s), what about those?

Steve talked to Morgan before she went to sleep, and she was dressed in PJ’s as she always was, to sleep in.  He remembers the PJ’s and we have talked about them with investigators many times, just never an investigator from Garfield County.  We might have told them about this problem, but an effort was never made to determine exactly what she was wearing when she went to sleep.

In the importance of little things that don’t add up Morgan was wearing PJ’s when Steve last saw her, and street clothes in the morning after she was dead.  Now she could have changed at some time on her own, so the real unexplained problem is what happened to her PJ’s?  They were not to be found when we packed up the room.  It is a big item to be missing, and to be completely overlooked.  This goes way beyond the microscopic aspect.  I’m not sure what exactly to call it, but if there were PJ’s the night before that she was wearing, and after her death there were none, how did they get out of her room?  And who took them?  And why?  Three questions that could be answered, should be answered, but never were answered.

There was a period of time that Steve thought, just because it made sense to him in the context of an investigation, that her PJ’s were collected as evidence, and the contracted pathologist or the Coroner had them.  It was something I didn’t question, that is how our minds worked in the shock, and grief of what had just happened.  We are parents – not investigators and the “investigators” should have asked.

I was however, very strong in my conviction that Morgan looked staged, and I told the officers at the time, she was posed in a position I would never have found her in.  If I place myself into the position I found her in – it is uncomfortable, it is not a position I would ever sleep in.  Plus she was on the opposite side of the bed from which she always slept.  All little things that should be in the Sheriff’s reports (like her PJ’s) are not in any of the Sheriffs reports, and I have not been able to find them yet in any reports.  No evidence collection required, not microscopic or otherwise, just notes.

Steve’s memory of her position seems a little less razor-sharp than mine is.  But he remembers vividly being focused on signs of life, a twitch, an eyelid flutter, he was administering CPR from the instant he could not get a response from her, and felt she was not breathing.  So it’s natural that I feel that his memory focus would be different from mine, because he was focusing on different things than I was.

At the time we did not really want to focus on anything, we just wanted to get through this somehow, someway, with little discussion Steve and I assured each other that certainly the Sheriffs were focusing on all these little things that came to nag at us.  I would never have imagined that where we assumed there was something there was nothing.  No focusing at all.  How is that possible in a “suspicious death?”  A death that was also labeled, “a mystery,“ on the day Morgan was found, a death that required an autopsy, and after four months of stalking that was conjectured to become, “more intense,” just two days before her death by the stalking case detective, with no reason given.  And no, I did not ask, because at that second in time I was quite taken aback to hear this, and wondering what it meant for the investigation now that the Detectives were 100% sure it was Keenan VanGinkel who was responsible for the stalking of Morgan.

All this still leaves missing PJ’s, and we all know they can’t just disappear, not without help from someone.  They were never spoken of after that morning, officially that is.  When you have a “suspicious death,” and then articles of clothing worn, when the victim was last seen, are now completely gone – I believe you have a big problem, a big clue, that has to be explained.

Because then the issue of how did she get into street clothes goes from a possibility that Morgan changed at night in response to sounds outside, to possibilities far more sinister.  And the actions of the death scene detectives become far more important.

Over time, as the evidence was looked at again by other professionals, some perhaps for the first time, it becomes all so important that way back on day one when they had the chance to collect all the evidence they wanted to, that they chose to collect none.  I believe they absolutely had a duty to collect evidence, or stand aside and let someone capable of doing it to take over, but they did not. If they were not capable they should have called in the very capable State agency, the CBI that morning – it was an option they did not choose.

This morning on my drive I was passed by a Colorado State Trooper.  On the back of his patrol car were two brief sayings, one on each side – “Honor to Serve,” and, “Duty to Protect.”  As chance would have it I also was passed by a Garfield Sheriffs SUV a bit later – it had no saying printed on the back, nothing.

I know it’s just words printed on the back of a car, but to me it makes a difference that two little promises are printed on the back of the State Troopers, they see them, they know what it says back there, and oh how I wish Morgan had been blessed with a little more “Honor to Serve,” and “Duty to Protect.”

And if anyone is wondering about yesterday – my Mother’s Day was beautiful, thanks to my family, friends, and my children – all of my children…

 

11 thoughts on “How could PJ’s just disappear?

  1. Toni, as I was blessed to be with my kids and my mother I did think about you a lot yesterday, I am glad you commented on your mothers day and I was happy that you did have a wonderful day.
    I am sure this option has crossed your mind a million times, but have you ever heard of go fund me.com it is a web site dedicated to help you raise money for your cause or need, maybe a reward to loosen lips would help you get answers from people who have information. Just a thought. As you have said in other posts there a lot of people willing to protect him, but as our world is driven by greed, people will usually go for cash instead of loyalty.
    I wish you the best.

