Stephen Morin
American Serial Killer Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
United States
TIME PERIOD
1969-1981
VICTIMS
48 confirmed
Stephen Peter Morin, an American serial killer, is suspected of committing at least 48 violent crimes, including the murders of young girls, women, and men, between November 1969 and December 11, 1981, across various states including Nevada, Colorado, and Texas. Morin, who led a transient lifestyle and used multiple aliases, was apprehended on December 12, 1981, after a lengthy pursuit by federal authorities. He was convicted of two counts of capital murder in Texas and one count of first-degree murder in Colorado, ultimately being sentenced to death. Morin was executed by lethal injection on March 13, 1985, after waiving his appeals, concluding a notorious criminal career marked by brutality and evasion. Significant evidence against him included witness testimonies and forensic links to several crime scenes.
Stephen Morin is suspected of being responsible for at least forty murders and is believed to have committed a total of 48 violent crimes across the United States, with theories suggesting he targeted young girls and women as well as men. His transient lifestyle and use of multiple aliases have led to speculation that he may have evaded capture longer than documented, potentially increasing his victim count. Some believe that his criminal activities were part of a larger network of serial killers operating in the same time period, complicating the investigation into his crimes.
The Sinister Trail of Stephen Morin
Stephen Peter Morin, born on February 19, 1951, in Providence, Rhode Island, emerged as one of America's most elusive and dangerous serial killers. His life, marked by a transient existence and a myriad of aliases, left a trail of devastation as he crisscrossed the United States, leaving federal authorities in relentless pursuit. By the early 1980s, Morin was suspected of committing at least 48 violent crimes, including the murder of young girls, women, and even seven men, between 1969 and 1981. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the exact number of his victims, Morin's chilling legacy remains etched in the annals of true crime history.
Early Life and Descent into Crime
Details about Morin's early years are sparse. Raised in a struggling family, he dropped out of school and soon found himself drawn into a life of crime and narcotics. By the mid-1960s, his criminal activities led to an arrest in Florida for car theft, landing him in a juvenile detention facility. Released in 1968, Morin embarked on a nomadic journey across the country, adopting various pseudonyms while committing crimes. During the 1970s, he settled in Northern California, particularly the San Francisco Bay Area, where he worked sporadically as a car mechanic and builder.
The Victims
Morin's reign of terror began in earnest in the mid-1970s. On September 26, 1976, he lured a 14-year-old girl to his San Francisco apartment under false pretenses. There, he bound, tortured, and raped her before releasing her at a Marin County shopping center. This marked the beginning of a series of brutal crimes that would span several states.
Sheila Gay Griffith
Sheila Griffith, 22, disappeared on September 25, 1979, after leaving the Silver Nugget in Las Vegas with a man. Her body was found on November 27, 1979, near the Nevada state line, covered by a sleeping bag.
Susan Jane Belote
On January 16, 1980, Susan Belote, 18, vanished during a routine shopping trip in Las Vegas. Her body, discovered on May 26, 1980, near Bloomington, showed signs of strangulation, although the exact cause of death remained uncertain due to decomposition.
Cheryl Ann Daniel
Cheryl Daniel, 20, was abducted on June 27, 1980, from a Las Vegas parking lot. Her body, found on December 13, 1980, in Hell Hole Canyon, near St. George, had a gunshot wound to the head. Morin was charged with her kidnapping and murder.
Sheila E Whalen
Following a date with Cindy Lee McDonald, Morin picked up and murdered Sheila Whalen, 23. Her body was discovered in a motel room in Lakewood, Colorado, on November 7, 1981. Evidence, including missing clothing found in Morin's possession, linked him to the crime.
Pamela Jackson
Pamela Jackson, 23, endured a harrowing 11-day captivity after being abducted from a Corpus Christi apartment complex on November 30, 1981. Morin forced her to change her hair color and repeatedly threatened her life before she was finally freed.
Janna Bruce
Janna Bruce, 21, was abducted on December 2, 1981, from a parking lot in Corpus Christi. Her body was found the next day on Padre Island, showing signs of ligature strangulation. Morin's fingerprints on her car led to his identification as the killer.
Michael Reed and Pearl Lutz
In a failed abduction attempt on December 6, 1981, Morin shot Michael Reed and Pearl Lutz in San Antonio. Both survived their injuries.
Carrie Marie Scott and Dru Valdes
On December 11, 1981, Morin attempted to steal Carrie Scott's car outside a San Antonio restaurant, shooting both Scott and Dru Valdes. Scott succumbed to her wounds, while Valdes survived.
