Monday September 12, 2011 – Day 42 of Morgan’s stalking – Our Daughter Is So Stressed!

Posted on by

In the afternoon I take a break from work and go in the kitchen.  So many afternoons like this Morgan and I would talk about anything.  But it is quiet, I hear her in her room, singing to her pets.  I went and knocked on her door, Morgan yells out, “Come in momacita!” and I do.  Morgan is hard at work, hand sewing thick burgundy flannel sheets to fit over her really high windows.  She tells me that what she already put over her upper windows was too thin, and this will block out all the light.

We talk – Morgan has given the stalker some thought, and she tells me she is worried the stalker can see into her room from up high.  She doesn’t want even a silhouette of her to escape her room.  I asked why she thought he could see through her top windows, they are really high up.  Through her upper windows, with the drapes she had already put up, the most you could make out would be a shadow on the ceiling, if that.  It was not like our rear windows where the stalker could stand up on the berm and see things inside the house.

Morgan lying outside

Morgan lying outside,
smiling for another picture!

Morgan paused and looked at me.  I think he could be on Rhonda’s roof next door.  “Why? I asked, “Have you seen him?” Morgan shook her head,  “No, if I had don’t you think I would have told you”.  “Of course” I answered back. I walked behind Morgan and touched her shoulders, I didn’t want her to see how upset I was, and I didn’t think that it was possible for her stalker to be up on the next door neighbor’s roof.  I told Morgan her shoulders were so tense they were like rocks, and I didn’t believe anyone was up on our neighbor’s roof.  Sammy, our neighbor’s dog was always barking around the time our motion lights, outside Morgan’s room, would go off, he was very protective and alert, but it seemed a little crazy to think this stalker had gotten onto our neighbor’s roof.

Little did I know at the time she was right, and I was not – this stalker had been on our roof, and probably our neighbor’s roof as well.  Nothing happened tonight – it was quiet.

Tessi is trying to get rest too

Tessi is trying to get some sleep too !

Today September 9, 2012, as I write this, I remember yesterday’s blog and recalled that my entire night was upset because Tessi barked, once.  What I should really have said was that my entire night was upended because my daughter had a stalker, AND THEN, our dog barked, once.  On the day last year that Morgan was making her extra thick window coverings, she was fighting back, Morgan was courageous, but it was also taking its toll.  I’m sure I’ve said it before, so I’m not going to even check before telling you that stalking takes such a big toll on your life.  Every little thing you say, and do has to then be put through the stalker processor.  You stalker becomes a consideration – in a quick trip to the store, the wattage of your lights, how cranked open the windows can be, how drawn completely closed is the new required position for all window coverings – and even if you have to make them yourself, thicker window coverings for your clearstory windows, which just might allow you to sleep a little more soundly.

A stalker, for reasons I may never understand, wants to invade your life, own it as much as possible, which is why they do all the things they do.  As I write this blog  I have heard, over and over, stories from other victims about how frightening it became as their stalking escalated:

  • The stalker broke into the house, they could just tell he had been there.
  • The stalker stole things, from the yard, the car, the bedroom.
  • The stalker broke up the apartment, smashing pictures on the floor.
  • The stalker, went crazy, and destroyed an entire room.
  • The stalker killed her pet, she can’t afford an autopsy, but she just knows that he did.

In Morgan’s case investigators (not local law) are explaining to me that it is not a matter of if her stalker could have been in her room, it is more a question of how many times. Evidently a stalker will usually attempt to not tip off anyone the first time he enters your home.  And really, if we were never able catch her stalker out in the yard over four months, why on earth did we believe that he could never be in the house!!!  Please understand, I am not saying this to freak anyone out.  My goal is for all of you to be safe, and to realize that bad things can happen.  What we had been advised of, and actually thought was impossible, was not only completely possible, it was far worse, and was in fact, happening.

Click here to read about the 43rd day of Morgan’s stalking https://morgansstalking.com/?p=1148

I’ve attached a link to a video of a volunteer helping Steve with another little experiment that went like this.  Our concerns about the possibility of someone on the roof were completely dismissed by the sheriffs.  There was no ladder, no way for the stalker to get up, they thought.  Now granted this was long after Morgan had been murdered, but Steve stopped by our old house.  He pointed his trusty iPhone on the tree that was up against the back of our house, which had become our prime focus, because the motion light there would always go off there for unexplained reasons.  Steve tells our volunteer no practice runs, just one try, if you get spooked for any reason stop, and I’ll get you down, and if you should make it up onto the roof stop there.  End of experiment.

