Morgan deserves justice

Morgan was such a happy young woman, full of conviction, articulate, a very avid reader and very accomplished photographer, all before age twenty.  And in the year plus since her death could Morgan possibly be any more of a victim in this?  She was stalked and then murdered, never had her day in court for either crime,  as she rests, is it in peace?  She is judged every minute of every day. Judged by people that didn’t even know her, as to how she died, what kind of person she was, and all of her medical history that has been leaked or irresponsibly released by many of the same people who failed to protect her or process her crime scene with the slightest bit of professionalism, all in violation of her rights, and to top it off her medical information being tossed around over the Internet is wrong.   And Morgan is not even here to defend herself.

A small group has taken up the task, very gladly.  Some have children of their own, and want see an end to this insanity that is called stalking.  Others have been stalked or are being stalked themselves at this very time.  And still others have such a sense of justice burning within them that must cause them to follow their beliefs and try to help right the obvious wrongs Morgan has suffered.

Let us not forget a few facts – there actually was an investigation, it was only into Morgan’s stalking, not of her death.  And after less than two months, two Garfield County Detectives were convinced 100% who was the person that was the stalker, and the person(s) who were supporting his actions.  Aiding and abetting I believe it is called.

Morgan also knew who her stalker was, and identified him many times to many people.  She discussed him with her friends and fellow students, instructors, doctors, even Detectives and Deputies.  She sent emails about him, and wrote short letters confirming what she had seen.  She was killed 5 days before her official interview about him.  Don’t we have a law against killing a witness in this state?  If we don’t, I think there should be one.

The Detectives sent to me, and received from me numerous emails, videos, pictures, text messages, copies of logs and phone calls in addition to face to face discussions about the top two perps.  They were well known and discussed often.  How often?  Just writing this makes me want to go back through every scrap and see how many times it actually was and see if the number of times he was referred to as the stalker exceeds the estimate of fifty times out at the house looking for him, after he left.  Have I ever told you that from the hiding spot on the roof you can see at least five miles in every direction.  As in, oh look, here comes a Sheriff’s pick-up truck, plenty of time to retreat and avoid detection, wouldn’t you think?

The connection from stalker to murderer was never pursued, and remains, an open end in a closed case that never ended in an arrest.  This is the investigation we push to become a reality.  I firmly believe it is a Really Big Stretch to think that right in the midst of her stalking, right when the detectives thought it would start to escalate, and patrols were ramped up, that right in the middle of all this, someone else just happened by and killed Morgan.  It’s Garfield County remember, no murders here!  Not one in the five years before Morgan’s death.

I also firmly believe that all of the many opinions of experts as to what happened to our daughter that night have to be fully explored.  She deserves the truth and if we continue to ignore the overwhelming consensus that she does not have the truth now, is that really fair to Morgan?  Why don’t we do this?  If the misguided and misinformed conclusions can be aired and if the Code of Ethics says you have to do it, then why not do it?  Is Morgan not worthy of justice?  I would certainly hope that is not the case.

Since her death many more pieces of that night have come to light.  Depending on the expertise of the person interpreting test results, far more facts about her death can be established.  The Coroner’s code of ethics promises, “I will readily seek consultation and use the talents and knowledge of others.”  The talents and knowledge of others are readily available here, they were given most graciously, and the door was slammed in their face.

Why this is I do not know, an answer to Steve or I of any question that we have continually asked of the Coroner has never been forthcoming with an answer, as in not at all, whether we sent our letters certified, return receipt or whether we called, it didn’t matter, we were completely ignored.  Morgan deserves better than that.  Everyone living in this county deserves better than that.

So to say now that I am accusing without basis is untrue.  Very few of you were here to see the Detectives dismiss where all the other Deputies had gotten on this case to, when it became a felony stalking case, as far as suspects, the detectives like starting from scratch and seeing where the evidence leads them, and it led them to 100% sure as to who the stalker was.  Between this and the admissions J.H. made the day Morgan’s body was found, I too reached the same 100% certainty, and nothing has happened to dampen that.  In fact only things that increased my conviction.  I believe my statements are well founded in fact.  Facts I have shared, and those I have not.

I just wish to remember Morgan for the young woman she was, see that she has her day in court to air evidence against her perpetrators, and let the decision stand.  I want the chance to help others and improve the shortcomings of a system that failed her so badly, which is why I point them out with as much detail as I can, so we can all seek better ways to fight this heinous crime.  That is not too much for a mother to ask.

I wish I could see Morgan in the kitchen now making her favorite shortbread cookies – here is a picture of her last batch.

Shortbread cookies