At 10:10 am Morgan sent a text to me while I was on my way to pick up the office mail, “Will you pick me up a bagel on your way if you have time?” Then I sent her a text back, “Call me.” When she called me back I asked Morgan to drop something off for her dad at his old shop, she was on her way to the caves in Glenwood Springs with some friends. She said text me the location, “He is on the right, past Thunder River by Fastenal & Airgas and the Go Rentals folks.” Morgan responded with a text back, “Thanks!!” Then I sent her a text, “Did you find him?” She texted back, “Yup :)” I said, “Great thanks.”
We had so many glass windows on the back of our house and for many years it was all very sheer covering or even uncovered, lots of Colorado sunlight. First we had added window treatments to all of the lower windows and glass doors and this afternoon, every uncovered piece of glass also had window treatments added. I liked that now nobody could see in, but sadly it transformed what were nice bright rooms into way more darkness than I would have ever preferred. A price we had to pay, and this made me want to catch this stalker even more – I wanted our bright, happy, safe home back.
At 4:15 pm Morgan sent a text to her dad, “Want me to pick up anything? I’m just leaving the caves.” Steve replies, “No, thanks, having a good time?” “We are in Glenwood picking up metal, and driving to Ry’s house for dinner afterwards can you join us there when you’re done?” Morgan texted back, “Just working away” I asked her, “Where?” She then called me back to talk for a bit.
Steve had been so completely frustrated with the disappearing act the stalker was able to pull off so easily. It was one thing to understand the deputies not really seeing him, because they would mostly pull up in their patrol truck, meet us at the door, talk a bit, and then walk around the house and yard. Finding evidence left behind was the best they could hope for with that protocol. In all the times they came to our house, I don’t think they ever actually saw the stalker, or even a glimpse of his shadow disappearing in the distance. That being the case Steve felt it was up to us to somehow catch him in the act ourselves and our present course of action was not doing it.
Then, at 6:45 pm, I said “On our way with really good dinner for you from your brother, are you home with your friend?” Steve and I had been over to Morgan’s brother’s house for dinner tonight, we felt Morgan was safe because she was with friends. Morgan sent her brother a text message, after we got home from dinner. She said, “Thanks for dinner !! It was wonderful. :)” Ryan is such an awesome cook – we all love his food!
Our grandson Jarred was coming home with us to spend the night at our house. He was helping Steve with a simple plan. Jarred was an excellent athlete, “World class.” Steve always reminded him, and he was going to play the part of the stalker. Steve was going to be in the house, and turn on the light in Morgan’s room. This would be Jarred’s cue to start running from the back berm as fast as he could, then dart in at her first window, smack it twice with a long branch, pulled out of our pile of trimmings cut the other day. Jarred would then continue off any way he wanted. Steve would grab his stuff and run out front, try to pick up his direction and give chase. I was to observe this from the street and not tip off Steve as to which way Jarred had gone, but see how close we were coming to actually seeing or catching him with our current protocol.
The first run-through was very upsetting. Jarred saw the light and took off. He banged the window twice on his way by. The sound was completely different, so that was not how our stalker was making the noise, and Jarred was completely out of our yard, and across the street by the time I heard the front door open. Jarred had run between houses, across the street from us, and headed for the club house, by the time I could see Steve, we did not have a chance!!!
All these times I had watched Steve run out the front, or back door I pictured him mere feet from our stalker, just barely missing him so far. Even Steve felt he just had to be a bit quicker, and he would at least see him, and then be able to continue the chase, to a house or a car. Snap a picture, have something positive happen. Now as I stood in the street and watched Steve come past the garage, and reach our grass, Jarred was long gone. All I could do was shake my head at him. This was never going to work, it was not even close.
Jarred and Steve repeated the experiment going toward the berm out back, coming sideways across the front, but it still didn’t matter. It was child’s play for Jarred to get two hits on a window and have turned a corner by the time Steve was there. The few times Steve guessed the correct direction, he was so far behind he didn’t even see Jarred as he reached the same turn Jarred had taken.
Steve was standing in the yard, badly winded and wanting to know from me how close he was getting, what we could change, improve on? I was the bearer of bad news, I told him, no way, Jarred has to trip and go down, maybe even knock himself out for us to have a chance, and actually from what I saw, he could probably trip, fall, get up, and still run off long before Steve got to him. I just didn’t know what to think, and suggested trip strings tied between trees as the answer.
I looked back to the house and was so relieved to not see Morgan’s face in any of the windows. I didn’t want her to see how pathetic our chances of catching the stalker were. Steve was finally catching his breath and had one word, cameras, video cameras all around the house. We had already bought one set of eight and had to return them as the quality was not very good at all. Now we would have to get a better set, a much better set, and have that on our side. I remember wondering if they had something like radar for houses and we could have the round screen with the dot on it. Steve hadn’t found anything like that, but was going to look again. We would have done anything to catch this stalker.