So to put an end to one question that keeps popping up – is it possible for someone to get up on our roof with no ladder, jet packs, or other aids – watch this video below, hosted on Vimeo.    (it is possible within seconds – and it was quite an eye opener for us! 🙁

tree.climb from Morgan’s Stalking on Vimeo.

49 thoughts on “Monday September 12, 2011 – Day 42 of Morgan’s stalking – Our Daughter Is So Stressed!”

  1. So the reflections in the vehicle window could have been of the stalker on the roof. That’s why it isn’t a clear picture of a face at all. It’s him hiding and watching! Ugh, this makes me sick.

  2. Think about it. The reflection is there in the first picture because he was watching the officer leave, it’s not there in the second because he knows the other officers are now leaving and is getting down to taunt them.

    • What reflection are we talking about? The only one I can see that is different between the pictures is the reflection of the police officer walking away, in the back of the Landrover(?)..

  5. This is only the first attempt to see if a person could go up the tree easily, without us knowing – the next day another person tried to see if he could walk across the roof, to Morgan’s window without making any noise, and with a little practice he scaled this tree and was on the roof in 6 seconds, and could quickly get to Morgan’s window without making a sound.

    • Perfect word to use and I think as this continues you will probably use it even more. We lived it and I still have a hard time wrapping my mind around it.

  7. This is why I think it was someone who had been in the neighborhood a while and not someone who has just shown up on the scene when it all started. They knew the layout of your yard and home well! From the inside and out! This guy had to have been in your house with you at least once and most likely more when you weren’t! You have probably invited him in at a bar b q or party or whatever. This is how my stalker knew my house! She was a friend of our “hood”!

    • We believe the stalker was in our neighborhood, and believe he was in our house many times, but we had no idea at the time.

  8. Let me just say how truly sorry I am for your many losses; loss of trust in the police, loss of your sense of safety in your own home, and the tragic loss of your daughter Morgan. I have been captivated by your blog for the past three or so days and I can’t seem to stop thinking about it, going over all the details again and again. I guess one of the only questions I have is, since it wasn’t initially investigated as a homicide, was a rape kit done? Given the uses of amitriptyline, is there any way to find out this long after the fact, if there were any subtle signs of trauma or assault? So sorry to bring up a sensitive and even more horrific scenario, I think all of us followers want so badly to see some justice in your case

    Love and support to you,
    Katy

    • Katy,

      I was told the morning we found her that there was no sign of sexual assault, no sign of suicide, no sign of trauma, and no sign of a break-in (that was a joke we now are sure the stalker was in our house and we know how that happened, but the Sheriff’s Department doesn’t want to hear what we have to say).

      I haven’t talked about all the facts yet, but because of their first “assumption” they did not collect the evidence they should have in a homicide, we are receiving the official 2nd opinion with details from the very respected Forensic Pathologist that is helping on this case and he, like us, is at a loss of words for how badly Morgan’s case was handled. The Coroner’s office was in charge of the scene and assumed no sexual assault, so at this point with her body gone I will just have to have the experts that are helping us tell me what they have found, but I will say one thing right now, they said no sign of a struggle – well then why were 3 of her nails, on her right hand cut or torn at an angle? I asked the Forensic Pathologist this question in January (on a conference call along with the lead Detective in charge of her Felony Stalking Case and Steve), and he told me he did not cut her nails, and they were in perfect condition (with a french manicure, that she had put on the day before she died) when her body left so if they were damaged it would have had to be the Funeral Home that had her body picked up – guess where that ended up? The Funeral Home is also owned by our own Garfield County Coroner Trey Holt – yes, the one that never returned one of my calls, never returned one of our Certified/Return receipt letters or anything…that’s how far I got with trying to find out if these were defense tears on her hand (and yes she was right handed) or if her body was just mishandled on the way to the funeral home. Talking about just this one little thing turns my stomach as a mom, and makes my heart want to beat right out of my chest, and the only thing that helps is when I remember it was just her body at that point – her soul wasn’t in it any longer. Morgan was extremely spiritual, and I felt that she was beside me, and OK so I was able to continue on with the search for the truth.

      • Toni,
        Your courage is tremendous and your determination is awe-inspiring, thank you for sharing your story with us. I know, with the amazing show of support and Morgan’s spirit to guide you, the truth will be found and REAL justice will be served. Please continue to write, not one person I have shared your story with has been able to forget it, your eloquent, heartfelt speech is absolutely one of the heroes in this story. I applaud you and Steve for your efforts, you are amazing parents and Morgan was so lucky to have you!
        -Katy

  9. I have been following your blog for weeks now. Everyday I think of Morgan and your family. I truly think the stalker will be found and believe Morgan is leading you to that point. Stay strong and remember you have quite a bit of support NOW. Lots of love and prayers from California.

