December 4, 2012 – Day 3 of Morgan’s investigation – preparing for her viewing

Stop. Wait for your turn to go.

Stop. Wait for your turn to go.

Morgan has died, we do not at this time know how or why.  We avoid those thoughts and focus on those around us.  The wellsprings of Morgan’s life, her love, and her happiness.

Contact with the detectives of her case is limited to organizational, necessary endeavors.  As a part of her death investigation, actually as the only function of her death investigation, the Sheriffs, not the Coroners, the Sheriffs have “gathered evidence”, all electronic items, her computer, cell phone and ipod. It is sad that after twenty years of exuberant life Morgan is only investigated for her last weeks of communications.

The detectives have dutifully interviewed two acquaintances of Morgan on the day of her death.  Two whom Steve had warned would be the worst to interview,  One because of medical issues that best not be revealed and one that was not even in the country to have an accurate or reality based response to give,  That did not stop the detective, he questioned those two and only those two for the basis of the Coroners postmortem examination report.

That alone would set off a disagreement of fact VS fiction that will go far beyond this day. But more importantly a small portion of the misinformation of Morgan that haunts her true legacy even today, over a year later.

Our actual contact with the detective is quite cordial and focused on procedural events following a death.  We have viewing planned for those loved ones not in state at the time Morgan was taken from us, immediately following she will have a memorial.  Numerous items on the few electronic devices confiscated as a part of her investigation are now needed for her memorial.  Detective Megan steps forward to insure that those things will be returned as soon as possible.  And she delivers, our son by marriage works for two days without interruption to deliver the memorial in pictures and music.  It is a moving remembrance of our beautiful daughter, and it is fitting for her departure under the most questionable of circumstances.

Evidence that she was murdered only a small group knows about, the details grow as the all important plans for a goodbye fitting of what she has done in her life is completely drafted.  I share this evolving new information with detectives as I move forward with our closure to Morgan’s – our youngest blessed addition to our lives.  They promise to follow up, but I do not focus on that, I have a departed daughter to properly say goodbye to – as if that is remotely possible!

We have tight schedules and ample help to make sure that all is done.  Criminal aspects are dispensed for the moment, but later they will become all too obvious and forever looming.

Arrivals of family are more firmly set, and times for remembrances are altered.

Morgan’s friends have been leaving emotional posts on her Facebook since Friday when they heard she was gone – everyone is in shock and in pain.  Here is one post that I had to share from one of the “skaters” that was part of a group she would photograph whenever she had spare time – he attached one of the pictures she had taken on one of those magical days.  They called her the Skate Fairy and after her death they built a sculpture as a tribute to her.

Following up further on the death of the Jensen boys – mens rea is a term that has been brought up often since the murder of Morgan.  It is a simple Latin term and reflects the intent of an act.  So many meetings about Morgan have come to focus on the true intent of the perpetrators at the time.  One thing is for certain, the question or intent is for a jury to decide, under direction of the judge.  When I read about how Dr. Kurtzman (Morgan’s pathologist) is  deciding this issue on his own, my skin crawls.  It is not his place, not his purview.  Tell us exactly what happened medically, and let the investigators and the court system make the next decision – that’s what they are for…not the forensic pathologist.  This was a fear we had that Dr. Kurtzman would, in the future do the same thing he did in Morgan’s case, decide a manner of death (even under suspicious circumstances) as natural, or accidental, which would keep law enforcement from having to investigate and in the case of the Jenson boys even the DA says in 20 years he has never come upon a case where he is finding a crime, but the pathologist (Kurtzman) is calling accidental – so what is the DA to do?  Go against the pathologist?  Finding what killed the boys is the pathologist’s job – investigating what the intent might or might not have been is the job of law enforcement.  Not as in Morgan’s case where all decisions were made in advance by Kurtzman, regardless of the ability to correctly make such decisions, as new information and evidence was being presented.  Intent should never be the decision of the Coroner/Forensic Pathologist, facts about how the death occurred is their only job, which would allow law enforcement to properly investigate what the intent was.  Kurtzman could have put the manner of death (not the cause, but the manner) as Undetermined so an investigation could have been launched, but that did not happen.