There was this new thermal imaging scope that was ridiculously expensive and we had borrowed it, we could walk across the yard, and look back to see our footprints in the grass as blobs of white – the residual heat of feet left by walking over the grass, with shoes on. The technology might have been impressive for some, but it had gotten us no closer to catching Morgan’s stalker. I was deflated, and Steve could see I was.
We went inside and Morgan was watching a movie in the living room. She slept on the couch that night – right after she turned off the lights, just after midnight, she heard the noise against the living room window that is facing Rhonda’s side of our house. Morgan sent me a text (my phone was now always on and right beside me while I tried to sleep – I would always wake if it sounded like a text came through.) Morgan sent me a text @ 12:48 am that said, “I think I hear rocks.” I got up and went in the living room to speak with her for a moment and then went back to bed. She then sent me another text that said, ” Rocks not on back sliding windows they were on the windows behind 3 dog night” 3 dog night was a sculpture we had under the windows in the living room on Rhonda’s side of the house. At this time the breakfast room did not have complete coverage on all the clearstory windows up by the ceiling, so the stalker could obviously see when the lights went out in the living room. How he knew she was sleeping on the couch in the living room, we did not know at the time.
Cameras, Steve said as I tried to go back to sleep at one am. I was staring at the ceiling and this was getting to me, two days after Morgan had become determined to take her life back, all I could think of was sending her away in order to keep her safe. I woke Steve up and we talked about it in whispers, he was going to talk to Morgan in the morning. Perhaps she would listen to him. If only he had made her listen.
Today in 2012, Veterinarians in the valley, after reading in this blog about large amounts of Amitriptyline in Morgan’s blood toxicology, have shared that it is plentiful, and easily obtained right here, regularly dispensed for dogs, cats, and horses. That, a small part of one dose of a compounded liquid amitriptyline for horses would be far more than enough to have produced what happened to Morgan. In a normal world I would have these Veterinarians call the coroner, but we have learned in a cruel hard way this is not a normal world.
Steve and I expect the completed second opinion from the Medical Examiner, Dr. Dobersen, who has been helping us with the review of Morgan’s suspicious death for months now – we are going to hear from him any day now. As her death has gone from “natural causes” to “suicide’ 9 months after her death. How the two are to be reconciled, I am not sure. I can’t even remotely understand how she had a relentless stalker for 4 months, and died during an active investigation into her felony stalking case, that is now no stalker, no stalking case mentioned or investigated in her suspicious death. Those of you who live in the Roaring Fork Valley, take note Steve and I do not think this stalker just left! All I can say for sure is that this has been a most adversarial process up to now, and I only expect even more of the same. I’m a dreamer when I suggest it could be a team effort, yielding the best truth. I sat up last night, and cried for Morgan because she has had everything taken from her, and now they want her reputation torn into tatters – I guess they don’t care at all about truth. There has to be a better, more sane way, then what is unfolding. We love you Morgan – we won’t give up until the truth is out.
Click here to read about the 37, 38, 39 & 40th days of Morgan’s stalking https://morgansstalking.com/?p=1037
Hang in there! The truth always comes out in the end. Light always wins over darkness.
Thanks Annie – we are hanging in there…this week has been a little much, but I do see light at the end of the tunnel
I just found this blog a few days ago, and have been reading it from the beginning up to now.
Only 2 years ago, Glenwood was my home for a few years (Colorado my homestate)…I lived near the CMC campus (not the one in town), spent time in Carbondale, El Jebel, Aspen, Marble….all places I considered safe.
This story breaks my heart for your family, angers me on your behalf that, not only has justice not been served, but those in place to HELP victims have casually pushed aside this case, turning it into something seemingly insignificant.
A family – YOUR family – was broken apart because of the lack of aid you had in catching the horrible wretched person responsible for her death.
Don’t give up. Fight for your daughter. Fight for all the others out there who, as victims, need better rights.
Thank you for sharing what I know is painful for you. Thank you for the work you are doing for others in your journey to bring your daughter’s stalker to the justice they deserve.
Thank you so much – it was really nice of you to share that with us.
They can’t have her reputation, you are fighting too hard to show the truth, it will come to light!!! All of it! Keep your Faith! You are so strong and you and your husband inspire me and I can tell so many others! Keep up the fight, there are so many pulling for you and willing to help! Love Peace and Prayers tonight as you try to sleep.
