I guess if you die under suspicious circumstances, you have been stalked for 4 months, and you are a healthy 20-year-old…I guess law enforcement shouldn’t wonder if maybe a murder has been committed and they should gather as much evidence as possible.
Just the thought of an autopsy makes my eyes shut and my shoulders quiver. But I told myself, they’re right, it has to be done, and I tried to think of other things, pretend it was not happening. Maybe that was the wrong thing to do, maybe I should have grabbed Steve, and insisted on both of us riding with her, being right there every horrific step of the way. If my daughter was taken away in an ambulance to the hospital it would not have been any other way…I would have been with her. Steve and I would be right there every single step of the way. But on that cold Friday morning, on December 2nd, they were taking my daughter’s body away, not my daughter.
Only I’ve been told I would not have been allowed to be there for any step of the way, no matter how much I insisted. First, as hard as it is for me to conceive, I was a suspect – until I am ruled out, it could have been me, and I can’t begin to be ruled out until the autopsy is finished, so I can’t possibly be allowed anywhere near it.
Enter the first theories of law as I understand them:
- Pronouncement of death
- Process the scene
- Approve the removal of the body
- Arrange to have the body moved to the lab for an autopsy
- Maintain the chain of custody
And all of those steps happened for Morgan, but remember they were done by Thomas Walton. What if he is not trained or legally able to do any of them? What if the Garfield County Coroner’s office never completed the steps that would have established Thomas Walton as a legal Deputy Coroner? I don’t even want to think about how potentially tainted Morgan’s case could be by the actions of the Coroner. But first things first.
There is another document recently adopted by the State of Colorado in May of 2011, before Morgan’s murder. To clarify autopsies and it pertains to this case. It is called the National Association of Medical Examiners Forensic Autopsy Performance Standards (NAME). It was adopted intact as the minimum for an autopsy in the State of Colorado.
And wouldn’t you know it, right there in the first section, section A, another problem.
Section A: Medicolegal Death Investigation
The purpose of this section is to define responsibility for medicolegal death investigation and to outline the types of cases that are to be investigated by such systems. Investigations can be conducted by inquiry with or without examination. Inquiries are typically conducted via telephone interview, personal interview, or review of records. Examination may include scene investigation, external inspection, and forensic autopsy.
Standard A1 Responsibilities
Medicolegal death investigation officers, be they appointed or elected, are charged by statute to investigate deaths deemed to be in the public interest–serving both the criminal justice, civil justice and public health systems. These officials must investigate cooperatively with, but independent from, law enforcement and prosecutors. The parallel investigation promotes neutral and objective medical assessment of the cause and manner of death.
To promote competent and objective death investigations:
A1.1 Medicolegal death investigation officers should operate without any undue influence from law enforcement agencies and prosecutors.
A1.2 A forensic pathologist or representative shall evaluate the circumstances surrounding all reported deaths
The problem? The investigators and interviewers are to be independent from law enforcement and prosecutors. Well if your interviewer is a Garfield County Sheriff’s detective, and your investigators are a group of Garfield County Deputies and Detectives, do you see the problem? None of these people can legally be processing the crime scene. It’s Colorado Law. In Morgan’s case a neutral and objective medical assessment of the cause and manner of death never happened.
Was Thomas Walton, not really a legal deputy coroner? And a death scene overrun with Garfield County Sheriffs who are not supposed to be participating, by Colorado Law. Is that what Morgan had? No Medicolegal officers in charge here, trained in death scene assessment, practicing good investigative techniques present to take over and restore order? Are all of the pages of investigation from Morgan’s death scene not potential evidence of a crime? Are they rather evidence of a crime or evidence of crimes by the deputy coroner by the mere fact of being there, and crimes by the Garfield County Sheriff’s department by interviewing, touching, processing, and handling all of the evidence in an investigation that must be independent from these very law enforcement personnel? Why on earth would they do that? And who is responsible for the law enforcement personnel not following the law?
Should Thomas Walton have been in charge of preventing this intrusion into the death scene in violation of Colorado Revised Statutes? He should have been, but… Certainly not If his mere presence is in direct violation of Colorado Revised Statutes. Is this really what happened? Was Morgan’s death scene destroyed for all intents and purposes by the Sheriff and the Coroner? And of course if you have been reading this blog of Morgan’s stalking you have to know it does not get any better. You might be wondering how it could possibly get worse, but trust me, it can, and it does.
