Kelly Currin Morris Case Update

November 18, 2009

Yesterday, authorities in North Carolina recovered human skeletal remains that they believed belonged to Kelly Currin Morris, a 28-year-old mother of two, who vanished on Sept 3, 2008. A press conference that took place this afternoon was expected to provide more details regarding the discovery; however it ultimately proved to raise more questions than answers.

According to Granville County Sheriff Brindell Wilkins, his department received information on Monday that led police to the wooded area where the remains were recovered but he refused to comment further.

"We're doing the best we can,” Wilkins said. “I don't want to mess up anything we're doing by things getting out."

While Wilkins provided very little information on the remains, Kelly's family has stated that the remains were positively identified using dental records.

Meanwhile, new details have surfaced regarding the arrest of Kelly's husband, 35-year-old William "Scott" Morris. According to the arrest warrant, Morris has been charged with first-degree murder. He also faces a charge of fraudulently burning a dwelling. Morris is being held at the Granville County Detention Center without bond. His first court appearance has been scheduled for Dec. 2.

In related news, Chief District Court Judge Daniel Finch has signed an emergency order, granting Kelly's father and stepmother – Pat and Juanita Currin – custody of Scott and Kelly's 6-year-old daughter. A formal custody hearing is set to take place Friday.

Discuss The Kelly Morris Case

Related Links:
Full Coverage: Kelly Currin Morris Case

Photo Credit: Getty

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Authorities Believe They Have Found Kelly Currin Morris

November 17, 2009

Details remain sketchy; however authorities in North Carolina have reportedly found human skeletal remains that they believe belong to Kelly Currin Morris, a 28-year-old mother of two, who vanished on Sept 3, 2008.

According to a source close to the investigation, the remains were found earlier today at a fox hunting club on Sam Moss Hayes Road in Creedmoor. No further details are available at this time.

Meanwhile, Kelly's husband, 35-year-old William "Scott" Morris, was taken into police custody late tonight and booked at the Oxford magistrate's office. Officials refuse to comment on the reason for his arrest.

Granville County Sheriff Brindell Wilkins said that more details will be released during a press conference scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Discuss The Kelly Morris Case

Related Links:
Full Coverage: Kelly Currin Morris Case

Photo Credit: Scott and Kelly Morris: Currin Family

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Leigh Marine Occhi Revisited

November 16, 2009

I spent a week in Tupelo, Mississippi, this past summer looking into the mysterious disappearance of 13-year-old Leigh Marine Occhi. The resulting in-depth story proved to be one of the most popular series on this site. Since that time, there has been a renewed interest in the case. Earlier today, CNN chose to feature Leigh's case on their site, along with an article written by Alexis Weed, a producer for the Nancy Grace show. Perhaps now, with all of the publicity that Leigh's case is getting, the person(s) responsible will be more forthcoming.

Click here to read Alexis Weed's story on Leigh at CNN.com

Click here to read David Lohr's in-depth series on this site

Photo Credit: Donald Occhi

David Kromer Found Dead at Ohio Resort

November 11, 2009

Authorities in Ohio discovered the body of 56-year-old David L. "Jody" Kromer at a Vermilion Township resort this afternoon. According to officials with the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, it appeared Kromer died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Kromer was wanted in connection with the kidnapping and murder of 58-year-old Carla Westhofen, a woman whose body was found dumped in a Pennsylvania field last weekend.

"Instead of causing more harm to other people, I’m glad he did it to himself," Carla's son, Todd Dahnke, told morningjournal.com. "It sounds morbid to say, but this is probably the best news we’ve had in a week."

Related Link:
Body of Missing Ohio Woman Found in Rural Pennsylvania Field

Photo Credit: Police file photo

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Body of Missing Ohio Woman Found in Rural Pennsylvania Field

November 09, 2009

The body of a missing Ohio woman that had been dumped in a Pennsylvania field was found this past weekend, sparking a nationwide manhunt for the woman's alleged killer.

According to officials with the Pennsylvania State Police, the body was found Saturday afternoon near Platz and Sterrettania roads in Erie County, Pa. Police say a local resident made the discovery when he went to inspect debris that someone had dumped the day before in a field near his house. Upon further inspection, the man discovered the body wrapped up inside a rug.

Jack Daneri, district attorney for Erie County, told the Erie Times News that the victim had a "number of wounds" that appeared to have been caused by a "sharp force instrument." As a result, the cause of death was listed as "suspicious."

State police, with assistance from the Erie County Sheriff's office, worked over the weekend to identify the victim as Carla Westhofen, 58, of Sandusky, Ohio. Carla was last seen by friends on the night of Nov. 5. Family members reported her missing the following day when she failed to show up for a scheduled appointment. A check of Carla's house found that her vehicle was missing, and calls to her cell phone went unanswered.

Authorities are now searching for Carla's former boyfriend, David L. "Jody" Kromer, 56, of Margaretta Township, Ohio.

"After they broke up, it didn't go well," Carla's son, Todd Dahnke, told morningjournal.com. "She felt at risk, so she got the protection order. There had been issues previously while they were dating. I thought he could be aggressive, based on things I had seen."

According to Erie County Sheriff's Capt. Paul Sigsworth, Kromer was recently released from jail after bonding out on charges that he had violated the protection order by sending Carla a letter.

Authorities are not commenting on what, if any, evidence they have connecting Kromer to Carla's death; however, they have issued warrants for his arrest on charges of murder and kidnapping.

The Erie County Coroner's Office is conducting an autopsy on Carla's body today to determine exactly how she died. Meanwhile, authorities in several states, in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, are actively seeking Kromer, whom they describe as armed and dangerous.

David Kromer is described as 6' 1" tall, weighing 210 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes. He is possibly driving a blue 2000 Jeep Cherokee with Ohio license plate DQW 3569 or Carla Westhofen's tan 2002 GMC Envoy with Ohio license plate AXS 6883.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Erie County Sheriff's office at 419-625-7951.

Photo Credits: Crime Scene: Carla Lohr; Carla Westhofen: Police file photo; David Kromer: Police file photo

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