Category Archives: Morgan’s Investigation

January 2014 marks the 10th anniversary of the first National #Stalking Awareness Month

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As we ring in the New Year I wanted to let everyone know that January 2014 marks the 10th anniversary of the first National Stalking Awareness Month.  Visit http://stalkingawarenessmonth.org for more info.

Please share the information with friends and loved ones.  Please help spread the awareness…education is the key to freedom from stalking, as well as so many things that are wrong in this world.  Ordinary citizens like all of us can make big changes and ultimately save someone’s life.

How much do you know about stalking?

Stalking is a crime that is pervasive, dangerous, & potentially lethal. Learn the realities of this crime.  Visit stalkingawarenessmonth.org for more info.

Astoundingly, 6.6 million people were stalked in one year in the United States.

What would you say to a friend who told you they were being stalked?

Stalking: It’s not a joke. It’s not romantic. It’s not ok. It’s a crime.

Although women are more likely to be stalked than men, anyone can be a victim of stalking.

1 in 4 women and 1 in 13 men will be victims of stalking in their lifetime.

Stalking is a crime in all 50 states, DC, & the territories.

Individuals identifying as more than one race or American Indian/Alaska Native experience higher rates of stalking

On average stalking lasts about 2 years; intimate partner stalking lasts longer.

About 14% of stalking victims are age 50 or older. What unique challenges might older victims face?

Intimate partner stalking is the most common type of stalking and the most dangerous.
Visit www.victimsofcrime.org/src for more info.

Try this: Google “track girlfriend” and see how many sites tell someone how to stalk.

Phones, computers, GPS, and cameras are some of the common forms of technology used by stalkers.

What messages about stalking are in the media? Tweet us what you see.

Rates of stalking among college students are higher than the general public.

How young can stalking behavior start? Do you see stalking behaviors among high school students? Middle school students? Younger?

“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In the majority of cases of intimate partner stalking, the stalking behavior is established during the relationship.

3⁄4 of stalking victims experience other forms of violence, including sexual and/or physical assault.

LGBTQ stalking victims may face additional barriers to getting help.

Stalking can affect a victim’s emotional, physical, and economic well-being.

Would you report to police if you were being stalked? Most victims don’t.

Stalkers often access information about victims that is available online. Do you know what information about you is online?

Victims of stalking are encouraged to keep a log of all stalking behaviors including emails, texts & phone messages.

It is important to consider how to victims may be harmed by stalkers’ use of technology.

The majority of stalking victims report losing time from work as well as income because of the stalking.

Stalking: Know it. Name it. Stop it.
Find out how: stalkingawarenessmonth.org

Keep up your efforts to raise awareness about stalking throughout the year! Contact: www.victimsofcrime.org/src

Thank you for being part of “Team Morgan” and wanting to make changes in this world so another young woman, another family might not have to suffer the same fate that befell us in December of 2011.

 

As Morgan’s friends write in to her today I just had to share this one with you all

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Photos put together by Katie

Photos put together by Katie

Today is just another day
Today is just a day…
The day your battle became ours

The day you were robbed, and us too
I loved you long before this day
I loved you for the hundreds that came before it

Two years ago today you took the colors with you
leaving the snow you longed for behind
The sunset and sunrise without your love burned redder in sorrow

Mountains fell silent- void- of sound as you left.
Stillness-
Snow untouched, attempted to preserve the moments
Stop the world from turning to keep you near
…but you had to go

and I prayed for the first time
– wake up from this dream
but each day this dream turns more real
and you become the dream

fading with every sunrise
This world slowly filling with colors I thought I had lost forever
as now you are close in reveries of starry nights and philosophy

today is just a day.

All the words that matter are: I love you.

The Second Anniversary of Morgan’s Murder

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Never Giving Up Morgan

Never Giving Up Morgan

That morning two years ago began as any other, and then it grew to change so many lives forever.  She would wish that we always remember her in happiness. For all that she shared with us in her short time.  And for the love that she brought to this world.

