The Mary Morris murders!

[Kane]

Last night, I saw the new segment on the two murdered Texas women who happened to share the same name: Mary Morris! The first one killed was Mary Lou Morris and the second was Mary McGinnis Morris. There was speculation that the first Mary Morris may have been killed by mistake, and that the second might have been the actual intended target.

I have to tell you that this has to be one of the eeriest unsolved homicide cases (if not the eeriest one) ever profiled on Unsolved Mysteries! In fact, this is just like something out of a movie! Namely, The Terminator!

Anyone who has seen original Terminator will recall that the Arnold Schwarzenegger character was out to kill Sarah Connor, and found three women by that name listed in thephone book. Needless to say, the first two Sarah Connors he located were not so lucky!

[Thracian]

Eerie is the perfect word for this segment. I don't know why the law enforcement officer was so quick to dismiss a connection between the two deaths.

[TJ]

http://www.cpubco.com/cgi-bin/LiveIQue.acgi$rec=15737cbgCurrentLocalNews?cbgCurrentLocalNews

CLARKSBURG -- In a span of three days in October 2000, Stephanie Loar lost a sister and Marilyn Blalock lost her mother.

Ironically, they both were named Mary Morris and lived in Houston. Tragically, they both were murdered.

Next Saturday, the still-unsolved murders are slated to be featured on an episode of "America's Most Wanted."

This is not the first time the cases have received national attention. Since the two women were found dead, Loar and Blalock have appeared on "The Montel Williams Show," "Unsolved Mysteries" and "Good Morning America."

Through the tragedy, Loar and Blalock have developed a familial bond. So much, in fact, that Blalock recently packed up her three children, moved halfway across the country and settled in Bridgeport.

"She's the only person I know who's ever been through anything like this," Blalock said of Loar. "It's not a good thing to have in common, but we know what the other is going through."

The bond these two woman share goes beyond mutual loss. They truly have become friends.

"She lost her mom but gained a family," Loar said. "We lost a sister but gained her family."

Loar and Blalock met on the set of "The Montel Williams Show." Part of the reason they were there is because the two murder cases are eerily similar.

Loar's sister, Mary McGinnis Morris, was 39. Blalock's mother, Mary Morris, was 48. The two shared similar looks. They were found three days apart, less than 25 miles from each other. Both had been murdered. Both were found in the front seat of their cars, in broad daylight, along well-traveled roads.

Now, both of their families want justice.

McGinnis Morris was a former resident of this area. She was the valedictorian of Liberty High School's Class of 1979 and acted in local theater productions. She was the medical director of Houston Union Carbide at the time of her death.

Since then, Loar and her family have spent countless hours trying to find her killer.

"It's very frustrating. It's the why thing," Loar said. "It's hard to see something so brutal and nobody saw anything. I mean, she was found in broad daylight."

Little is known about Morris' death. She, too, was found in her car, doused with an accelerant and burned. There was less evidence at that scene, Blalock said, although any break in either case could help the other.

"Even if they find out they're not connected and they find who killed Stephanie's sister, at least we'll know if they had anything to do with my mom's murder," she said. "Even if they determine they're not related, we know we can look in a different direction."

During the past few years, Loar and Blalock have learned to lean on each other during the hard times. Even when Blalock still lived in Houston, the two talked frequently.

Over time, that bond became so strong that Blalock decided to leave her native Houston to be closer to Loar. The move has been somewhat of a culture shock for Blalock and her three children; Thursday was the first time she had seen snow.

"It could have been a tragic situation where nothing good came out of it," Blalock said. "But to have someone striving to do the same thing as me. ... We've never had to go through anything by ourselves."

[crystaldawn]

I think that the first Mary Morris that was murdered was definitely by mistake and he meant to kill the second one. I also think the most logical one that killed the second Mary Morris was her former co-worker that hated her. However I was suspicious when her husband refused to take a lie detector because he was on medicine for anxiety. You would think your first instinct would be to take one so that the police could rule you out right away. Also on UM they said the phone call that the 2nd Mary Morris made to 911 would make your blood run cold, I was always curious what all she said. You would think a hit man must have done it, otherwise on the 911 call she would have said the name of her attacker if she knew it was and police would have been able to make an arrest.