Enter Dr. Robert Kurtzman the forensic pathologist. He will be supervising the autopsy. And the National Association of Medical Examiners Forensic Autopsy Performance Standards adopted by the State of Colorado once again set his minimum standards to work under.
I am only going to question one facet, as most of us did not witness what happened. This is more of a prima fascia case based on timing.
First the standards complete with examples:
These standards underscore the need for assessment of all available information prior to the forensic autopsy to (1) direct the performance of the forensic autopsy, (2) answer specific questions unique to the circumstances of the case, (3) document evidence, the initial external appearance of the body, and its clothing and property items, and (4) correlate alterations in these items with injury patterns on the body. Just as a surgeon does not operate without first preparing a history and physical examination, so must the forensic pathologist ascertain enough history and circumstances and may need to inspect the body to decide whether a forensic autopsy is indicated and to direct the forensic autopsy toward relevant case questions.
Steve was asked by the detective to prepare an email with anything they should look for at autopsy, no matter how minor or far fetched, absolutely anything that may help to guide the autopsy. They told him he didn’t have to do it right away. This was Friday early noon and they said Monday would be just fine. So it has always bothered me deeply that a forensic pathologist is supposed to assemble all of the facts, history and circumstances, Prior to the autopsy, not during, not after – Prior. And that simply was not done for Morgan. And what is the purpose of asking Steve for that email of things, “to look for at autopsy” when the autopsy is going to be wrapped up Friday evening, in time for dinner, before Steve ever sends the email of what to look for. Has anyone ever given you a list of things to pick up at the store, after you leave the store? Is this what happens when the Deputy Coroner lacks training and certifications, and when in place of Medicolegal officers they utilize the one officer that is specifically to be excluded from the investigation, the law enforcement officer. And then it all ends up in a nice pile for the Forensic Pathologist, and he knows without question the investigators were not Medicolegal officers, that they were Garfield Sheriff’s. He knew or should have known this is in direct conflict with the Forensic Autopsy Performance Standards that he is charged with upholding.
And it is not a simple gaffe, not a simple misunderstanding, it is in direct violation of Colorado Revised Statutes. It is going 85 MPH when the posted limit is 25 MPH. It is breaking the law. A rose by any other name and all that. I have been told there are “official” documents of Morgan released and circulating. I should look at them. But I have not. I really don’t want to see them because to me they are anything but official documents. They are prima fascia evidence of the miscarriage of justice that took place and continues to take place in the investigation of Morgan’s death.
Would you believe me if I told you that – to date nobody has ever asked Steve or I, her only parents, who her doctor was, what medications, if any, she was currently taking, and for what reason? Where would be the best place to get the most current medical records for Morgan, and on and on. I already know the answer, but really, is it too late to just start over? It could not be any worse.
On the way to Grand Junction
I just started following your story. Amazing. Your daughter seemed like such a joy and blessing. God bless you. I hope your story reaches more people and helps others in this kind of situation.
Thanks Cindy – so many people have been writing in to me anonymously, so of course I won’t post those, but it amazing to me how many people out there have had these experiences and how horrible this is – change is needed – and it’s needed now, so I am very happy we are doing this.
So much love and light in your direction…
Did I miss something or have you not disclosed what happened at 5:15 am in the driveway..?
Thanks Rebecca – not sure which incident you are referring to at 5:15 am??? I saw the stalker on our front porch standing right in front of our door at 4:30 am, Morgan saw him in the back yard 10 ft from her at around 5:30 am one morning when she put her puppy out to go potty – but there were so many incidents I am not sure which one you are asking about?
Investigation into law enforcement = investigation into all their cases & Morgans… Yes!!!!! As I read this blog entry it all makes sense…. They would see who & how her murder was carried out if they would of only investigate it, however they can’t, because that would bring attention to the local law enforcement and their corrupted system & they would all get questioned (replaced) and the spot light on them. It’s easy and without question, that they would ( attempt) to shove this under the rug and labeled suicide!! I think this is brilliant! Go Team Morgan!
Go Team Morgan is right – you guys have given me great insight…I was always much too trusting. I have to say you guys are awesome!
Isn’t law enforcement supposed to serve and protect? This miscarriage of justice sickens me. Praying that competent people come into this and you all get what we all deserve…….. to be treated with respect and dignity. You all deserve so much more…..You have been through enough! Stay strong. Morgan was truly blessed with amazing parents! God bless!