In this case there are options left.  Kurtzman is being named in reports as the Coroner, which he is definitely not.  If he is acting as a deputy coroner, hopefully he is legally, as it was not in Morgan’s case.  That would leave the real Coroner of Mesa County to override Kurtzman’s findings, he clearly overstepped his bounds.  We will see what actually happens.  I pray that they will not be launched into the bizarre orbit that we were.  And allowed a proper investigation, and closure.

Morgan’s specialists this past year have indicated and identified so many errors in her investigation.  So many conclusions drawn that simply can not be.  If it takes a court case to establish the truth, Steve and I will not shy away for an instant.  We will also question why we had to expend so much for the simple truth.  A diagram of Morgan’s death is emerging.  All based on facts that are so far well established in the medical community.  Experts from around the country will be required to fully establish this simple truth.  And to that I am so grateful, we have the required brainpower for Morgan’s truth to fully emerge.  But I also ask why this could not have taken place as part of the investigation? As the ethics require.  No parents should have to investigate, and grieve for their child at the same time…it is inhuman, it is painful.  Where has the humanity in this world gone?

I guess that answer is yet to come.

December 3, 2011 – Day 2 of Morgan’s Investigation – Family and friends arriving

The Jet trails arriving in Colorado

The Jet trails arriving in Colorado

I woke up and remember lying in bed, lying and praying. I could not convince myself to get out of bed, but I was giving it my best try.  Family and friends had arrived yesterday and more would surround us today.

It had snowed last night and it was completely quiet and white outside.  Steve had been given a task by detective Glassmire before he left yesterday, and he was already up and working at it.  I listened to him type and sob, and type and sob. Then I would sob, and tell him to stop it.  Then he would sob and apologize for it.  I wondered if this is what our life has become, either way I was having great problems accepting it.

Steve reminded me that Morgan’s Godfather was coming in this morning and we would be off to the airport soon to meet him.  He wanted to finish the request from detective Glassmire first.

Like many other seemingly simple questions at the beginning became.  This “simple request” would become greatly problematic.  The Deputy Coroner wanted from Steve an email as to any medical type things that Morgan had that they should “look for at autopsy”, it was “anything no matter how minor”.  He didn’t have to do it until Monday, but he wanted to just get it off as soon as he could.

In reality Morgan’s autopsy has already been completed and they are asking an artist for any medical opinions as to his daughters medical conditions which is, of course ridiculous, but it is what they do with the email.  Steve sends them what is the most unbelievable thing.  My advice to anyone in this situation, direct the Coroner to your doctor and stay away.  But not knowing any of this Steve types a short, one page email about things he worried about in Morgan’s life.  I was trusting Steve with this email, like I was trusting the doctor who had our daughters body in his care.

 

Colorado FlowersI was up and certain that if I pushed forward hard enough I would get through this.  I wandered out from the room and arrivals from last night had the house in complete control.  I had coffee and cried, because as bustling as the house was it was just a little too quiet.  Flowers and cards lined the bar top and for a moment I wanted to gather them all up and deposit them in the garage.  Instead I began to read them,  Even on the first day there were so many squarely behind Morgan and us, and they promised to be forever.

Steve came out and said he was done, leaving for the airport shortly and wanted me to go with him.  I was voted down and stayed home while Steve went with our older daughter.  It was a different world that day, hard to really explain to anyone just what it was like.  So many thoughts, questions, unknowns, it would be days before my compass got even close to the right direction for me.  Our sister-in-law and our oldest daughter were answering the front door and receiving such wonderful gifts of food from our neighbors – they were all so sad and wanted to help.

As more and more arrived it seemed at first like old times, the stories, the wonder, and the memories.  But then it wasn’t old times at all, it was new times, the horribly sad new times where family and old friends share death.

Morgan’s stalker was hardly mentioned at all when he should have been talked about copiously.  He was still lurking in the shadows of this which he had wrought, and even though we knew his name well – it was not mentioned at all.  Morgan was all that was on every mind there and she was the driving force for the unabated outpouring of love and wishes, and I think that is really how it should have been right then.  There would be plenty of time for the stalker later, after all, it was still a mystery according to law enforcement.