Morgan did not want to leave, that choice was forced upon her by others that will answer for what they did, but that is for another day or days.  However long it takes to see justice for Morgan that challenge will be met.  Never a choice Steve and I ever imagined we would face someday, but we have, and our commitment to what we know is right is now stronger and more complete that ever before.

Days before her death we all shared what would be Morgan’s last Thanksgiving dinner with us, enjoying her happiness and love as if it would simply always be, just as it always had.  That it could all end so abruptly was unimaginable that afternoon.

Morgan’s stalker and her stalking were not mentioned.  Instead we talked of the future, her certification to teach yoga that would begin in a month, then her pursuit of a law degree after that, and her ultimate desire to help others.  It was the dream of life, as it should have been.  It was a wonderful afternoon. . .

We Love You So Much Morgan

We Love You So Much Morgan

Today it is about managing the pain.  We know Morgan wants us to be happy, to enjoy all of the many blessings we have and to carry on her love for the world, and we shall.  We are stronger now, more able to say the phrase, “we are so blessed to have Morgan in our lives for the twenty years that we did, and thankful to be able to carry her memory forward as it should be.”  There is so much work yet to do on that endeavor that Morgan so justly deserves.

As Steve and I began down the path we now embrace so fully, we felt alone, and looking back now, how quickly it was that we discovered we were not alone at all.  It’s as if Morgan herself was out asking others for their assistance in unraveling the mysteries of her death.  There should not have been so many facets to decipher, but there were.  Oh so many – yet slowly but surely the shrouds are falling off and the truth emerging.  If ever there was a case that so completely proves that the truth never changes, Morgan’s case will indeed prove that simple statement.

The truths revealed so far have really been very simple, albeit very shocking and horrific as Steve and I were first allowed to see them, but without a doubt, simple truths.  In the end all will be obvious, a giant compilation of simple truths.  And make no mistake it will not be a compilation made by Steve and I.  It comes from the expertise of so many, all across the country, all taking the time to share what they know with us as the simple curators of what Morgan’s case has become.  Every new little truth gives us pause, and it hurts, but it is what we need because it will one day spell justice for our dear departed daughter.  That one things means so very much to Steve and I, and to so many more that are now sharing in this quest of ours.

It has been so amazing and encouraging to see how every great mind picks out another piece from the same crime scene.  Another fact that was right there the morning her murdered body was found.  Another little truth that has waited, unchanged, until it was discovered to be a part of the crimes against Morgan.  That her civil rights were completely obliterated is without question and we again take a moment to thank all of those who are helping to expose these facts.  Our path seems like it has been long and painful and we will be up for wherever it takes us and however long it takes, with enough patience to see and assemble all of the facts surrounding her murder we shall ensnare the murderers and their accomplices with nothing more than the simple truths that all existed on the morning we found her.

A year ago I tried to document her investigation, but it was so difficult and tedious.  I have now come to realize it was because there was no investigation, just another simple truth.  What other simple truths do we know?  That is not for today, on the anniversary of her death we will remember Morgan, and all that she was.  And all that she had taken from her will not change, and it will still be there tomorrow.  Today we miss her greatly, and that is all we can bear for one day.  These 3 beautiful pictures were taken by someone very close to Morgan, on this very morning as the sun was coming up – Morgan used to get up before sunrise to watch the ever-changing start of the new day…she loved it so much, as she loved life, so these pictures are like an extension of Morgan herself.  Thank you so much to the beautiful soul that took them and sent them to us today.  Much love to everyone and know that we will NEVER GIVE UP!

We Miss You So Much and We Feel Your Love Stronger and Stronger

We Miss You So Much and We Feel Your Love Stronger and Stronger

Game on…now we will come from anger! Stalker/murderer beware – justice is on it’s way.

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morgansign

Remember this saying?

Obi wan Kenobi: if you strike me down I will become so strong not even you can imagine.