Thanks Angie! Steve just feel asleep and I am just about to I just feel bad that today was such a busy day I haven’t gotten to answer everyone yet…I know all these prayers are helping and we really appreciate it!
You would think he had some kind of listening device with what he knows. Just googled hunters and listening devices and there are sound enhancers available.
Jess are you serious? We have been goggling all kinds of hunting stuff and I didn’t know that. This is exactly why I told Steve the more people that look at this the better because of the old saying two heads are better than one – well how about 30,000 heads! Thanks so much.
Wow, glad I could help. Here is a link I found. http://m.basspro.com/Hunting-Hunting-Accessories-Listening-Devices/_/N-1z11cxl;jsessionid=F4139B448C5893E13F708D22910D828B?tab=browse
I’ve been looking at his MySpace and even found an article about his dad catching an alligator in florida and k was in those pics too. Seems like hunting is very big in his life.
I’m a huge fan of hunting and have often found these (electronic listening devices) at outdoor stores such as Cabela’s as well. A lot of people use similar devices to drown out background noise in classes, movies, I’ve even seen people use them lectures and meetings as well. Not sure how well they work as far as listening through walls, windows and that sort of thing though. I myself have never used them. They (the type for hunting) are designed to allow the user to hear an animal breath, walk, grunt and what not. They drown out the other nature noises to amplify other noises needed to locate an animal or it’s direction. I’m not a fan of looking at strangers facebook or MySpace pages, but because he is an avid hunter (from what I’ve read here) makes me wonder if he even used this sort of devise as he has probably been able to do what this device does on his own. (as when he is outside, listening for an animal)
Can the house have been bugged (does that only happen in spy movies)? Probably a stupid question, forgive me. There were problems with the locks though so someone could have gained entry to the house
HEY…That J is AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMAZING…love you guys…thinking about you constantly
Thanks Courtney and he is amazing isn’t he 🙂
I started reading this yesterday and couldn’t put it down. My heart hurts for you and your family. Be safe and careful not to let this sort of thing happen to a nother family….thanks for sharing your story. I will keep up to help see the truth set you free.
We greatly appreciate your support. It is painful to go through last years memories again day by day and at the same time parts of every day make us smile remembering Morgan’s voice or her music when she played the piano after school in the afternoon or even when she kept wanting my attention when I was cooking dinner to show me what she could do on her toe shoes. I really miss it.
If he was hanging on the roof, a listening device could have been used very easily! I have been reading for several weeks now, and have commented in the past, You two are extremely strong, and I believe you!
Ryan – thank you for your belief in us – that makes me smile! Steve thought the stalker had a listening device too. Finally at one point he decided if we had any new strategic ideas, we would go into the bathroom in the middle of the house. It had no outside windows, we would turn on the exhaust fan and discuss plans. He called it the “cone of silence” like from the show Get Smart (probably that TV show was before your time), but it made sense…I just wish we had done it from the start.
I just found your blog a few days ago from a post a friend made on Facebook.
I have family spread throughout Colorado, the closest to you being in Aspen. (I believe that’s not even an hour drive away.) Me and my brothers and sisters used to go spend summers down there with my aunt and uncle. At the time, I would have never thought anything like this would happen there. It seemed as if all of the kids in that area would go out wherever without even second guessing anything. I know that my brothers, sisters, and cousins and I would go wander off for hours at a time and not think anything of it. Reading everything on this blog has made me go back through all of the memories I have from spending summers out there and try to think of anything that could of be called “suspicious activity”. It’s crazy for me to think that the place that I have good memories from, isn’t as safe as we thought it was. I’ve read through this whole blog and I am amazed as to how you are handling this, not even a year after this occurred. You are doing something amazing by sharing this with everybody around you and giving them all such useful information! I’ll be reading this blog every day from now on and your family will be in my prayers. Stay strong and fight for the truth! I believe it will come!
Thanks Joe for the vote of confidence – we will NEVER give up! We have actually been in Colorado off and on (mostly on) since the mid 70’s, and I love this place, even after this happened, because I know it’s not the place it’s the monster, and the atmosphere that allows the monster to exist.
I just discovered your blog and read from the beginning. I was anxious, my hands shaking, reading about the torment that Morgan endured with a braver face than I think I could have ever managed. My heart breaks for her, and you, her family. Keep fighting for her and fighting for information. I hope the truth brings you peace and justice to her stalker.
We can’t bring Morgan back, but pushing forward and making changes using Morgan’s story, I believe will help to bring about enough awareness to hopefully change the outcome for a lot more people and that will definitely bring us peace and hopefully justice for Morgan.
I’m sad that we have those drapes now…they are nice, of course you have good taste ) …but just reading this , and re living it again….I want to throw them all away…..for the purpose they were bought….yeah….consider them gone.
