David Bruce Morton
Serial Killer and Rapist
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Santa Fe, New Mexico
TIME PERIOD
1983-1990
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
The case involves David Bruce Morton, an American serial killer and rapist who murdered at least three women in New Mexico and Texas between 1983 and 1990. The crimes occurred in various locations, including a Comfort Inn in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the body of 22-year-old Janet Benoit was discovered in November 1983, and the apartment of 25-year-old Teri Lynn Mulvaney in June 1984. Morton, who was arrested shortly after the final murder, confessed to his crimes when confronted with evidence and is currently serving two life sentences in both states. Significant evidence included witness testimonies and a letter-writing campaign by Mulvaney's parents that led to his indictment. Investigators linked Morton to the murders through his proximity to the victims and his subsequent confessions while incarcerated.
There is speculation that David Bruce Morton may have been responsible for more than the confirmed three murders, with estimates suggesting he could have killed up to eight women. Some believe that his troubled childhood and early criminal behavior contributed to his violent tendencies. Additionally, there are theories regarding how he gained access to his victims, particularly in cases like that of Janet Benoit, raising questions about potential accomplices or methods used to lure them.
The Haunting Crimes of David Bruce Morton
Early Life and Troubled Beginnings
David Bruce Morton was born on May 14, 1959, in Oklahoma, a state known for its wide-open spaces and turbulent weather. His early years were similarly tumultuous. At the tender age of five, Morton and his siblings were snatched from their parents by Child Protective Services. This separation from his family would prove to be a pivotal moment in his life, as he would never see them again. The emotional turmoil from this abandonment left him languishing in the foster system for three years, during which he was not adopted.
As he grew, his life took a darker turn. By the age of 16, Morton had ventured into crime, committing armed robbery at a local store. This first foray into criminal activity landed him in a prison treatment facility, from which he managed to escape, only to be recaptured. After his release, he sought a fresh start in New Mexico in 1979. Instead of redemption, he found a life of crime, committing a series of armed robberies that resulted in a five-year prison sentence.
The Murders
Janet Benoit
It was November 1983 when 22-year-old Janet Benoit, a recent graduate of Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School, embarked on a journey from Arvada, Colorado, to Phoenix, Arizona. Her plans included a stopover in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she checked into the Comfort Inn. Tragically, her journey ended there. The following day, a housekeeper discovered Janet's lifeless body. She lay face down on the bed, her head hanging off the end.
Her brother, Dave Benoit, couldn't fathom how someone had gained access to her room. His private investigation revealed a shocking lapse in security: nearly a third of the keys issued to guests were master keys, giving their holders access to every room. Outraged, Dave sued Comfort Inn, and the case was settled out of court.
Teri Mulvaney
On June 28, 1984, another life was brutally cut short. Teri Lynn Mulvaney, a 25-year-old secretary at the Public Service Company of New Mexico, was found raped and strangled in her apartment. The police investigation led them to Morton, her neighbor. Fatefully, Morton was arrested for drunk-driving, and his cellmate later reported that Morton had confessed to Teri's murder. Despite this chilling confession, prosecutors claimed insufficient evidence to charge him.
Determined, Teri's parents initiated a letter-writing campaign to bring Morton before a grand jury. Their persistence paid off, and in 1988, he faced trial. However, District Attorney Chet Walter voiced doubts about the evidence. In October 1988, the jury was deadlocked, with eleven jurors voting for acquittal and one for conviction. The case was ultimately dismissed.
Kim Kendall
Morton soon relocated to Amarillo, Texas, where his malevolent streak continued. On May 4, 1990, he raped and murdered 22-year-old Kimberly "Kim" Kendall, a secretary and college student. Her husband was the unfortunate soul who discovered her body. Morton was swiftly arrested, tried, and sentenced to life imprisonment. At the time, no one linked him to the other murders.
Suspected Victims and Confession
In 1996, Santa Fe police noted haunting similarities between the murders of Kim Kendall and Janet Benoit. Both suffered stab wounds to the back and neck. It wasn't until 2003 that Morton confessed to the murders of both Benoit and Mulvaney, pleading guilty in court.
