How Do Criminals Get Away With Crimes?

handcuffsThere are many reasons criminals get away with crimes and one reason is the lack of shared information between law enforcement agencies.  This is an eye opener for most people – it was for me.  Did you know that the following 8 law enforcement districts are all within a 15 minute to an hour drive from each other, and some are just across the street from one another?  With this jurisdictional overlap I have been told that a criminal can get arrested in one jurisdiction (let’s suppose it is the City of Carbondale), but just one block over the jurisdictional line (let’s say in the County of Garfield where Morgan was murdered – our house was in Carbondale BUT it was not within the city limits, so it was patrolled by the sheriffs not the police) the records of those crimes are not shared with the other law enforcement agency.  So it is feasible that a woman that is being stalked, or has been raped, and is only within a 5 minute drive away (or less) from the same crime that has happened to another woman, the information and MO on that crime is not shared, so the other law enforcement agency would have no idea they are dealing with a serial offender.  I don’t know what you think, but for me this revelation was outrageous considering the technological age we now live in!  This makes it extremely easy for a criminal to believe he has a good chance of never being caught…and he would be right.
So people always ask me, “What could be changed in order to stop these types of serial crimes?”  And this is one of my suggestions…a database of crimes committed that the different jurisdictions can access I believe is imperative in order to identify and stop serial offenders.
Here is the list of police & sheriffs departments that are included in the list of agencies that are all very close to one another and overlap, but do not share this type of crime information with each other.  These are all in the valley that Morgan lived in and grew up in – a valley that we thought was so safe.  It is not the fault of law enforcement that they do not have this “tool” in order to share information.  It is up to the voters to insist on an allocation of funds to make this kind of a database and app available to these officers.
Aspen Police Department
Pitkin County Sheriff Department
Snowmass Village Police Department
Basalt Police Department
Eagle County Sheriff Department
Carbondale Police Department
Garfield County Sheriff Department
Glenwood Springs Police Department
Roaring_Fork_Valley_Map
Morgan was murdered on 12/2/2011. Just weeks after Morgan’s murder the main “suspect” in her stalking was arrested on a warrant. The Glenwood Springs police issued a warrant for him on 12/19/11 and then it was “suppressed from public access” (why?), but then on 12/27/11 they “unsealed” it and he was arrested. It was written up in the Post Independent newspaper, then I received a phone call to inform me about the article.  I immediately called the lead detective in charge of Morgan’s felony stalking case and he said he was not aware of the arrest, but would look into it.  He knew things were stolen from Morgan’s room the night of her murder, and I thought there was a possibility that something from her room may have been included in the jewelry that was sold to this cash for gold business.  But every time I asked the detective about it he said the police had not met with him yet to give him the details.  Finally I went Steve & I went in to the cash for gold shop and showed them the suspect’s picture and asked about the sale.  The person in the shop recognized the picture and said the “suspect” was a regular customer, she said the police had confiscated jewelry from the last sale he made and they could not show us records because they did not keep records.  We then returned home and told all of this to detective Glassmire.  We later found out that detective Glassmire then went to the cash for gold store only to show them our pictures to confirm that we had really been there asking questions and then he wrote in his report that he was going to site the store for not keeping records, and then later mentioned he would have the Glenwood police site them instead.  What was that all about?
So in summation it was a different case, in a different jurisdiction (even though it’s was just a 20 minute drive from our house).  There had been a warrant for the sale of stolen jewelry, and when they pulled him over they found drugs, and a scale, etc. in his vehicle, so they arrested him on felony distribution.  I think his friend later confessed to stealing the jewelry and giving it to him so that one particular charge was dropped and the other charges were plead down. So yes, those police officers in that jurisdiction knew nothing of Morgan’s jewelry being stolen, and when I went in to look at the police report the police records officer could not find it, so she sent me to the DA’s office.  I was then told in the DA’s office that they could not find it either, but suggested that maybe an investigator had it on his desk and would need to call me back.  Now at this point it had been over 3 months since the arrest and they told me it “should” be in the computer, but was not.  I was told by the police that it should have been public record at that time.  After filling out a bunch of paperwork an investigator from the DA’s office called me back to talk to me, and he was not very happy with me. He firmly (he actually sounded angry) told me if I wanted any information I should call the lead sheriff’s detective on our daughter’s case and not them – and again what was that all about?  So this is why it is crucial for the laws to change and for multiple jurisdictions to share information about crimes.
It was so hard for me to comprehend why we were continually getting the run-around back then, but I have learned a lot over the past 4 years.  I will continue to share the information that I have learned in the hopes that someday things can and will change for the better.  Take care and always remember each and every one of us can make big changes in this world.  Don’t just believe what you are told – get the facts, and do the research. That is my suggestion.

Morgan and Me :)

April 04 014 copyLooking back on old photos and remembering all the fun times we had together.  I am trying so hard right now to focus on all the wonderful times instead of focusing on the fact that Morgan’s case is still not being investigated.