The Arrest
The same day as Scott's murder, police cornered Morin at the Sands Motel in San Antonio. However, he managed to escape through a bathroom window, leaving behind his captives, Pamela Jackson and Sarah Clarke. The following day, Morin forced Margaret Mayfield Palm at gunpoint to drive him to a bus station in Kerrville. Police were ready and waiting, arresting him as he attempted to flee.
The Trials and Convictions
Morin faced charges for the murders of Carrie Marie Scott and Janna Bruce, with overwhelming evidence against him. In February 1984, he was convicted and sentenced to death. Later, he was also convicted of the murder of Cheryl Daniel and extradited to Colorado for the murder of Sheila Whalen, receiving another death sentence. Although further extraditions to Utah for other suspected murders were planned, they never materialized.
Imprisonment and Execution
While incarcerated, Morin experienced a religious conversion, becoming a Christian. Despite his lawyer's attempts to argue mental incompetence due to signs of mental retardation, Morin waived his right to appeal. On March 13, 1985, at the Huntsville Unit in Texas, Morin was executed by lethal injection. His final meal consisted of steak, baked potatoes, green pea salad, banana pudding, and coffee. His last words were a plea for forgiveness from God.
The execution was notably difficult due to Morin's drug abuse history, requiring extensive efforts to find a suitable vein. Ultimately, Morin was pronounced dead at 12:55 AM, marking him as the sixth person executed by lethal injection in Texas.
In Popular Culture
Morin's chilling exploits have been documented in various media, including books like "Signs of a Serial Killer" by Crystal Clary and "The Eyes of a Stranger" by Carrie Frederickson, and television programs such as "Serial Thriller: The Chameleon."
Sources
For more detailed information, please refer to the original Wikipedia article on Stephen Morin here.
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First Suspected Murders
Stephen Morin begins a series of violent crimes, suspected of at least 48 murders.
Sheila Griffith Disappearance
22-year-old Sheila Griffith last seen leaving a Las Vegas bar; found murdered later.
Murder of Carrie Scott
Carrie Scott is shot and killed by Morin outside a restaurant in San Antonio.
Arrest of Stephen Morin
Morin is apprehended by police after forcing a woman to drive him to a bus station.
Guilty Plea
Morin pleads guilty to the murders of Carrie Scott and Janna Bruce.
Sentenced to Death
Morin is sentenced to death by lethal injection after pleading guilty.
Execution
Stephen Morin is executed by lethal injection in Texas.
Stephen Peter Morin, an American serial killer, is suspected of committing at least 48 violent crimes, including the murders of young girls, women, and men, between November 1969 and December 11, 1981, across various states including Nevada, Colorado, and Texas. Morin, who led a transient lifestyle and used multiple aliases, was apprehended on December 12, 1981, after a lengthy pursuit by federal authorities. He was convicted of two counts of capital murder in Texas and one count of first-degree murder in Colorado, ultimately being sentenced to death. Morin was executed by lethal injection on March 13, 1985, after waiving his appeals, concluding a notorious criminal career marked by brutality and evasion. Significant evidence against him included witness testimonies and forensic links to several crime scenes.
Stephen Morin is suspected of being responsible for at least forty murders and is believed to have committed a total of 48 violent crimes across the United States, with theories suggesting he targeted young girls and women as well as men. His transient lifestyle and use of multiple aliases have led to speculation that he may have evaded capture longer than documented, potentially increasing his victim count. Some believe that his criminal activities were part of a larger network of serial killers operating in the same time period, complicating the investigation into his crimes.
The Sinister Trail of Stephen Morin
Stephen Peter Morin, born on February 19, 1951, in Providence, Rhode Island, emerged as one of America's most elusive and dangerous serial killers. His life, marked by a transient existence and a myriad of aliases, left a trail of devastation as he crisscrossed the United States, leaving federal authorities in relentless pursuit. By the early 1980s, Morin was suspected of committing at least 48 violent crimes, including the murder of young girls, women, and even seven men, between 1969 and 1981. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the exact number of his victims, Morin's chilling legacy remains etched in the annals of true crime history.
Early Life and Descent into Crime
Details about Morin's early years are sparse. Raised in a struggling family, he dropped out of school and soon found himself drawn into a life of crime and narcotics. By the mid-1960s, his criminal activities led to an arrest in Florida for car theft, landing him in a juvenile detention facility. Released in 1968, Morin embarked on a nomadic journey across the country, adopting various pseudonyms while committing crimes. During the 1970s, he settled in Northern California, particularly the San Francisco Bay Area, where he worked sporadically as a car mechanic and builder.
