COOS COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY ANNOUNCES ARREST OF BANDON, OREGON DOUBLE MURDER SUSPECT IN VIRGINIA
Posted: February 22nd, 2010 11:48 AM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2010-02/1002/Jessica_Morris.jpg
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2010-02/1002/Gabriel_Morris.jpg
Coos County District Attorney Paul Frasier announced Monday morning, February 22nd that Gabriel Morris, age 33, was taken into custody without incident by police in Prince William County, Virginia. Gabriel Morris was wanted in connection with the murder of two people in Bandon, Oregon on February 8, 2010. His wife, Jessica Morris, age 33, was also taken into custody on a material witness warrant, and their 4-year old daughter, Kalea, was found and not harmed.
The information provided to District Attorney Frasier at this point is sketchy, however, he was informed that the Morris family had been staying for the last few days with a person who they met online and who lived in Virginia. That person became suspicious of some of the things Morris was telling him and decided to check by looking up Morris on the Internet. During that search, the person discovered Morris was wanted for murder in Oregon and then contacted police in Prince William County.
The police checked out the residence earlier today and saw their Ford Taurus parked in front of the home. Police then summoned their special weapons and tactics team, made contact and found all three of the Morris family. No one was injured during the arrest.
Later today, District Attorney Frasier and several detectives will be flying out to Virginia to conduct further investigations as needed. He anticipates that Gabriel and Jessica Morris will be held in custody and they will be entitled court hearings in Virginia.
It is not known when they will be returned to Coos County. If they decide to contest extradition, it could be several weeks or months before they are returned. If they waive extradition then their return could be in as little as a couple weeks.
District Attorney Frasier thanked all who helped in this investigation, including nationwide media for helping inform the public of this investigation and subsequent search for the Morris family.
Additional Note:
Information from the US Marshals Service advises that the arrest was made by the US Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Task Force (CARFTF) near a residence on Dominion Drive in Dumfries, Virginia.
Gabriel Morris was in Dumfries, Virginia staying with a local resident when community members recognized Morris from an America's Most Wanted episode that aired on February 20th. The tip was called in to the Prince William County Sheriff's Office and was referred to the CARFTF. At the time of the arrest, Morris was armed with a .45 caliber handgun and was driving in a Ford Explorer accompanied by the female homeowner of the residence where he was staying. Morris' wife, Jessica, and their daughter were located in the Ford Taurus. Both vehicles were leaving the residence together when arrested.
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