Mary Morris murder discussion back on....THIS THREAD ONLY!!

[Clockwork]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

Yes, although some people think both could be elaborate suicides.

There wasn't any indication that they were depressed or wanting to take their lives. They had children, both of them.

But two women living in the same area with the same name staged elaborate suicides three days apart? It doesn't fit.

[TheCars1986]

Originally Posted by Clockwork

There wasn't any indication that they were depressed or wanting to take their lives. They had children, both of them.

But two women living in the same area with the same name staged elaborate suicides three days apart? It doesn't fit.

Gail Delano had children too.

They did not live in the same area. They lived about 45 minutes apart. They lived in two different suburbs of Houston. There was evidence that Mary Morris (the one married to Mike) was illegally giving her friends medication and shots. The owner of the company she worked at was flying in to have an in person meeting with her the day prior to her death.

[SageSlowdive]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

Gail Delano had children too.

They did not live in the same area. They lived about 45 minutes apart. They lived in two different suburbs of Houston. There was evidence that Mary Morris (the one married to Mike) was illegally giving her friends medication and shots. The owner of the company she worked at was flying in to have an in person meeting with her the day prior to her death.

What's the source on this? Genuinely curious not starting an argument

[TheCars1986]

Originally Posted by SageSlowdive

What's the source on this? Genuinely curious not starting an argument

The Prosecutors Podcast did an episode about this case and it was discussed in length. I think I brought it up a few pages back in this thread. I recommend listening to the episodes (think it was a two parter) because a lot of information is revealed that was previously unknown.

[sharonite]

Yes, both the “Prosecutors” and “Murder in my Family” podcasts offer a ton of additional information, and they shook my previously-strong belief that the two cases are related (I’m now somewhere more like 50/50). I strongly recommend listening to both.

Houston is a huge metro (Harris County had a population of 3.4 million in 2000), and “Mary” and “Morris” are common names. If these murders took place in a small town and/or involved victims with a more unusual name, I’d be more convinced of a connection.

The other problem with most coverage of this case is that the murder of the first Mary is treated as little more than a prelude to the second. It deserves to be given equal treatment.

[Clockwork]

Originally Posted by sharonite

Yes, both the “Prosecutors” and “Murder in my Family” podcasts offer a ton of additional information, and they shook my previously-strong belief that the two cases are related (I’m now somewhere more like 50/50). I strongly recommend listening to both.

Houston is a huge metro (Harris County had a population of 3.4 million in 2000), and “Mary” and “Morris” are common names. If these murders took place in a small town and/or involved victims with a more unusual name, I’d be more convinced of a connection.

The other problem with most coverage of this case is that the murder of the first Mary is treated as little more than a prelude to the second. It deserves to be given equal treatment.

I am with you on this except for one thing. Two women dying in that large of an area with the same name is not a big deal. Two women who look somewhat similar and are seemingly murdered in the same manner with the same name is the stuff of lottery odds. Now, that alone doesn't mean there is a for sure connection, but neither of these Marys died in routine car accidents. They both died in their car and were murdered by the looks of it. Both husbands are treated as if they probably know more than they do. I know the "made for TV" thing to do is try and make the murders connecting, but yeah I would never retreat from this way of thinking because it just seems like such lightning strikes type of coincidence to ignore

[Stratego]

Mary McGinnis' stalking situation before her death seemed rather over-the-top and vague as to the who and why, is it possible (I'm not talking about likelihood) that she committed suicide?

[Clockwork]

Originally Posted by Stratego

Mary McGinnis' stalking situation before her death seemed rather over-the-top and vague as to the who and why, is it possible (I'm not talking about likelihood) that she committed suicide?

I know that the 911 call she made 10 minutes before her death is apparently very haunting to hear, chilling as well, but I actually would be interested in hearing it just to get a glimpse of what might have been happening before her death

[TheCars1986]

Originally Posted by Stratego

Mary McGinnis' stalking situation before her death seemed rather over-the-top and vague as to the who and why, is it possible (I'm not talking about likelihood) that she committed suicide?

Considering the gun used was the one that she owned and the contents of the 911 call have never been released, I would say it's probable that it was a staged suicide.

[Clockwork]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

Considering the gun used was the one that she owned and the contents of the 911 call have never been released, I would say it's probable that it was a staged suicide.

I'd still like to hear it though. Just to get some context. Was she depressed or something? And also, there is that cell phone call that Mike Morris made that was picked up by someone on the other end. This was after Mary's death. Too many strange things in this case.