The Victims
Morin's reign of terror began in earnest in the mid-1970s. On September 26, 1976, he lured a 14-year-old girl to his San Francisco apartment under false pretenses. There, he bound, tortured, and raped her before releasing her at a Marin County shopping center. This marked the beginning of a series of brutal crimes that would span several states.
Sheila Gay Griffith
Sheila Griffith, 22, disappeared on September 25, 1979, after leaving the Silver Nugget in Las Vegas with a man. Her body was found on November 27, 1979, near the Nevada state line, covered by a sleeping bag.
Susan Jane Belote
On January 16, 1980, Susan Belote, 18, vanished during a routine shopping trip in Las Vegas. Her body, discovered on May 26, 1980, near Bloomington, showed signs of strangulation, although the exact cause of death remained uncertain due to decomposition.
Cheryl Ann Daniel
Cheryl Daniel, 20, was abducted on June 27, 1980, from a Las Vegas parking lot. Her body, found on December 13, 1980, in Hell Hole Canyon, near St. George, had a gunshot wound to the head. Morin was charged with her kidnapping and murder.
Sheila E Whalen
Following a date with Cindy Lee McDonald, Morin picked up and murdered Sheila Whalen, 23. Her body was discovered in a motel room in Lakewood, Colorado, on November 7, 1981. Evidence, including missing clothing found in Morin's possession, linked him to the crime.
Pamela Jackson
Pamela Jackson, 23, endured a harrowing 11-day captivity after being abducted from a Corpus Christi apartment complex on November 30, 1981. Morin forced her to change her hair color and repeatedly threatened her life before she was finally freed.
Janna Bruce
Janna Bruce, 21, was abducted on December 2, 1981, from a parking lot in Corpus Christi. Her body was found the next day on Padre Island, showing signs of ligature strangulation. Morin's fingerprints on her car led to his identification as the killer.
Michael Reed and Pearl Lutz
In a failed abduction attempt on December 6, 1981, Morin shot Michael Reed and Pearl Lutz in San Antonio. Both survived their injuries.
Carrie Marie Scott and Dru Valdes
On December 11, 1981, Morin attempted to steal Carrie Scott's car outside a San Antonio restaurant, shooting both Scott and Dru Valdes. Scott succumbed to her wounds, while Valdes survived.
The Arrest
The same day as Scott's murder, police cornered Morin at the Sands Motel in San Antonio. However, he managed to escape through a bathroom window, leaving behind his captives, Pamela Jackson and Sarah Clarke. The following day, Morin forced Margaret Mayfield Palm at gunpoint to drive him to a bus station in Kerrville. Police were ready and waiting, arresting him as he attempted to flee.
The Trials and Convictions
Morin faced charges for the murders of Carrie Marie Scott and Janna Bruce, with overwhelming evidence against him. In February 1984, he was convicted and sentenced to death. Later, he was also convicted of the murder of Cheryl Daniel and extradited to Colorado for the murder of Sheila Whalen, receiving another death sentence. Although further extraditions to Utah for other suspected murders were planned, they never materialized.
Imprisonment and Execution
While incarcerated, Morin experienced a religious conversion, becoming a Christian. Despite his lawyer's attempts to argue mental incompetence due to signs of mental retardation, Morin waived his right to appeal. On March 13, 1985, at the Huntsville Unit in Texas, Morin was executed by lethal injection. His final meal consisted of steak, baked potatoes, green pea salad, banana pudding, and coffee. His last words were a plea for forgiveness from God.
The execution was notably difficult due to Morin's drug abuse history, requiring extensive efforts to find a suitable vein. Ultimately, Morin was pronounced dead at 12:55 AM, marking him as the sixth person executed by lethal injection in Texas.
In Popular Culture
Morin's chilling exploits have been documented in various media, including books like "Signs of a Serial Killer" by Crystal Clary and "The Eyes of a Stranger" by Carrie Frederickson, and television programs such as "Serial Thriller: The Chameleon."
Sources
For more detailed information, please refer to the original Wikipedia article on Stephen Morin here.
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
Loading comments...
First Suspected Murders
Stephen Morin begins a series of violent crimes, suspected of at least 48 murders.
Sheila Griffith Disappearance
22-year-old Sheila Griffith last seen leaving a Las Vegas bar; found murdered later.
Murder of Carrie Scott
Carrie Scott is shot and killed by Morin outside a restaurant in San Antonio.
Arrest of Stephen Morin
Morin is apprehended by police after forcing a woman to drive him to a bus station.
Guilty Plea
Morin pleads guilty to the murders of Carrie Scott and Janna Bruce.
Sentenced to Death
Morin is sentenced to death by lethal injection after pleading guilty.
Execution
Stephen Morin is executed by lethal injection in Texas.