When the wildlife camera caught the stalker in our driveway, leaning up against Steve’s truck, thumbing his nose at the three Garfield Sheriffs Deputies who had just spent hours trying to find him and who “were certain they had scared him off” there was a major problem we did not understand at the time. Morgan’s stalker unfortunately had no fear of, or respect for, law enforcement. This put the danger he represented right at the top of the list of stalkers capable of extreme violence.
Much later the events covered in the last few blogs become extremely important and if the real significance of these events had been correctly addressed at this early stage in her stalking, I believe Morgan would still be alive and with us today.
It is quite amazing how some of the guests that have come to this blog have figured out things in one day that have taken us a year. So let me share more details about the last few blogs, which were not known to us at the time. This would fall under the category of things that we feel need to be corrected to really protect stalking victims.
First – remember the wildlife cam that was assaulted following the photo it took of the stalker?
- Look at the Deputies leaving in the first two pictures, NONE of the three Deputies – that are highly trained in observation – react to the subtle red glow that the camera makes as it is taking a nighttime picture. Only the stalker fully realizes and reacts to the fact that a wildlife cam has just snapped his picture. Is it because he is an avid hunter, and very accustomed to wildlife cameras?
- One of the graphic experts doing his magic, while viewing the image that was captured of the stalker, had a way to enhance the photo very specifically focusing on the reflections captured in the window glass of the LR3 parked in the driveway, right next to Steve’s truck. This expert was able to add more details to our files. He found in the reflection of the glass that the stalker is clearly wearing a “utility belt” that is strapped onto his waist.
- Steve tried to recreate an attempt to leap up and knock the camera down, from the rear bumper of his truck. Now Steve was 55 years old at the time, and would be the first to admit he might have lost a half step, but he is 6 feet tall, and from where the truck was parked that night he was not able to even come close to the camera. He estimated he was at least four feet short of hitting the camera on his best attempt.
- As no branches were found in the yard or anywhere around the house the next day, we then assumed it was something the stalker carried with him, perhaps in this utility belt on his waist. A one piece or telescoping rod of some sort, like an old school telescoping pointer or TV antenna maybe???
- If that “utility belt” was to contain a telescoping rod, or as was demonstrated for me today, a “tent support rod” that snapped together into something 8’ long, the stalker could not only have used it to try to knock the camera off, but for a more sinister reason…just keep reading.
Second – remember the tapping, and banging on Morgan’s window. Months after her murder we visited a very talented medium – that is also a very good friend, and loved Morgan dearly. She told us many amazing things about Morgan and what had happened to Morgan with details, and accuracy she could not possibly have know prior to our visit. We had never mentioned to her about any of this. But for this purpose, the one thing that is important is that she said to look on the roof, that we would find evidence on the roof of the house – she was very emphatic. We tried in vain to have the detective go up on the roof, but that never happened, so Steve finally went up on the roof himself to check this out. Among other things he found was this section of roof gutter that was directly over Morgan’s window – this is the section that is depicted in the photo.
Steve has worked with metal his entire life, and is certain the crack seen in this metal gutter is a stress fracture caused by bending out and then bending back, many, many, times. Steve also walked the entire neighborhood, checking out every gutter on the entire block and found no other gutter with ANY similar crack in 15 other homes, plus a club house. Only this section of gutter, directly over Morgan’s window had a crack from being bent. This made me ill! As you can see from the photo our windows went all the way to the ceiling, and someone lying on our roof, and using the gutter to help support himself, could have easily leaned over to terrorize Morgan by tapping, banging and looking through her upper window.
Where the stalker could have laid on the roof and knocked on Morgan’s window
With the extendable tool that he could have been using it would have been easy to tap or bang on Morgan’s windows from the safety of this position on the roof. The detectives conducted a stake out one night, and saw our motion detector light, by our master bedroom, go off and on many times. Back then he suggested that our motion detector light was defective, and should be checked in to. Later when all of these facts came to light he said that makes perfect sense now – the motion light was going on because the stalker could have been using the Aspen tree that was up against the back of our house as a ladder to get on the roof. Also the stalker would not have been caught on the video surveillance cameras that were put on the house shortly after this incident happened. Beside the gutter Steve also saw a perfect place for the stalker to have hid at the top of the roof – from there you can see what’s happening down below, but remain completely concealed from others on the ground that are trying to find you.
After Morgan’s murder, I could not stand to live in our house. I kept looking at the front door, and expecting Morgan to walk in at any time, and it was killing me. Steve and I moved out of that house and that neighborhood forever, about six weeks after her murder.
I would have moved too. Do you know if Keenan still lives there? Is it too late for finger prints on the gutter? I too tried to zoom in on the reflection in the window of the car, but couldnt see anything. Just to think he sat there watching you and Steve run around the yard looking for him (after he would set off an alarm), knowing you would never think to look on the roof, just completely makes me sick! I hope you catch this guy soon!!!