    • People have sent me information about fundme.com, and have suggested a reward being raised. I think it is a great idea, I was just hoping before this that people would come forward because they just wanted to do the right thing, but it didn’t happen unfortunately. I will seriously start considering this option.

      And thank you so much for thinking about me yesterday – I really do appreciate it, I know it might sound strange, but I think all the good thoughts, prayers, and vibrations people have been sending out to Steve and I have been of immense help to us, and they keep us strong. I am so happy you were able to be with your kids – every day with them is such a blessing, and we just never know when the last day will be that we can be with them so we must enjoy every moment.

  2. Dear Toni,
    Every blog I read, makes my heart break more. What is going on in this world? This constant rash of stupidity in CO must stop!! Why are people not screaming from their roof tops? Don’t they realize the next child might be theirs?

    I can not imagine what you are going through. I have mananged to work myself up into such a frenzy of disgust over those involved, that I scream!! Where is the accountability?

    I have wrote to every major news organization I can think of, and they too seem to busy to even reply.I hope to God, that none of them ever feel your pain & frustration. And that goes for the one sided Dr. Phil show also. Please continue to be strong. Never give up. Your day of peace, will come.Bless you,

    Luauna

    • Thank you Luauna for your comment – Steve and I both really appreciate your support. It is sooooo frustrating that people in law enforcement that are higher up believe up, media people believe us, but yet no one has jumped in to help yet. But don’t worry we are still on it – haven’t given up and never will. We will get this investigation open I promise you.

    • Thank you Luauna for your comment – Steve and I both really appreciate your support. It is sooooo frustrating that people in law enforcement, that are higher up believe us, media people believe us, but yet no one has jumped in to help yet. But don’t worry we are still on it – haven’t given up, and never will. We will get this investigation open I promise you, and in the process I am hoping that things will change and they will start to have transparency and accountability – pipe dreams now, but hopefully they will become a reality.

  3. Toni and Steve,
    I have been following your blog for almost a year now….Started July 2012. I was dedicated to reading every day and sometimes thinking and rereading into the wee hours of the morning. Your strength and perseverance is phenominal. I have great admiration for you and you are a great influence on me! (all the way in Georgia!) I am extremely baffled and angered at this new information….Missing pj’s?? WHY do these investigators and the darn cornoner still have a job?? And also, for those that are lying for Keenan,….Don’t you know you will be found in contempt of court? Harboring a criminal? You CAN and WILL go to jail for giving false information! Are you that dumb?? Does Keenan do so much for you that you are willing to risk your own freedom to lie for him? My mother always told me, “if you lie down with dogs, you’re gonna gets fleas”…If my son or daughter EVER stalked, much less killed someone, you bet your sweet a double s I would be the first one at the police station even if I had to handcuff them myself! SHAME on you who are withholding information! May the angels GOD have mercy on your souls when you get to the golden gates….if you don’t pay for your wrong doings here on earth, you MOST definitely will pay for them in the afterlife….remember He said “eye for an eye” and that means if not on earth, then it will be in Heaven….
    And as for a REWARD for those who step forward….your reward will be forgiveness and a blessed afterlife….you can’t pay to get into Heaven
    But if that is what it is going to take to get someone to come forward, then so be it….Justice will be served….Too bad that in today’s age with technology, justice has to wait…
    JH

    • Jennifer – I am completely in agreement with what you just said. I appreciate you being such a strong advocate for Morgan, and I believe God, and all the angels are working overtime trying to help us with this, so I have to believe justice will come.

  4. Jennifer – I am completely in agreement with what you just said. I appreciate you being such a strong advocate for Morgan and I believe God and all the angels are working overtime trying to help us with this so I have to believe justice will come.

  5. I wonder if the PJ’s being missing has something to do with the ‘unidentified substance’ seen on Morgan’s chest with use of a black light? Perhaps the PJ’s were taken because that substance was also on them? If the substance on her chest came from her attempting to spit/choke/sneeze something out, the bulk of it would’ve been on her PJ’s, but it seems quite logical that some of it would’ve gotten on her skin.

    Also, were the street clothes she was found in the ones she was wearing when she came home the night before?

    • Christy I believe the ‘unidentified substance’ on her chest was bodily fluids and most likely was the reason they were taken, but I also believe the substance was most likely the murderers DNA and not Morgan’s. The street clothes she was wearing were not the ones she came home in that night – those clothes were hanging off her hamper basket. Also, the clothes that were on her body when she was found most likely were not put on her body until sometime after lividity had set in. This can be seen in the crime scene photos which as you will most likely agree will not and should not be shared over the Internet. Many things can not be shared as I know her case will get opened, I know there will be indictments and arrests and evidence will need to come out in a trial at that time and not before. Thank you for your good questions – I appreciate them.

  6. Honor to serve- stalk. Duty to protect- murder. Toni, tell me more about this policeman- how old is he? Married? Children? How far he lives from u? Pay close attention to him. Morgan pj was taken & probably stalker still has it like a trophy or he destroyed it

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