Thanks so much Becca – it is hard enough to have to live without Morgan on a day-to-day basis…we miss her so much, but we will stay strong and we will show the world what really happened, who was involved, and who didn’t do there job. If we don’t the pattern will keep repeating itself over and over again, and I want to live in a world that people do treat others with respect and dignity.
Wow! Sloppy investigation
And handling of just about everything that morning…..
I say to THEM (the law enforcement of Garfield county) You guys have been exposed and even trying to label Morgan’s death as a Suicide won’t stop your embarrassment and eventual demise. I know your reading this. We are patient and will wait for the day you admit your mistakes and start acting like the elected officials that you are. Or might I say were, in the end.
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Bravo!
Good for you for familiarizing yourself with law that governs these types of investigations and forensic pathologists in the State of Colorado. I think you really might have something here…..a way to reopen the investigation of her death and also a way of investigating Garco Sherrif’s office. I do believe an election is coming up am I wrong? I would love for this specific post to be a letter to the editor in our papers so that our citizens can vote in this election and future ones as more informed voters considering this involves elected officials. Stay strong.
Good point – I will definitely take your suggestion into consideration. There is an election coming up, you are correct, and there are so many people that don’t know what is and has gone on in this county.
A neighbor saw him return home and he had his range bag with him.
The problem? The investigators and interviewers are to be independent from law enforcement and prosecutors. Well if your interviewer is a Garfield County Sheriff’s detective, and your investigators are a group of Garfield County Deputies and Detectives, do you see the problem? None of these people can legally be processing the crime scene.
Though I completely agree that the entire investigation and all was bungled, I do believe you are misunderstanding what this part of the paragraph is saying: These officials must investigate cooperatively with, but independent from, law enforcement and prosecutors.
That does not mean in any way that law enforcement such as detectives and deputies are not legally able to process the crime scene; it is saying that Medicolegal death investigation officers must work independently from the work of law enforcement. They are both allowed to be there, and certainly are both legally able to process the crime scene; in fact, it states they are supposed to cooperatively work with them, while investigating independently, meaning both law enforcement and the Medicolegal investigators are expected to be there.
Thank you for your interest. I do believe that I understand the paragraph and if there is one Garfield County Detective who is the ONLY person to interview anyone with any knowledge of Morgan’s life, current medications, current physicians and current specialists and NO medico legal officer, then the minimum requirements of the NAME 2011 Forensic Autopsy performance standards adopted by Colorado Revised Statute are violated by the Forensic Pathologist at the least and probably by the Detective too when he forwards his report to be used in violation of Colorado Revised Statute. And when the Forensic Pathologist simply asks the local hospital, NOT the only hospital Morgan Ingram has been a patient at for ALL of their records, from 1 1/2 to 9 years old and bases all of his conclusions on those few documents he again violates the minimum standards and not surprisingly arrives at grossly incorrect conclusions. He was working with a fraction of the facts and the reasonable expectation that this amount of research before autopsy would only provide a fraction of the facts I believe is without question.
Please do not get me wrong; I am not disagreeing that things were not done properly by law enforcement and the coroner’s office. I agree that everything you have stated and everything you have been saying shows there has been a lot of things done completely wrong in this case. There has clearly been many, many failings made in your daughter’s case by these people. I am in not way disagreeing with that.
When I said you seemed to be misunderstanding, I was commenting on the fact that you have, in the part I have quoted above (that none of these people could legally process the crime scene), as well as other comments where you have made statements along the line of the fact law enforcement or the coroner’s office should have not have been there at the scene processing or investigating/asking questions at all and were violating law by doing so. This is where I think we seem to be interpreting things differently.
They were absolutely legally allowed to be there investigation and processing the crime scene, and were actually meant to be there doing so. I understand one of the issues with this case is that there *wasn’t* a proper medicolegal death investigation done by a separate person at all.
Law enforcement and the coroner’s office would be responsible for investigation and processing all evidence found at the scene, which means they were not in violation in any way by being there and investigating. That is not the scope of the medicolegal investigator’s part in the investigation.
I have combined and edited your two responses into one. I sincerely welcome your observations as this is at the core of the violation of Morgan’s rights as to her death investigation. Without venturing into Federally guaranteed rights that have been completely stomped on. I will limit this to state of Colorado, where were you when Morgan Jennifer Ingram was killed?