[Kane]

According to what I have read, America's Most Wanted will be profiling the case tonight at 9:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time) on Fox. It was supposed to air recently, but it got postponed at the last minute because of special reports on other cases. (That happens sometimes.)

In any case, if anyone happens to be reading this soon enough, turn on to Fox tonight at 9 PM EST (or 8 PM Central, depending on where you live) to see the case of the Mary Morris murders on America's Most Wanted.

[gaf]

I watched the AMW segment last night. I've never seen the UM version.

On AMW they said the husband made a call to his wife's cell phone during the time she was missing. The records show the call lasted four minutes. Yet, the husband told police the call didn't go through. Sounds suspicious, especially since he refuses to cooperate with police.

[Brent88]

I saw this case recently on UM(since November) very eerie...

[Composite Sketch]

Originally posted by gaf
I watched the AMW segment last night. I've never seen the UM version.

On AMW they said the husband made a call to his wife's cell phone during the time she was missing. The records show the call lasted four minutes. Yet, the husband told police the call didn't go through. Sounds suspicious, especially since he refuses to cooperate with police.

Yeah, the UM segment mentioned that mysterious fact as well.

Even though I saw it in May or June I can't recall if the husband was interviewed in the UM segment.

[Koala]

Does anyone have a tape of the Mary Morris Murders that was on AMW (not the UM version). I was told by several people that the AMW version showed the co worker banging on windows and yelling for Mary. As nothing like that happened I would like to get a copy. I complained to AMW about it and their attorney line was something like "That's what you get for not talking to us on camera". I was not allowed to as you can see by my previous thread (Mary Mcginnis Morris Murder - shut me up? I would certainly pay shipping and handling and a fee for the tape. Laurie Gemmell made those claims in the Houston Chronicle and according to a Globe reporter, that it was me who called the Chronicle to say they got the wrong person before the 2nd Mary Morris was killed. I wish I knew what was/is going on. Thanks

[Blackout]

how long does that gag order last?

[Koala]

The gag order appears to be for life. However (As opposed to the other orders), I believe the gag was likely more of an agreement to appear as an actual court order. I can not believe that a judge would enforce a gag for life with the threat of jail for contempt of court. I intend to exercise caution though in media contacts.

[Mr.Clairvoyant]

This case is one that is on and poppin in my head. I have several theories on who and how this crime was commissioned .. It is really a sad one but the evidence that is collected in the case tells the story it's self they have some pretty good self reliant clues that they are not making much use of.. I really find it odd they there are more leads in the other Mary case than in the first one.. which leads me to the hit theory.. After all why didn't the other Mary call 911 why wasn't there any signs of a violent struggle as with the other Mary.. makes me think that someone may have sneaked up behind her and killed her! then set her car on fire to conceal the evidence left behind . in the second killing I believe it is more than meets the eye with that co worker and the husband perhaps they could have been conspiring together

[Koala]

I'm as baffled as you are.

Paper: Houston Chronicle
Date: WED 10/18/2000
Section: A
Page: 30
Edition: 3 STAR
Police identify woman discovered shot in car

Staff
CORRECTION: A detective featured in this area brief wasmisidentified. Detective Ron Hunter works for the Harris County Sheriff'sDepartment. Correction published 10/19/00.

Police have identified a woman whose body was found Monday morning in an automobile in northwest Houston.
Mary Morris, 39, was discovered in a car at the intersection of Fairbanks and West Little York.
The cause of death appeared to have been a single gunshot wound to the head, said Houston police detective (SEE CORRECTION) Ron Hunter.
There were no apparent signs of a struggle, and police recovered a pistol from the vehicle. Ballistics tests should determine whether it was used in the shooting.

[Koala]

Is there a discrepency between this report and the UM report?