Morgan’s bedroom door still had its piece of police crime scene tape on it and I called the detectives about it.  At first we were told if we could leave it for two weeks that would be good, but now if we needed to go in we could. That day I did not, Steve wanted me to spend a day without thinking of her room and I did.  With everything that was going on I had little time to wonder, what it would look like after an investigation, what it would feel like knowing she was gone.  The kitchen had become the center of the world and for the next day I spent as much time right there as I could.

There was so much love, so much friendship, so much hugging and remembering.  Her friends came, our friends came.  So many came to help us fill an impossible void in our life – that void is still ever so tender, but I will always remember the endless efforts to try and soften the blow amid the endless arrivals and departures of Morgan’s dear sweet friends.

A very close friend of mine bustled in after noon and dragged me to a quiet corner, her words registered, but not fully, and certainly not right away.  She had just gotten off the phone with another of her friends and drove straight to our house to tell me herself.  I thought I realized the importance, but until I told Steve I guess I had not.

This friend of hers had listened to her voice message machine from someone on our street the day before.  The message started about their business meeting needing to be cancelled for the day, and then very excitedly moved to the reason.  He said there was crime scene tape around his neighbors house, the girl living in the house was being stalked, and he had to stay because of the situation.  But he knew who they thought the stalker was, and who he really was.

Steve was wide eyed as I told him, Morgan was dead, but at least ending the stalkers unimpeded rein was a start.  Detective Rob was contacted immediately.  And for the moment we kept the recent revelation to ourselves.  There were far more important tasks for Morgan.  Her viewing, her cremation (I had to remember to ask the Detective if we should do that or not in this case), and then her memorial, that alone would consume the next few days.

Steve had turned off all surveillance of the house after Morgan’s death because, as he put it, there is no more Morgan so there will be no more stalker,  But now he had a different feeling and turned it all back on.  Our visitors all had there own theories of what had happened and how to get to the bottom of it.  So in the middle of preparations for a memorial for my little angel there was also our own version of the first 48 hours taking place.

Morgan was so very special and also so very loved, she would not be taken from us without answers.  And we were still all patiently, silently, all awaiting answers.

Further following up on Friday’s post here is another link to a story on the two young boys who died, and shared the same pathologist as Morgan did.

 More on the Jensen Boys 

There are some statements from Dr. Kurtzman that ring from Morgan’s investigation and the continual assurances that any new evidence would be taken seriously that really troubles me.  The shortcomings of Morgan’s investigation, and the Pathologist being repeated would become very troublesome.

Giving thanks to all of you that have helped and letting you know what is still to come. Stalkers beware – we will make changes!

9599009-pumaWhen I started the blog called Morgan’s Stalking I really had no idea what to expect. How could I? It was at the most unimaginable time, trying to express the most unimaginable thing. One thing has not changed – and never will. Morgan is still my little angel. She is, without doubt, all of the good things that have been expressed about her since the beginning of this odyssey.

Now as Morgan’s Stalking becomes Morgan’s Investigation it is an appropriate time to take a quick look back, give thanks, and see what lies before us.

First to the people at WordPress, the software that allowed me to write a blog without even knowing what one was at the start, and without looking like too much of a klutz in the process, my first big THANK YOU. They sent a web page that told about Morgan’s blog. Things like:

  • About 55,000 tourists visit Liechtenstein every year. This blog was viewed about 4,000,000 times in 2012. If it were Liechtenstein, it would take about 73 years for that many people to see it. Your blog had 73 times more visits than a small country in Europe!
  • In 2012, there were 320 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 327 posts. I’m not sure where the other 7 posts came from but you now how computers are, give them a few numbers and . . .
  • The most popular post was “One year ago today Morgan’s stalking started”.
  • Most visitors came from The United States, with Canada in 2nd & Australia 3rd, counting everyone there were 117 countries in all!

Things that tell me the story of Morgan’s stalking is making a difference in more ways than I could have ever imagined when I began. She is in so many hearts, in so many places, helping so many people – and she has just begun.

