Charging Ahead or Failing to Charge

After a family discovers a crime scene or reports a loved missing in cases where the spouse or former boyfriend is the likely the individual responsible for the murder or vanishing act it often creates an additional burden on law enforcement to follow through and properly investigate the case as a possible homicide.

In the case of Kelly Currin Morris, the 28-year-old mother of two, missing since September 3, 2008, police located her remains in a heavily wooded area last week. William "Scott" Morris (the husband)has been charged with first-degree murder and for burning a dwelling, shared by the couple and their children. It was burned down the day after Kelly was reported missing. He is being held without bond and likely will remain where he belongs, behind bars.

The law enforcement community did a remarkable job, otherwise William Scott Morris would still be a free man as we have often seen in other cases. It is not easy to investigate a case involving "intimate homicide."

Renee Pagel Case Still Unsolved

Still unresolved, and frankly outrageous, is the unsolved murder of Renee Pagel ,found stabbed to death in her bed recovering from surgery, (after donating aa kidney to a complete stranger) just days away from her divorce being finalized. According to close friends and relatives the grade school teacher and a registered nurse told others she was in "fear for her life." A week before her murder she changed the beneficiary of her life insurance policy from her estranged husband to a close family friend.

Her estranged husband, Michael Pagel, is the only person who has not voluntarily cooperated with police, nor has he provided an alibi to police for the night of Renee's murder. He retains custody of the couple's children.

As many women say when they are married to an abusive spouse, "if something happens to me, make sure people know it was not an accident." And, yet, in Rockford, Michigan detectives assigned to the case, in "name only," appear to have dropped the ball and the case file is sitting in a drawer collecting spiders, cob webs and dust.

Are cases like this more difficult because they already have the body, it's not that important, and no one is around to put pressure on investigating and ultimately charge the person responsible?

I realize a good defense attorney would attempt to kick a case like this to the curb. There would be media and a lot of mud slinging. But, a seasoned prosecutor would be able to win such a case and get a conviction.

Isn't the prosecutor the one who represents justice for the victim?

Pathetic Man Gets New Trial Blame's Dead Son

In 2001 James Garner pleaded guilty to beating his wife to death. At the end of February of 2009 Garner asked for a new trial.

I’ve have just learned the reason. The couple had a son together Terry Allen Garner who was just 16 years old at the time of his mother’s death. Grief stricken and distraught over what his father did to his own mother at the age of 20 years old he committed suicide.

In June 2003, Garner pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the Dec. 26, 2001, death of his wife, Kathy Garner. While James Garner entered a plea of guilty, he did not admit that he committed the crime.Kathy Garner had been found beaten to death, under her vehicle, at Molly’s Rock State Park. An autopsy revealed she had been stuck in the head at least 16 times.

Newberry Pathologist Dr. Joel Sexton said at the time it was one of the worst beatings he had ever seen.During the initial investigation in 2001, deputies allegedly received conflicting stories from James Garner. They then served a search warrant on her husband and reportedly found Kathy Garner’s blood in his car. Also found was a pry bar in the toolbox of his vehicle, allegedly with Kathy Garner’s blood and DNA on it. At the time, the pry bar was believed to be the murder weapon.Within days of going to trial, James Garner felt there was enough evidence to convict him of the murder, the defense related at the time. If a jury had found him guilty, Garner could have been sentenced to up to 30 years in prison, or the death penalty.But with the 2003 plea, James Garner was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison.

James Garner later filed post conviction relief action. Around the time his own son committed suicide. So now watch as I will bet this piece of garbage will attempt to pin the death of his wife on his dead son!

An autopsy revealed she had been stuck in the head at least 16 times. Newberry Pathologist Dr. Joel Sexton said at the time it was one of the worst beatings he had ever seen.

Since the post conviction relief was granted by a judge 28 days ago, James Garner has been transferred out of the state’s custody and is now being housed at the Newberry County Detention Center.

I should point that James Garner had motive. He was having an affair with a woman in another State with whom he later married after Kathy's murder. Kathy met him there as he asked to resolve marital issues as the couple were divorcing.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand victims rights in life or death remain behind closed doors when we allow men like this to get away with murder!