  10. I am astounded and dumbstruck by what your family has been through. I just want to say that I hope you and Steve are taking care like you did when Morgan was alive. Taking breaks where you can, spending time together where you do not talk about things. I feel like it is something Morgan would want. I admire your fight and your love. Fighting a long standing, bullshit system makes you different. It is exhausting. You feel like you are the crazy ones. This is normal. You are amazing people. Don’t lose sight that it is not you guys. It is the system and the way things have been for 100 years. Fighting that can make you exhausted both mentally and physically. Keep up the fight and take care of yourselves too. Much love and peace and strength to your entire family.

  11. Please tell me you read the post today? a couple was killed in Missouri heights yesterday! the part of the story that truly pissed me off is this: Homicides are a rare occurrence in the Roaring Fork valley. The last murder in the mid- to upper half of the Roaring Fork Valley was a murder-suicide in November 2005 when a man killed a woman and then turned the gun on himself. How can they be so sure since they do not share information? Toni my heart aches for you. I want to go to the sheriffs department and raise hell so i can only imagine how you must feel. I will be at the Carbondale court tomorrow for Morgan, and every other girl who never got justice! My mother was followed home in Carbondale last night, all i could think of was Morgan when she called to tell me someone was following her. The roaring fork valley wants to paint this picture of safe little mountain towns, i’m starting to believe otherwise. LOVE AND LIGHT

  12. Hi Toni-
    I went high school with Morgan. Even though Morgan and I never hung out we have many mutual friends. When I picture her I always picture her smile. Everyone that knew Morgan loved her and I wish that I had gotten to know her more over the years. I just spent about two hours reading your blog, I cannot believe such horror took place towards your family at your home in our beautiful Roaring Fork Valley. My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to you and your loved ones. I know that Morgan is in a better place and I know that you will see her again. As for the person responsible for this tragedy I choose not to verbalize what I wish for him, instead we can all just imagine the pain we wish he will soon endure. I pray that justice will be served and that your family will soon find peace. It hurts my heart to think that certain authority figures are not being as supportive as they should be, but all will come to light soon. Dont give up, you have done amazing things with this blog and now have so much support all over the nation! Best of luck! We are here for you!!

    • Thank you Paige, and I loved what you said about Morgan – all her friends always talk about her smile, and that makes me smile when I remember it in my mind…I loved her funny spirit and her bright smile.

  13. I read through your blog this afternoon and Morgan’s story is just heartbreaking. On the main website, you have posted a picture of Morgan shortly before she died, and she appears sick and gaunt….Is it possible her stalker was slowly poisoning her with something else that caused her to lose her appetite and strength prior to the fatal dose of amytriptyline? Has the horse ranch been ruled out as the source of the fatal dose?

    • That has been suggested to us and no there was never any investigation, to my knowledge into the source of the fatal dose – but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen it just means the Sheriff’s office won’t be doing it because they closed the case without any investigation into what else was mixed in to her lethal dose and where did it come from. Thanks for your opinion – 2 veterinarians in our valley have contacted us to say they will no longer sell transdermal amitriptyline for a 1200 lb horse to people without them actually administering it themselves and they will now keep it locked up. Yippee getting information out to people is working – things are always changing in this world and I am so happy to hear that at least to vets will change so criminals can’t easily get things like this that can and have been used for date rape.

  14. That is what our friend who is a physic medium private investigator that helps police and therapists with murders and missing persons said…Morgan always had her water bottle with her wherever she went – usually a clear glass bottle (she liked glass instead of plastic or metal) or a large Smart Water bottle with her so it is possible but the Sheriff’s never checked any of her bottles.

  15. Tingram,

    You don’t have to answer but I was wondering about the drugs found in her system and wondered if you ever took any of Morgan’s vitamins or other over the counter meds to be tested. Like Tylenol, and aspirin? I’m thinking the stalker could have gained access and poisoned her slowly. Just a thought. I surely do not want to add to your pain, and you might have more answers then you can reveal at this moment.

    God Bless

    TG in Virginia

    • No we didn’t but we have everything in plastic bags packed away so we can have them tested if need be, along with her mattress.

  16. I really don’t want to ask but something is telling me it could be info that’s needed so, here goes. Did they say how long Morgan had been dead by the time you found her?

    • No he never did – the pathologist that did the autopsy said between midnight and 5:30 am when I found her but I don’t think he really knows. Why?

      • Because it could tell you how long it took the drug to work and how much was left in her system could tell you when she was poisened, therefore telling you where she could have been and who she might have been with. My sister in law who is a nurse suggested this.

  17. I think you should have her water bottle tested…and if there is still some of her hair left in a hairbrush, maybe it could be tested as well to rule out the slow poisoning theory.