Beyond these known victims, Morton is suspected of a string of other murders:
- Teal Pittington: The 18-year-old vanished in August 1984, her body discovered months later in a decomposed state, identified only through dental records.
- Maria Padilla: Killed in May 1985, her body was found raped, with semen evidence discovered at the scene.
- Susan LaPorte: A Boston native, she was found bound and murdered in December 1985. A DNA match in 2009 provided a breakthrough, but no suspects were arrested.
- Roberta Michelle Montoya: After moving to Santa Fe in 1986, she disappeared, and her skeletal remains were found in 1987, presumed a homicide.
- Michelle Quintana: The real estate worker vanished in August 1987, and although her truck was found, she was never seen again, presumed murdered.
Conclusion
David Bruce Morton, a man whose early life was marked by abandonment and crime, left a trail of devastation across New Mexico and Texas. With confessions and evidence tying him to multiple murders, Morton now serves two life sentences. Yet, the full extent of his crimes may remain shrouded in mystery, with several unsolved cases still haunting the communities he terrorized.
Sources
- Wikipedia: David Bruce Morton
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First Murder: Janet Benoit
22-year-old Janet Benoit is found murdered in her hotel room in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Second Murder: Teri Mulvaney
25-year-old Teri Lynn Mulvaney is raped and strangled in her apartment; David Morton becomes a suspect.
Trial for Mulvaney's Murder
David Morton is brought to trial for Teri Mulvaney's murder but the case is dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Third Murder: Kim Kendall
22-year-old Kimberly 'Kim' Kendall is raped and murdered in Amarillo, Texas; Morton is arrested.
Conviction for Kendall's Murder
David Morton is convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Kim Kendall.
Confession to Previous Murders
David Morton confesses to the murders of Janet Benoit and Teri Mulvaney in court.
Guilty Plea for Two Murders
Morton pleads guilty to the murders of Janet Benoit and Teri Mulvaney, receiving additional life sentences.
Ongoing Investigations
New Mexico police conduct interviews related to unsolved murders from the 1980s, including those linked to Morton.
The case involves David Bruce Morton, an American serial killer and rapist who murdered at least three women in New Mexico and Texas between 1983 and 1990. The crimes occurred in various locations, including a Comfort Inn in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the body of 22-year-old Janet Benoit was discovered in November 1983, and the apartment of 25-year-old Teri Lynn Mulvaney in June 1984. Morton, who was arrested shortly after the final murder, confessed to his crimes when confronted with evidence and is currently serving two life sentences in both states. Significant evidence included witness testimonies and a letter-writing campaign by Mulvaney's parents that led to his indictment. Investigators linked Morton to the murders through his proximity to the victims and his subsequent confessions while incarcerated.
There is speculation that David Bruce Morton may have been responsible for more than the confirmed three murders, with estimates suggesting he could have killed up to eight women. Some believe that his troubled childhood and early criminal behavior contributed to his violent tendencies. Additionally, there are theories regarding how he gained access to his victims, particularly in cases like that of Janet Benoit, raising questions about potential accomplices or methods used to lure them.
The Haunting Crimes of David Bruce Morton
Early Life and Troubled Beginnings
David Bruce Morton was born on May 14, 1959, in Oklahoma, a state known for its wide-open spaces and turbulent weather. His early years were similarly tumultuous. At the tender age of five, Morton and his siblings were snatched from their parents by Child Protective Services. This separation from his family would prove to be a pivotal moment in his life, as he would never see them again. The emotional turmoil from this abandonment left him languishing in the foster system for three years, during which he was not adopted.
As he grew, his life took a darker turn. By the age of 16, Morton had ventured into crime, committing armed robbery at a local store. This first foray into criminal activity landed him in a prison treatment facility, from which he managed to escape, only to be recaptured. After his release, he sought a fresh start in New Mexico in 1979. Instead of redemption, he found a life of crime, committing a series of armed robberies that resulted in a five-year prison sentence.