     Well guess what – Morgan is back even stronger than before (even though she is not here on earth with us any longer), and we will now go forward in our quest for justice, no longer thinking Garfield County will finally do the right thing, but knowing they will not, have never before, but now others will…stay tuned.
     This Monday (in two days) it will have been 2 years to the day since we found Morgan’s body.  It has been very emotional for us lately, as you can imagine, I honestly did not think that it would take this long for a REAL investigation into her murder.  No matter how long it takes (and I don’t think it will be much longer) we will keep pushing for the truth to come out, and for her murderer, as well as anyone that covered for him to be punished.
     I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family – Steve & I  were blessed to be able to be with our other two children, and grandchildren.  But before you pack up the rest of the leftovers, I just want to say thanks to your tremendous support – if it wasn’t for all our supporters over this last 2 years, Steve and I would not have made it this far.  Steve and I are very grateful and thankful for all of you.
     So many of you have written in with stories, support, love and ideas.  So many have offered their assistance as well.  When we received all of these things coming from others hearts ii gives us strength.  I know that sounds a little corny, but it’s true…at times when I was at my lowest emotionally, when I just couldn’t wrap my mind around Morgan being gone, and a murderer still being out there, was exactly when I would get messages from some of you readers or TEAM MORGAN, and it was always the EXACT time I needed it most!  Thank you all so much for your support.

Somewhere Along the Journey Toward Justice for Morgan

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Morgan posing on one of her Dads projects.

Morgan posing on one of her Dad’s functional art pieces.

Home from a whirlwind weekend, Steve and I find ourselves missing Morgan more than ever – but we have many blessings to share from our trip.  First we had a lovely couple of hours to just sit and talk as Vail Pass was shut down and a little snowstorm tried its best to quiet the evening.  We were on our way to the annual FOHVAMP (Families of Homicide Victims and Missing Persons) meeting and Morgan’s best friend was also stuck in the storm coming the other way over Vail Pass so it was a great time to text her and others I haven’t spoken with in such a long time.

Saturday at the meeting we had our chance to talk with Howard, the founder of FOHVAMP and thank him for all the help and support he has given us since Morgan’s death, it has meant so much and it is without doubt one of the few bright stars in an otherwise very dark time for us.  Howard always reminds me to focus on our health and well-being – to not let the murderer claim two more innocent lives, I speak about that often with Steve, and it has made a difference in our lives.

The singular most important thing I have to share from the meeting is the large presence of law enforcement.  Men and women with hearts as big as the Colorado skyline and their feelings for all the other victims like us right out on their sleeves for all to see.  It was so reassuring to be right there and witness first hand how our terribly tragic experience here was isolated to Garfield County, and in other parts of Colorado, Sheriffs and Police departments truly do care, very much, they give up their weekends to help victims such as Steve and I.  It was far beyond heartwarming.  It was reassurance that the entire world has not been flung into an uncontrolled orbit, that sanity really does still exist.

I listened to all the care, concern and advice of many officers down in the trenches every day, and have such great respect for all those whom I listened to, and even more so for those I had the opportunity to talk with.  I know all too well from what happened to Morgan about how difficult a task they face, and to meet with such unwavering dedication brought great hope for Steve and I.

Kim Goldman was there to share her own story of the horrific days she faced after her brother Ron Goldman (who was brutally murdered at the same time as Nicole Brown Simpson) and the ensuing media blitz that became a part of her life in the, “trial of the century.”  She shared her feeling of loss that was a part of so many there in the audience.

The experience was far too fresh and tender of a wound for us to stay till the end, but Steve and I have such unending appreciation and respect for what the FOHVAMP organization does for those who are suddenly in a position that most will never really understand, as Howard once told me a “club” that no one wants to be a part of.  Their website is http://www.unresolvedhomicides.org/about.php

We were blessed with sunshine and a clear day on Sunday, and our afternoon was spent walking Wylah and Tessi down a trail along the river.

Now there is so much to do for Morgan and her memory.  We have new direction and some very promising marching orders.  Hope for us always leads us to the wish we could share that hope more fully with Morgan, and the realization that will never be.  Our path is the search for justice – and the rest of what was taken from Morgan – we, nor anyone else can ever restore.  We love and miss you so much honey…