[TheCars1986]

Originally Posted by Clockwork

I'd still like to hear it though. Just to get some context. Was she depressed or something? And also, there is that cell phone call that Mike Morris made that was picked up by someone on the other end. This was after Mary's death. Too many strange things in this case.

She was going to get fired from her job. That could have been the reason why.

[Clockwork]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

She was going to get fired from her job. That could have been the reason why.

But then what about the cell phone call that was completed? Mike Morris doesn't really do anything suspicious other than that. I am okay with him not taking a polygraph as he said he was on anti-depressants. I get that he gets a life insurance payout, I would too if my wife died. But the cell phone call coming from him is strange. Unless there is some mistake on the bill, which is possible.

[TheCars1986]

Originally Posted by Clockwork

But then what about the cell phone call that was completed? Mike Morris doesn't really do anything suspicious other than that. I am okay with him not taking a polygraph as he said he was on anti-depressants. I get that he gets a life insurance payout, I would too if my wife died. But the cell phone call coming from him is strange. Unless there is some mistake on the bill, which is possible.

Mike suspected his wife of having an affair, so his answer of letting the phone ring for 4 full minutes seems believable. Also, in the UM segment we are told that Mary made a frantic phone call to 911, but we are never told when the police/first responders found her body. I'd like to imagine that it took less than two hours to find her body and the car. Which makes this phone call from Mike Morris even less suspect; the segment says he called Mary's cell phone two hours after she called 911. But if the cops were already there to find her body, they would have had her phone in their possession.

[mercy1825]

I find the notion of stating this as a ""probable" staged suicide to be laughable and disgraceful to the victimand all those mourning the 2nd obvious homicide. It's like you are inclined to choose an alternative theory for shock value. Assuming you know more than the detective interviewed on UM, his assessment of the 911 call, the medical examiner, crime scene technicians, and everyone with FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE, all because you listened to a podcast. Did you forget that police often rule murders to be suicides, it's less work for them. They very seldom rule suicides to be murders, only if detectives, crime scene techs, medical examiner, dozens of people all fooled into taking on 10 times the work load. Mary Morris, I would guarantee lacked the aptitude AND the motive. MAYBE facing a job loss (uncertain), I would contend barely rises to the threshold of being considered a potential motive. But motive aside, it's the Investigators making a determination THAT ADDED SIGNIFICANTLY to their workload and the detectives assessment of the 911 call that eliminate even the slightest possibility of it being a staged suicide.

[TheCars1986]

Originally Posted by mercy1825

I find the notion of stating this as a ""probable" staged suicide to be laughable and disgraceful to the victimand all those mourning the 2nd obvious homicide. It's like you are inclined to choose an alternative theory for shock value. Assuming you know more than the detective interviewed on UM, his assessment of the 911 call, the medical examiner, crime scene technicians, and everyone with FIRST HAND KNOWLEDGE, all because you listened to a podcast. Did you forget that police often rule murders to be suicides, it's less work for them. They very seldom rule suicides to be murders, only if detectives, crime scene techs, medical examiner, dozens of people all fooled into taking on 10 times the work load. Mary Morris, I would guarantee lacked the aptitude AND the motive. MAYBE facing a job loss (uncertain), I would contend barely rises to the threshold of being considered a potential motive. But motive aside, it's the Investigators making a determination THAT ADDED SIGNIFICANTLY to their workload and the detectives assessment of the 911 call that eliminate even the slightest possibility of it being a staged suicide.

It has nothing to do with "shock value". The gun used in her death was her gun. She was on the phone with 911 less than 15 minutes after telling her friend that some guy (allegedly a friend of her coworker) was giving her the creeps. Now if this was the same man who murdered her, why would this information not be relayed to the 911 operator? How did her killer know where she kept the gun? I'm going to quote the Prosecutors Podcast, who actually spoke to Laurie Gemmell (Mary's good friend):

There's a lot of strange things about Mary's death and one of them; there's always been this notion that the scene was staged to make it look like a suicide. Laurie told us it was possible. Mary really was upset about Duane turning her in and that this could have been really bad for her. Apparently the head of the company that she worked for was coming down to Houston and one of the things they wanted to do was meet with her on the day after she went missing. And there was some thought, at least on Laurie's part, that this could have been a problem.

And if you see someone who you are afraid of, why do you call your friend to tell her about and then tell her that you are going to log off your computer (which according to Laurie was password protected anyway) instead of calling the police?