CRS 30-10-603. Deputy coroner – appointment
Every appointment of a deputy coroner and every revocation thereof shall be in writing, under the hand of the coroner, and shall be filed in the office of the county clerk and recorder of the county wherein such appointment or revocation is made.
So if Garfield County has a Chief Deputy Coroner there would be a document recorded with the county clerk – before Morgan’s death – I would love to see one.
In the absence of the Chief deputy Coroner or the coroner himself, at least until they arrived, the death scene would be governed by
CRS 30-10-606. Coroner – inquiry – grounds – postmortem – jury – certificate of death
(1) The coroner shall immediately notify the district attorney, proceed to view the body, and make all proper inquiry respecting the cause and manner of death of any person in his jurisdiction who has died under any of the following circumstances:…
(1.2) When a person dies as a result of circumstances specified in subsection (1) of this section or is found dead and the cause of death is unknown, the person who discovers the death shall report it immediately to law enforcement officials or the coroner, and the coroner shall take legal custody of the body. The body of any such person shall not be removed from the place of death except upon the authority of the coroner in consultation with the district attorney or local law enforcement agency, nor shall any article on or immediately surrounding such body be disturbed until authorized by the coroner in consultation with the district attorney or local law enforcement agency.
It is apparent that in Morgan’s case, a coroner never proceeded to view the body or ever took legal custody of the body before law enforcement intervention. So then how did the coroner authorize any article on or immediately surrounding such body be disturbed? He didn’t, because he couldn’t. Because it was already done before he arrived to view the body.
If law enforcement in their Parallel investigation were to, “jump the gun”, they would do so in violation of CRS 30-10-606. They would be breaking the law. They would be destroying crucial evidence of the crime scene.
The State of Colorado Revised Statutes violated on the morning Morgan’s body was found are legion. The crime scene was so completely tainted it is doubtful if any criminal action undertaken by the state has a hope or a prayer of making it past the “you honor I move for dismissal because the coroner and the local law so completely and thoroughly violated this beautiful young woman’s right to due process.
And the Forensic Pathologist sits in Grand Junction, completely responsible for all that carnage that is going on out in Carbondale.
Local Law? they had no right to touch anything on or around Morgan, but they did. And they made notes of it, and then the Forensic Pathologist ignored their notes. he found nothing that they did. In the end:
Was it bad that they chose to break the law?
Was it a waste of time they tried?
Will Morgan ever have her shot at Justice?
This is such a well written blog. I wish there was a like button—-I would have pressed many times. Great job Toni in representing your daughter, Morgan in a competent, informed manner. It’s clear the Colorsdo state justice system has attempted to deceive and ignore the wrong person. It is such a terrible, senseless tragedy to happen to Morgan, your family, or anyone. After reading your blog and sharp responses to the questions posed by others it is evident YOU are the one to shine a brilliant light on the evil crime of stalking and the lack of support available to victims. I’m sure you would rather not be the one to do it and would rather have your loving daughter back instead. I realize too that it is the responsibility of all citizens and not just the one. You however, are the one to lead the change. All change requires a courageous leader who won’t back down inspite of opposition. God holds a special place for people like you who lost so much and give even more because of it. Your tragedy is blessing the lives of thousands. God bless you with his abiding strength, wisdom, and light. Shine On!!!
Kathy that is the sweetest thing I have heard in such a long time…thank you very much. The only thing I regret from the interview is a bad habit that I have had since childhood…I tend to giggle when nervous. But I have decided I am going to work on that flaw, and hopefully when you hear from me in the future I will get better about that. Sometimes my giggle hides the fact that whatever I’m talking about my heart just would rather cry, and I can’t afford to break right now – I have to fight for our daughter and all the other daughter’s out there. Hugs!
Hi Toni, greetings from Australia. I was perusing Dr Phil episodes last night and came across the episode about Morgan. I have a daughter who will turn 25 next month… My heart is so filled with grief for you. I regard myself as a good judge of character and was immediately suspicious of the neighbor who appeared on the show.. When Dr Phil asked her what her response was regarding your accusations she said “where’s the proof”… Who says that?? what innocent person asks for proof?? If she wasn’t involved she would have said “no I didn’t murder her, are you crazy?” or something along those lines. The miscarriage of justice in your case makes my blood boil… Keep going, don’t give up until you find the truth or at least have a decent investigation under way. Good luck! Your story has inspired people all around the world to Never Give Up. xx