All of you reading, and commenting, and sharing. Of course some of you go far beyond that but without naming names I trust that you all know who you are, if not I promise to do a better job this year and THANK YOU ALL.

Our grief counselor who has been such a steadying rock for me all year, our promotional guru who somehow manages to speed up when the time is right, and slow way down when I need it. The very very esteemed medical professionals from coast to coast and right here in Colorado who have volunteered their efforts on Morgan’s behalf. To those who helped fund the Morgan Ingram Scholarship fund. And for all of you who have so generously donated to Morgan Ingram’s Benefit Fund – Thank you all more than the mere words can ever express, please realize you are helping Morgan help the victims of stalking every day.
Now, about stalking, I have said many times in many ways how this word went from meaning nothing to meaning everything. How on one warm calm summer afternoon we were not the victims of stalking and in the next instant we were.

Looking forward this last year I have learned more about stalking than I ever could have known existed. I also have something to add – stalking is not just a crime, it is at the root of almost all crime. You can call it whatever you want, stalking, observing, recon, even call it surveilling, its all the same, it is stalking. I say this for one simple reason. There are laws written against stalking in all states, but laws against observing, or surveilling? Doubtful.

Predators like mountain lions wait and watch undetected in the tree line watching for the perfect moment to strike.  What if almost all of the crimes against humanity start with stalking? Burglary, rape, murder, peeping toms, grand theft auto, first the perpetrator stalks the prey, the victim, the house, the auto, the bank, the young child in the playground, then comes the act, the second part of the crime. It is not just a play on words, it is what happens.

The difference is that up until now the crime started with the theft, or the stabbing, or name your poison. But what if we back up a step and take the stalking more seriously? I will believe forever that Morgan’s murder began with her stalking. That if the stalkers were caught, there might not have been a murder. If the criminal surveilling the children in the playground was confronted, maybe the child left there just a few minutes too long would not have disappeared.

A reader of this blog told a story of how her husband confronted a stranger at their son’s game. A stranger nobody recognized standing all alone across the field. Asked him who he was, and that one question made him turn and run. Suspicious, you bet.

I am very mindful of the fact that we can’t live in fear, but we can be aware. Safety is not a given, it comes with requirements. Just look at all of the tragedies of the past year. Maybe it’s just me, but there seems to be more, and far more deadly every day. So many, we as a nation, and a world find ourselves searching for an answer.

Here is my suggestion, start with taking stalking seriously. If our Law Enforcement is hopeless against catching stalkers, what comes next? I’ve lived it and trust me, it’s not good. This year I will focus on Morgan’s investigation from the morning her body was found, and also revisit a few incidents from her stalking that have had a whole lot of new light shined on them.

More truth, won’t that be a bummer for those working so hard to discredit what anyone has to say about Morgan, even though it happens to be true.

Also I am far more committed to Morgan’s legacy. As in Morgan did not commit suicide. She has an ever growing army of professionals all agreeing that that is not what happened here. In case you keep up with the news and have heard about the horrible deaths of those two young children who were left in an idling car for too long, one dying on the scene and the other a short time later. If any of you have wondered, Morgan lived in Colorado, those two children lived in Colorado. Could the same Forensic Pathologist, Dr. Kurtzman, who found Morgan, first having died of natural causes from a medical condition she did not have, with a level of prescription medications she did not even take, registering in the stratosphere. Then months later, as more and more experts sounded alarms at the massive dose she had in her body, he called it insignificant. Then 9 months later he changes his mind and changes her manner of death from natural causes to suicide, based on “the amount consumed is consistent with deliberate intoxication”. So eighteen pills is consistent with a suicide? Eighteen pills of a medication she did not take? With a little cyclobenzaprine, which she never took in her life, thrown is for good measure. When an esteemed Forensic Pharmacologist has advised on Morgan’s case that estimating the number of pills taken is impossible, oh, and he did have far more questions about other aspects of her case, but that will have to wait for just a little bit. So to the point, the same Dr. Kurtzman was the pathologist for those two children. Google it, and decide for yourself.