This Thanksgiving I gave thanks for all the magical years I was able to spend with Morgan.  I miss her more than I could ever explain – a piece of my heart will forever be gone with her, but I want to be able to look through pictures of her and smile because those were such wonderfully precious and fun times.

I am also so grateful to all the amazing people that have stood by our family throughout this whole ordeal.  Some people that we thought would always be there for us are no longer around, but others have been there for us the entire last 4 years, and I will never have words that are sufficient enough to describe what their support has meant to me.  I honestly don’t think I could have continued on without the love and kindness of so many wonderful souls.

ying yangThroughout history there have always been good people, and bad people…the dark and the light, the ying and the yang. One can not really exist without the other I have always been told.  After what happened to Morgan it was easy for me to sit up one morning and ask myself, “Why am I fighting for justice when it seems like the whole world is against it?  What is the point?  Bad things will just keep happening to others no matter how hard I try to stop it.”  But then it was almost as if Morgan poked me in my side with her finger – I really did feel a “poke.”  I looked around, no one was there.  But I knew Morgan wasn’t about to let me go down that path.  I snapped out of it, and with renewed determination decided I may be just one person, but I can make a difference, we all can…especially if we try hard enough.  I can’t give up because I have now seen so many wonderful, kind and strong people in the world that are making a difference on a daily basis, so I might as well join in.  We all have a choice in this life and I choose the light.  I have not lost hope in humanity, quite the contrary, I have a stronger renewed view of humanity now after these past 4 years, thanks to the strength and kindness of so many people.  I love them all so very much and I am grateful for each and every one of them.  Justice for Morgan!

The Fourth Anniversary of Missing Morgan

imissyou

In June 2011 Morgan scratched letters in the sand in a simple yet beautiful message to say that she missed us. She took this picture, while in Hawaii and texted it to Steve and I, just another reminder of Morgan’s warmth and love, and we were so happy to know that Morgan was thinking of us. She called a little later to say she wished we could be there with her. I still remember that call. I can even hear her voice as if it was only hours ago, while at the same time, it may just as well have been another lifetime.

Morgan was in Hawaii visiting her Godfather and his wife, seeing the sights, catching up on life, and she was absolutely beaming. Steve called it Morgie’s big adventure as he called her trip just before that, and the one just before that. The early summer 2011 had become a collection of big adventures for Morgie. Two trips of travel mixed with working for her, and this one just for fun. It took a lot of hard work and dedication, but Morgan had recovered enough to travel. She had completely rebuilt her health and between her older sister and her Godfather the 19 year old young woman was busy traveling on her own.

She was formulating plans for herself too, by then she was dreaming of, and determined to go to Stanford law school, after finishing a degree in English at CU Boulder, but before that she was after a certification as a yoga instructor so she could work at something she loved while going to school and have a fall back, just in case. The sky up there was the limit, Morgan had her whole life before her.

Missing Morgan

Missing Morgan

Four years and six months later we would scratch letters in the sand and tell her we missed her. Only there was no place to text the picture to. No number to call her to say we wished that she could be there with us. We could only look up to the heavens and say these things out loud feeling like the little angel had heard us and have the overwhelming feeling yet again that it just wasn’t fair. When Morgan scratched her letters in the sand she would see us in less than a week. Her face would light up and she would come running into the terminal when she saw us letting out her typical Morgan squeal of happiness and adding a big tight hug along with it. Our letters scratched in the sand brought nothing close to that feeling.

Love You Morgan

Love You Morgan

20 candles for Morgan’s twenty years of life.  Her 20th year had only just begun, and the 20th candle we lit did not stay lit as long as the other candles – as you can see in the picture above.

Dear family and friends were with us to tell Morgan they missed her too on this fourth anniversary of her death, her murder. It’s been a long four years, years that have brought many changes to our lives. Morgan trusted and loved with all her heart, she shared her zeal for life with all those around her. Those now forced to miss her have only the precious memories of time spent with her. And the dreams of what she might be doing now. Morgan would want us to remember her loving us, and oh how we do.

 

Today is December 3rd – magic does happen

Beach 2 12.2.15Today, December 3rd is the  the day after the 4th anniversary of our daughter’s murder.  Yesterday was an extremely hard day for our family.  We wanted to celebrate Morgan’s wondrous life and not her tragic murder.  I was beside myself because I just did not know what to do.  My physical and emotional body wanted to crawl in a hole and morn, but my spiritual body wanted to do something that Morgan would have wanted us to do.