  18. I have been following your blog, and sharing with friends, I hope at some point it gets into the right hands and the case will be reopened as a homicide. I am not sure if it has been mentioned in another post, but is there a possibility of getting a petition going to demand local law enforcment to do something. It is awful how your family was let down by those who are employed to protect. I am so sorry for your tragic loss. You have a huge support system in all of us that are reading this, so many prayers for your family, at some point this guy will get caught and justice will be served, just keep in your heart – Ask, Believe Receive.

  19. Thank you I will Ask, Believe and Receive – it has been working and as long as I truly Believe I know it will happen…thanks for reminding me, sometimes I feel like if I’m not wearing my Trinity cross I forget 🙂

  20. Re the wildlife cam photos. I downloaded all three pics, lightened them up and went through them one after the other over and over. You can clearly see the shadow of the stalker in the last photo (the one the stalker appears in) in the middle window of the car on the left. I can see what you mean by the utility belt. It looks to me that he is wearing some kind of vest with a strap going around his waist (which may explain those lines on his back) and his face appears as a black oval which is kind of strange, perhaps a mask or
    Football helmet type thing which may explain why some features of his face appear exaggerated.

    The shadow that appears in the front window of the car on the left is in all three photos so I don’t think that is anything. The only other reflection I couldn’t figure out is in the second (i think the second pic ) on the roof on the car on the left, just a long line of reflected light. I thought maybe it’s coming from one of the reflective stripes on the police officers uniform but I’m not sure.

    It’s amazing what you can see when you lighten up that last photo. That reflection in the middle window is quite spooky and but for a face covering may have given a better idea of what he looked like. I’m convinced he is wearing some kind of mask with some kind of hard structure rather than a balaclava etc.

    • Have to amend my theory actually. On another website where this blog is being discussed it was suggested that the stalker is actually looking back up the driveway and what appears to be his profile isn’t actually. I was skeptical of this at first but now I think it’s much more accurate and makes a lot more sense. The part that looks like the chin may actually be the visor of a cap that is being worn back to front. If you squint at the photo you will see it.

      This tells me that the age of the stalker is a lot more in line with the suspect. It also makes more sense that he would be looking up the driveway after the police just left rather than in another direction. And why would he take the trouble to wear a mask to cover his face when he is wearing a very light coloured shirt.

      Also what looks like the nose in profile might actually be a listening device he is wearing over his ear. It seems to stick out a little more than an ear would.

      The photo immediately makes one think it is a profile shot but the chin and nose seem very exaggerated.

      Toni have you ever considered its not his profile but the back of his head covered in a back to front cap? Look closely it really looks more plausible although a bit more difficult to see.

  22. Your story is heartbreaking and infuriating. We may not be able to convince Sheriff Vallario to re-open your daughter’s case but I would like to remind everyone that he is an elected official and if the people of this valley don’t think he has done his job to keep the members of our community safe we don’t have to re-elect him…I wasn’t a fan of his before but his public comments about this case are appalling and are even more reasons why he won’t be getting my vote the next time he is up for re-election!

  23. Have they ruled out polyethylene glycol poisoning (e.g, antifreeze)? I am wondering if small doses were put in her water bottle to debilitate her but not kill her prior to the final dose of amytriptyline. I did find some sources that indicated porphyria and pulmonary edema as possible symptoms.

    I was obsessed with the Julie Jensen case in which poisoning was set up to look like a suicide.
    http://cmm.lefora.com/2010/07/31/julie-jensen-letter-from-the-grave-helps-convict-h/

  24. Really interested to hear wat your medium friend had to say about the case? That is if you are willing to share, if not I totally understand your privacy etc. Would be very interested to hear.

  25. I am just now reading this blog and even had dreams about it last night …. can I please have access to see the video?

  26. Pingback: Shop All Style Of Micheal Kors Bags

  27. Toni,

    So since they didn’t treat Morgan’s death as suspicious from the beginning, they didn’t take swabs from her body or underneath her fingernails or anything like that? That is so terrible and shows poor police work. They should have done everything they would have in the case of a suspicious death. They might have been able to get DNA and prove who the person was who did this to her.

    • Exactly – but the messed up part of that is when we found her body that morning and the sheriffs taped off the house and called it a crime scene they said it was called a suspicious death and that is why she had to be taken away for an autopsy – and then they took no fingerprints, did not test for the spots on her chest…nothing! Either they were grossly incompetent or they did not want to find something to incriminate the stalker.

      • It seems like they were incompetent and uncaring! I feel so bad for you and your husband and children. How are your other children coping with her death?

Comments are closed.