Maybe someone has already said this, but on October 16, 2011, Keenan went from “in a relationship” to “single” on his FB account.
Theft by receiving: Officers received a report on Dec. 23 of theft from a home. At 5 p.m. that day in the 1400 block of Grand Avenue, officers stopped a car driven by Keenan James Vanginkel, 19, of Carbondale and arrested him on a $1,000 warrant for theft by receiving. He was also found to be in possession of less than 6 ounces of marijuana, and was charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and intent to sell marijuana.
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20120113/VALLEYNEWS/120119952
I’m sorry that all this is 20-20 hind site.. I keep coming up with stupid ideas like it would change anything … but Steve, in a Ghillie suit on the berm… google them if you’re not sure. He would be right under the stalkers nose within arms reach as he ran by.. no way in the world he would see him.. he would trip over him before the stalker would see him. Or maybe the stalker was using one since he was able to dissapear so fast .. 🙁 i’m so sorry .. none of this helps .. my prayers are with you
Go to the street and look at your roof. Depending on the pitch of your roof it was just as easy for them to lie flat on the other side. I determined right away that I had no way of catching them without cameras, just as you did. And also I put up a huge fence which made it impossible for me to get far enough away from the house to see the entire roof quickly. As you state, anything you do they counter-act.
If your roof is pitched with the eave perpendicular to the street that is what they likely did. They used to lie on my roof and bang on the box we installed around our AC when they kept tampering with it. They also use small children for this. The child is light and stealth and beyond the reach of even legitimate law enforcement as a minor.
oh my god. I also did the trip strings. And clotheslines and other more damaging things. It was me against many of them and I had two small children. I left many damaging things in their path. I bought metal wire and tied it across everywhere and I made it very difficult to easily traverse my yard, EVEN FOR ME. This also indicated they were climbing a large oak and/or walking ALONG THE FENCE atop the boards to the roof line and then up. Sure brings out the soldier in us, doesn’t it?
When our house began to take on the look of a fortress they then began to call me crazy and my home a hovel. It wasn’t and isn’t. I took note of ANYONE who said anything and of course, have now tied them to this chasingdeath irrefutably. But I only want those who actually committed the crimes pertinent to my nephew’s death and so that is my goal. I won’t reveal my strategy here but at some point it will be uploaded to google docs and every public venue available to me.
Sorry but I am reading this page in bits and pieces and commenting as the events unfold.
That is the mob way, that coroner. “They” know that a “suicide” hurts the family so much and absolutely the most. THAT or a missing person. Two most horrendous things. So they will threaten to disappear my children and in two cases have performed what I refer to as soft kidnappings. of my child. You understand my fear I beiieve.
Their tactics also involve anything at all to belittle or degrade you and poor Morgan even in a subtle manner which you only recognize later. DO NOT EVER give one of these people the benefit of the doubt. That is to your detriment.
Also I stood on my porch for a long time and thought about this. I could help yu set up two safe havens and I could harbor a person or two with any number of pets. HOWEVER, due to the fact that they try to slip these scum into my home and have succeeded. Young people trust young people and they use various tactics there.
Of course, they’d have to be responsible for the safekeeping of their own pets and I could only offer a near total guarantee of safety on my own property or with my own children or myself and a few others.
If someone had financing and would purchase several campers, I could harbor even more.
I have over eight acres part of which is mountainous but some is bottom land.
If they displayed any tendencies I interpreted as dangerous to those around them they would have to have or someone would have to provide the financing for them to leave immediately. As I’ve said, but perhaps not explicitly, these people will play act their way into your lives. Under any guise. For any number of years in my case at least. I’ve become very good at spotting them and it might be a good idea if they were to be brought here (KY) so that I could walk with them and speak with them and then provide them shelter if I believed they were genuine. Or you could also be the judge; I feel certain you have become astute at the “knowing”. They could educate, help out, live peacefully, even work if they wanted and somehow contribute. They’d have to provide for their own animals of course and some of my beloved pets already cause quite a ruckus but we would work it out some way or another. Small fencess perhaps …
Just a thought. I also have a home in Florida I was terrorized from basically. I wuold not recommend it for a safe house without an armed guard or myself present and I will not be returning there until I have prepared my case which is going to be complicated and either way, I am safer here as are my children. I should say: the danger is just different. And there are nice people here though I suspect the closest neighbor of being involved, if the victims can avoid the few I tell them to, they should be OK. Just a thought. Maybe a hostel type situation but I’d prefer them to be outside my own home if possible.
I could accommodate large animals if need be but lack proper facilities at this time. I welcome your input but ask again redundantly that you keep my name and info confidetial at this time.