Because we have been blessed with such an amazing and supportive family an idea was born and we fulfilled that idea…we went to the beach at sundown, wrote in the sand, lit candles and thought about Morgan.  Then the magic began…during the beautiful one-of-a-kind sunset, a seal swam up to us, birds flocked over the water, sail boats stopped just under the setting sun, the Goodyear blimp flew by, the candles all stayed lit and as I sat in wonder chills ran up my spine.  I know those chills were a sign from Morgan that she was right there with us and she was seeing the same things we were being shown.  She was happy – this sent a warm happy feeling throughout my body. Beach 12.2.15

There are no words to explain how grateful I am to everyone across the world that burned candles in memory of Morgan last night.  I know she felt the love, as did Steve & I.  Thank you all so very much.  The fight for justice continues on today and will not stop until it is realized.  Changes will be made – because of the power of the people.  Love always creates change.

FullSizeRendersunset

Amitriptyline is a Sexual Assault Drug…please raise awareness of this FACT!

Just wanted to share an email I received back in September 2012 – this email helped me realize that changes were already being made in so many different ways – ways that I didn’t even comprehend at the time.

The fact is that the prescription drug amitriptyline is on the sexual assault panel in labs that test across the country and is used, and has been used over the years for date rapes – people need to understand the reality of this fact.  This is the drug that was used to kill our daughter Morgan…in an amount that would have killed her 10 times over.  This drug comes in a liquid form and is readily available for horses and other animals.  It can be purchased online, as well as from a veterinarian.  For equine use it is available in an amount for a large animal ~1,200 lbs, so you can just imagine how our 115 lb daughter could have been killed with such an enormous amount. And this drug was kept at the commercial ranch behind our house and was not locked up – not even at night.

The veterinarian that wrote the following lived in the Roaring Fork Valley, just like we did at the time of Morgan’s murder.  She read the blog and shared with me what she learned from the blog – she did not know that amitriptyline is a date rape drug.  I was so happy when I read her email – who knows, this one action could have saved another young woman.

She said, “I am so sorry for your loss. I am the mother of three and have two daughters, 17 and 20, and I can’t even begin to imagine your pain. I live in the valley and became interested when I read the news paper article. The story didn’t set right with me, so I read the blog. I am a veterinarian and use medications on animals on a daily bases that are potentially lethal and can be used on the street. I keep those locked up and under a watchful eye. I was shocked to find out amitriptyline  was a date rape drug. I thought I knew all the drugs with potential street abuse. Usually those drugs quickly become schedule II or III drugs. Amitriptyline is used in pets for anything from separation anxiety, allergies, and cystitis in cats. I feel the veterinary profession needs to become more aware of the potential abuse of unscheduled medications. The next time someone comes in and says their dog has separation anxiety I am going to have to think long and hard before I grab the prescription vial. My prayers are with you and I hope with this publicity more doors open for you and you are able to show the absolute truth to the world.”

Below is a copy of the list of drugs on the Sexual Assault Panel at the lab that ran Morgan’s toxicology tests…all the drugs that are highlighted were in Morgan’s body, all are date rape drugs, and no she had never taken them, nor did she have any of those drugs in her home, except years before she had taken a low dose prescription of amitriptyline that had been expired for over a year and a half.  And the fact is the small amount of pills that were no longer in that bottle were all accounted for from past use, and were not even in an amount that could have killed her.  This is evidenced by her 2nd toxicology report, and yet that is what the pathologist erroneously used to claim suicide.  But like I mentioned above the amount of amitriptyline in her first toxicology result was massive and most likely for equine use.  Another interesting fact that most people do not know is that the drug Dalmane (Flurazepam) has become obsolete and is not available in the US and is not currently used in humans.  However all others listed are contemporary and available for equine use and readily available in a liquid form.

With all this physical evidence alone you would think that law enforcement would be all over each other to open her case, but that never happened…I wonder why?pdf.sexual assaultAG.4.2.sexual assault

Just ran across this article and wanted to share it.  Peter Tobin used Amitriptyline to subdue and rape these young girls and then murder them…he also took and kept jewelry.  https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/dec/14/murderer-peter-tobin-denies-killing

Peter Tobin received 14 years imprisonment for the sex attacks in which he used the same drug, amitriptyline, as he was to later use on two other victims, Vicky and Dinah.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/did-sex-beast-peter-tobin-murder-20-more-women-6731346.html

“The jury of three women and nine men would hear evidence that traces of amitriptyline, a sedative drug, which Tobin was being prescribed at the time of the murder, had been found in her body, William Clegg QC, prosecuting, said. Vicky Hamilton had also been drugged with amitriptyline.”

Amitriptyline can, and is used by criminals as a sexual assault drug, Morgan had over 10 times the amount that would have killed her in her bloodstream, impossible to ingest because she would have been dead before it reached those numbers, so she was injected, we see an injection mark on the inside of her arm in the crime scene photos, the pathologist calls it something else, and gives no plausible explanation for the massive level in her blood – although other medical examiners and toxicologists state the amitriptyline in her blood killed her.  The sheriffs state they found no containers or syringes at our house that could have done this…did they even consider that her murdered obviously took the syringe/murder weapon away with him?