This blog was brought to my attention a few days ago. I’d like to start off by saying how terribly sorry I am for you and your family. Reading three days worth has been enough to make me lose sleep at night. I can not even imagine living through this for months and now for the rest of your life. I applaud you for your strength to bring awareness to the valley and beyond. As someone who lived right down the road and frequented AEE with horses in tow, to just be hearing about this now is sickening. Garfield County Law Enforcement has a history of dropping the ball. They can hand out speeding tickets and MIP’S like they’re going out of style but busting the higher up drug rings, finding missing people, locating major theft rings, locating a stalker before it’s too late… these things they fail at miserably and it needs to change. Laws need to change and Garfield County needs to get their act together and solve MAJOR crimes because let’s face it, major crime is happening in the valley. This story WILL make a difference and will be brought into the spot light. I hope for justice to be served and laws to be changed in the near future. People need to come together and take a stand. Thank you for sharing this story as heart wrenching as it is. I hope puppy Wylah has made new friends and has been able to venture off to the river for play in her mom’s absence <3
I feel the same way as you AT! this is disgusting that the Garco let this happen.. It could have been prevented if they would do their job!
I have to say that finally some one is shedding light on the fact that Garfield County has and continues to fail miserably at protecting the citizens who live here. Yes, I live here. I personally know two families that had their children molested and they reported it. There was never an investigation of the individual accused, in fact, in one case the perp. started harassing the victims because they reported “her”, the molester. These were young children, who stood up for them? The D.A. is interested in a cut and dry, clean win in court, such as the easy prosecution of illegal immigrants who are caught drunk driving. This poor family that I know made endless calls to the D.A.’s office when they first discovered their child was being molested and they were being ignored, guess what, the D.A.’s office NEVER returned any of their calls. Thank God they have since found support, and have strength and love with in themselves to move on.
What has happened to Morgan is ABSOLUTELY terrible and the person that stalked her needs to be found out and prosecuted. End of story. Some one who knows what they are doing needs to be assigned to this investigation and do what they were hired to do, protect the public.
Toni, your love for your daughter shines so bright. We are standing with you. Be good to yourself. What happened to Morgan is not o.k. The way it was handled is not o.k. , it breaks my heart that you and your husband had to repeatedly tell each new officer that came to your house the whole story all over again, there should have been a report and they all should have been notified. I am praying for closure for your family.
I found your blog through someone who posted it on FB. I’ve spent the morning reading your daughter’s story.
I am curious, and I hope this does not come across as insensitive or cruel but how did the stalker murder Morgan? I googled the story and was shocked to find ZERO press coverage on her murder, disgusted as well that the news would over look such a tragedy. When he entered her room and murdered her did he leave no evidence?
I will keep reading as you update. I pray for your family and that justice will be found.
I’m curious why the sheriffs never used their canine unit?
I am losing faith in the Sherriff’s dept at this point in the story and my heart aches for your family. Carbondale is my home town and for something like this to happen and have NO press coverage on it or any statements about the community saftey is appalling. I hope the truth is found soon for all of you. Peace and love to your family.
————————————– just know that whoever has done this will be standing in front of GOD our holly father and where he will be sending that person well lets just say he will suffer eternaly
With two minutes between the picture of ‘him’ and the attack on the camera, he may not have been left handed. If it took mere seconds for your family friend to get in the roof via the tree, he may have just reached down and knocked it with his right hand from laying on the roof. Just food for thought.
the second you started talking about the pointer thing – i thought of your dream you had of morgan using a pointer at the chalkboard. Are there any teachers in your neighborhood?
One teacher – a really sweet and passionate lady.
were there high ceilings ? Roofs are typically loud on homes and footsteps can easitly be heard unless it’s a drop ceiling of course.
I wonder if the stalker would have noticed if you did put the animal camera near her window .. and why wouldn’t he just take the whole camera if he was on the roof instead of just hitting it ?
Maybe he didn’t notice it till he was down? Was he in the roof laying flat or hiding beside something while police searched or in a tree.
Scary thought, but could the stalker have been carrying a long gun, like a rifle?
The utility belt and the roof gutter got me to thinking, that maybe he had and extendable asp like law enforcement use.
So, I’m not sure if you still read the comments on such an old post, but…
My boyfriend is a Police Officer and he wears a “utility belt”. One of the items common on an officer’s belt is an extendable baton that can be used in non-lethal defense. Here is an example:
https://goo.gl/images/EXsx3F
Does the belt look like a utility belt used for hunting, handyman, etc., or does it resemble something used by law enforcement?
Allie – that is exactly what a retired sheriff told me a couple of years ago. She sent me a picture of her “utility belt,” and it looked like what the perp was wearing, and the extendable baton could have been the tool used to hit the camera, spin it around, and break it, as was done. Thank goodness he didn’t knock it down or we would never have been able to retrieve the sim chip with the pictures it took. Thank you for sending this comment – I had forgotten all about the belt, and never thought about the extendable baton!
If you haven’t watched the Crime Watch show about Morgan’s case you can see all 4 parts here Here are all 4 parts https://crimewatchdaily.com/2017/10/24/suicide-or-murder-what-happened-to-morgan-ingram/ I believe most people can see by Keenan’s body language that he is being deceptive just like the detective states.