The Murders
Janet Benoit
It was November 1983 when 22-year-old Janet Benoit, a recent graduate of Bradley-Bourbonnais Community High School, embarked on a journey from Arvada, Colorado, to Phoenix, Arizona. Her plans included a stopover in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she checked into the Comfort Inn. Tragically, her journey ended there. The following day, a housekeeper discovered Janet's lifeless body. She lay face down on the bed, her head hanging off the end.
Her brother, Dave Benoit, couldn't fathom how someone had gained access to her room. His private investigation revealed a shocking lapse in security: nearly a third of the keys issued to guests were master keys, giving their holders access to every room. Outraged, Dave sued Comfort Inn, and the case was settled out of court.
Teri Mulvaney
On June 28, 1984, another life was brutally cut short. Teri Lynn Mulvaney, a 25-year-old secretary at the Public Service Company of New Mexico, was found raped and strangled in her apartment. The police investigation led them to Morton, her neighbor. Fatefully, Morton was arrested for drunk-driving, and his cellmate later reported that Morton had confessed to Teri's murder. Despite this chilling confession, prosecutors claimed insufficient evidence to charge him.
Determined, Teri's parents initiated a letter-writing campaign to bring Morton before a grand jury. Their persistence paid off, and in 1988, he faced trial. However, District Attorney Chet Walter voiced doubts about the evidence. In October 1988, the jury was deadlocked, with eleven jurors voting for acquittal and one for conviction. The case was ultimately dismissed.
Kim Kendall
Morton soon relocated to Amarillo, Texas, where his malevolent streak continued. On May 4, 1990, he raped and murdered 22-year-old Kimberly "Kim" Kendall, a secretary and college student. Her husband was the unfortunate soul who discovered her body. Morton was swiftly arrested, tried, and sentenced to life imprisonment. At the time, no one linked him to the other murders.
Suspected Victims and Confession
In 1996, Santa Fe police noted haunting similarities between the murders of Kim Kendall and Janet Benoit. Both suffered stab wounds to the back and neck. It wasn't until 2003 that Morton confessed to the murders of both Benoit and Mulvaney, pleading guilty in court.
Beyond these known victims, Morton is suspected of a string of other murders:
- Teal Pittington: The 18-year-old vanished in August 1984, her body discovered months later in a decomposed state, identified only through dental records.
- Maria Padilla: Killed in May 1985, her body was found raped, with semen evidence discovered at the scene.
- Susan LaPorte: A Boston native, she was found bound and murdered in December 1985. A DNA match in 2009 provided a breakthrough, but no suspects were arrested.
- Roberta Michelle Montoya: After moving to Santa Fe in 1986, she disappeared, and her skeletal remains were found in 1987, presumed a homicide.
- Michelle Quintana: The real estate worker vanished in August 1987, and although her truck was found, she was never seen again, presumed murdered.
Conclusion
David Bruce Morton, a man whose early life was marked by abandonment and crime, left a trail of devastation across New Mexico and Texas. With confessions and evidence tying him to multiple murders, Morton now serves two life sentences. Yet, the full extent of his crimes may remain shrouded in mystery, with several unsolved cases still haunting the communities he terrorized.
Sources
- Wikipedia: David Bruce Morton
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
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First Murder: Janet Benoit
22-year-old Janet Benoit is found murdered in her hotel room in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Second Murder: Teri Mulvaney
25-year-old Teri Lynn Mulvaney is raped and strangled in her apartment; David Morton becomes a suspect.
Trial for Mulvaney's Murder
David Morton is brought to trial for Teri Mulvaney's murder but the case is dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Third Murder: Kim Kendall
22-year-old Kimberly 'Kim' Kendall is raped and murdered in Amarillo, Texas; Morton is arrested.
Conviction for Kendall's Murder
David Morton is convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Kim Kendall.
Confession to Previous Murders
David Morton confesses to the murders of Janet Benoit and Teri Mulvaney in court.
Guilty Plea for Two Murders
Morton pleads guilty to the murders of Janet Benoit and Teri Mulvaney, receiving additional life sentences.
Ongoing Investigations
New Mexico police conduct interviews related to unsolved murders from the 1980s, including those linked to Morton.