Day one of Morgan’s investigation is next up.

The following is from a guest contributor to this blog – name withheld for her own protection, but to me she writes just like Morgan

Dear Toni,
I have read your entire blog in less than 24 hours and Morgan and your family’s story has hit me so hard.

I watched the Dr. Phil show taping and read the interviews. I’ve actually been to some of his tapings myself. I am a strong supporter of Dr. Phil’s opinions and views, however this is one time I disagree with him. It is quite apparent that the efforts in the investigation are nonexistent. The primary reason this story is getting out is because of your blog and the stir it has caused. I am pleased that you didn’t let Dr. Phil convince you to take this down, (no offense Dr. Phil).

I am deeply sorry for the loss of Morgan. I am sorry your life changed the first time she heard that tapping on her window and will never be the same. I am sorry your local law enforcement completely failed you. I am sorry for the harsh realizations that have come with your 20/20 hindsight. I’m just a few months younger than your daughter and I can’t even imagine being in that situation and she was so brave and powerful.

You tried to do everything that you could in the months of her stalking. I can imagine my dad leaping from his room with the wooden baseball bat he has under his bed, doing exactly what your husband did every night something happened, just trying to catch this monster. You never left Morgan alone, maintained constant communication, you reported every bit to the police, took meticulous records, (obvious by your detailed posts), and listened to everything you were supposed to do. You spent an insurmountable level of energy, time, and money into placing technology and cameras where needed. You’re not in any security or surveillance company and put them exactly where anybody else would. I know my parents would just beat themselves to a pulp with guilt in your situation, but from my perspective and hopefully from a perspective similar to Morgan’s, you have gone so far above and beyond to protect her out of this overwhelming amount of love you have for her. I’m sure she knows you tried to do everything you possibly could. Please don’t take offense, I just know how I would feel if my parents were experiencing what you and your husband are feeling.

Your family reminds me so much of mine and I was hauntingly reminded of how this can happen to anyone. I am glad you have revealed your insights to strengthen our defenses against anybody else with severe mental distortion that would do this as well.
I’m not a parent. I’ve never experienced stalking as severe as yours. I’ve never lost a child. So it is impossible for me to say I understand. The level of frustration of knowing exactly what has happened with no one listening compares marginally to Jodie Foster’s role in Flight Plan.

I went in reading your blog knowing that Morgan had died, though it was still horribly shocking. I continued reading in hopes that some kind of hope would spring from this and I was woefully mistaken. I sincerely hope something happens and soon.

I know you are receiving large amounts of input about the case and I’m sorry to pile on more. It seems however, that you are appreciative of fresh perspectives and I hope I can contribute something. I personally suffer from depression. The signs in anybody are completely obvious in even small amounts of information. After the large amounts of information about your daughter’s life, I can conclude with absolute sincerity she did not commit suicide and I am happy you have stood by your claim. She would have withdrawn from friends LONG before a suicide, yet she maintained an  incredibly vigorous social life, even under the suffocating presence of a stalker. She stayed in physical activities (ballet) and ventured out of the house often, again notably impressive with the stalker’s behavior. She didn’t want to leave Wylah even for a few days to go to her sister’s house, she wouldn’t leave her forever. If suicide is an option, easily accessible medications or alternative methods would be used before the complicated process of creating the mix found in her system. I can go on and on with the evidence against suicide.

Personal brushes with stalking (though not as severe as your case) as well as numerous psych classes, relationship studies, and personal events lead me to the next input about your case. Though I do not believe ? (I’m following your naming system) was in your house the night of your daughter’s death or the main lurker around your house, she was an accomplice in the eyes of the law because she, without a doubt, was aware of K’s activity. Her snow march was absolutely a sloppy attempt at an alibi and diversion tactic. I feel like the relationships other teenagers have with their parents are sadly much more different from your strong relationship with your daughter. Which brings me to ?’s father. I believe he is aware of his daughter’s misbehavior, but like a loving father, he tries to protect his daughter. Though the extent of knowledge about exactly what her behavior is not known, I sincerely believe he doesn’t know much, and I don’t think he wants to know. Parents with aggressively misanthropic children will oftentimes grow fearful of their own children, slipping into a denial. He may never accept the idea of his daughter being anything other than his own little angel, and who can blame him? ? is however, obviously an active woman who makes her own choices, so it is far better to hold her responsible instead of letting her father continue to try to clean up after his daughter’s mistakes.

