Cory Morris

Serial killer

5known / alleged victims (5 +)

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Case Facts

Gender: male
Country: USA
Location: Maricopa County, Arizona, USA
Date of birth: May 10, 1978
Age at first offence: 24
Characteristics: rape, necrophilia, serial rapist, torture, sexual abuse
Victim profile: Barbara Codman / Shanteria Davis / Jade Velazquez / Sherri Noah / Julie Castillo
Method of murder: Strangulation
Date(s) of murder: 2002 - 2003
Years active: 2002–2003
Date of arrest: April 12, 2003
Status: Sentenced to death
Sentenced to death on July 19, 2005

Case Summary

Background

Cory Morris was a part-time karaoke disc jockey. Relatives had allowed Morris to sleep in a camper behind a house owned by his aunt until he could get a stable job.

The victims were Barbara Codman, Shanteria Davis, Jade Velazquez, Sherri Noah, and Julie Castillo. The women were in their 30s or 40s and had drug or alcohol problems. One was a friend of Morris and several were prostitutes.

Morris was suspected in the death of a sixth woman, Janice Irvin, but he was never charged.

The offence

Over seven months, Morris lured five women to his camper, including three prostitutes, a developmentally disabled woman, and a friend. Morris strangled the women during sex. He kept their decomposing bodies on the floor of his camper where he continued to have sex with their corpses.

Morris eventually disposed of their badly decomposing bodies in an alley, and their bodies were also dumped in nearby alleys or on sidewalks.

The women were allegedly killed for Morris’ sexual gratification. Morris contended the deaths were accidental.

Investigation

A break in the case came when Morris’ uncle went to check on a foul odor coming from the camper and discovered a body. The uncle’s investigation involved a smell and a swarm of flies around Morris’ camper.

The prosecution presented DNA evidence which linked Morris to each of the bodies.

Trial

Morris was convicted July 11 of five counts of first-degree murder in the killings in 2002 and 2003.

At the reading of the verdicts, Morris sat quietly. Morris’ defense attorney, James Logan, described him as naive and argued that there was no evidence of premeditation. The defense argued the murders were not premeditated.

Prosecutor Bill FitzGerald, a spokesman for prosecutors, stated that Morris was sentenced in Maricopa County Superior Court.

Sentencing

Cory Morris was sentenced to death in Maricopa County Superior Court.

Outcome

Morris was convicted of five counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced to death.

Other details

Morris was 27 at the time of the verdicts. Morris was accused of sexual gratification-related killings and continued sexual activity with corpses kept on the floor of the camper.

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