Now we are brought to Keenan VanGinkel. Your true offender. He fits the profile of a stalker so perfectly, students in a middle school level intro psychology class would easily match him up to the profile of a stalker. Proximity, expressed fascination to peers, delusion of a relationship with your daughter, hunting skills and knowledge, a teenager with access to internet, a sense of superiority to law enforcement and the law (which is horribly and sadly slightly accurate due to his ability to evade for so long), physical capability and manipulative abilities are just qualities off the top of my head for the cover boy of a perfect stalker. He is able to manipulate his girlfriend, even after a supposed relationship split, to remain in his life and active in protecting him. His girlfriend is aware of his infatuation with another girl, your daughter, yet continued to stay with him, a sad glance into their flawed relationship. I’m not giving this lowlife any excuses, but he is obviously mentally irrational. Somehow this \”relationship\” with your daughter made sense to him. I don’t think you will ever really understand why this monstrosity happened to your family, because you will never understand the mind of this man. Which is actually a very good thing. BUT I do know you are fighting to cage him up so he can NEVER carry out another \”relationship\” like this with any other woman which evidenced by history and psychology, is absolutely inevitable whether it be now or in twenty years. I applaud you and your efforts and I absolutely believe this is exactly what the next step is.

I want you to know I care deeply and support you in your tireless efforts. You could be saving ME for all I know. Thank you from me, your readers, the people you have helped, the people you have informed, and I know your lovely daughter would thank you too. With a cute little 🙂 I really feel the world has been cheated out of a beautiful person.

21 year old University Student

We are still observing National Stalking Awareness Month – please share information with all your friends – knowledge sets us free and protects us…thanks!

 

nsam_logo_2013

January Is National Stalking Awareness Month 

COLORADO—January is National Stalking Awareness Month, a time to focus on a crime that has affected 6.6 million victims in one year. The theme—“Stalking: Know It. Name It. Stop It.”—challenges the nation to fight this dangerous crime by learning more about it.

Stalking is a crime in all 50 states, the U.S. Territories and the District of Columbia, yet many victims and criminal justice professionals underestimate its seriousness and impact. In one of five cases, stalkers use weapons to harm or threaten victims,   Stalking is one of the significant risk factors for femicide (homicide of women) in abusive relationships.  Victims suffer anxiety, social dysfunction, and severe depression at much higher rates than the general population, and many lose time from work or have to move as a result of their victimization.

Stalking is difficult to recognize, investigate, and prosecute. Unlike other crimes, stalking is not a single, easily identifiable crime but a series of acts, a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause that person fear. Stalking may take many forms, such as assaults, threats, vandalism, burglary, or animal abuse, as well as unwanted cards, calls, gifts, or visits. One in four victims reports that the stalker uses technology, such as computers, global positioning system devices, or hidden cameras, to track the victim’s daily activities.5 Stalkers fit no standard psychological profile, and many stalkers follow their victims from one jurisdiction to another, making it difficult for authorities to investigate and prosecute their crimes.

Communities that understand stalking, however, can support victims and combat the crime. If more people learn to recognize stalking, we have a better chance to protect victims and prevent tragedies.

Our communities need to promote awareness and public education about stalking during the annual observance.

For additional resources to help promote National Stalking Awareness Month, please visit

http://stalkingawarenessmonth.org and www.ovw.usdoj.gov.

 

1 Michele C. Black et al., “The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2010 Summary Report,” (Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011).

2 Katrina Baum et al., “Stalking Victimization in the United States,” (Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2009). 3 Jacquelyn C. Campbell et al., “Risk Factors for Femicide in Abusive Relationships: Results from a Multi-site Case Control Study,”

American Journal of Public Health 93 (2003): 7. 4 Ibid.

5 Baum, Stalking Victimization in the United States.