Hugh Morse

Hugh Bion Morse (January 9, 1930 – April 2003) was an American serial killer and rapist who murdered at least four people across several states between 1959 and 1961. After an extensive investigation aided by the FBI, who added Morse to their most wanted list, Morse was located and arrested, subsequently convicted of one of the murders and was sentenced to life imprisonment.[1]

Hugh Morse
FBI's 1961 Ten Most Wanted mugshot
Born
Hugh Bion Morse

(1930-01-09)January 9, 1930
Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
DiedApril 2003 (aged 73)
Minnesota Correctional Facility, Bayport, Minnesota, U.S.
Other names"Chris"
Conviction(s)Second degree murder
Criminal penaltyLife imprisonment
Details
Victims4+
Span of crimes
1959–1961
CountryUnited States
State(s)Washington, Alabama, Minnesota
Date apprehended
October 13, 1961

Early life

Hugh Bion Morse was born on January 9, 1930, is Kansas City, Missouri.[2] Though little is known about his childhood, Morse entered the marines sometime during the 1940s. In 1950, Morse went AWOL.[3] He first came to attention of law enforcement after a May 1951 arrest for indecent exposure and assault in Wilmington, North Carolina. For this, Morse was desirable discharge in December 1951.[2]

Afterward, Morse traveled to California, where he would rack up multiple arrests in Los Angeles for burglary, getting a total of six months in jail and three years' probation. In 1955, Morse lured two 8-year-old girls to an alleyway with the promise of ice cream and proceeded to sexually assault both. He was arrested and was transferred to the California State Hospital where he was declared a sexual psychopath. He was housed at the center until he was released on January 4, 1957, with a required one-year probation.[2]

Murders

Washington

Morse began his murder spree in Spokane, Washington on November 7, 1959, when he broke into the home of 28-year-old Glorie Brie, and proceeded to rape and subsequently murder her.[1] Ten months later, on September 26, 1960, 69-year-old Blanche Boggs became Morse's second known victim, having been raped and murdered.

On October 25, 23-year-old Beverly Myers was severely beaten by Morse in her home but managed to survive her wounds. Three days later, in the early hours of October 28, Morse was armed with a knife when he invaded his ex-wife's home, where he proceeded to attack her. Unknown to him, his mother-in-law was present in the home, reportedly screaming, causing Morse to run out of the home and flee the state of Washington, embarking cross country.[1]

Alabama

Following the attempted murder of his estranged wife, The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was brought in to locate Morse, officially adding him to the FBI's ten most wanted list.[4] Meanwhile, Morse himself eventually wound up in traveling through multiple states while on the run, eventually wounding up in Birmingham, Alabama. There, on July 11, 1961, Morse entered the home of 27-year-old Bobbi Ann Landini, and like the previous victims, he raped and beat her to death with a blunt object.

Minnesota

Morse continued his travels until he ended up in St. Paul, Minnesota. There, on September 18, 1961, he raped and murdered 34-year-old Carol Ronan. It was not long until a local nurse who was visiting recognized Morse's photo and reported him to the police, where he was arrested on October 13, 1961.[5] After his arrest, Morse confessed to all four murders.

Imprisonment and death

By the time of his arrest, Morse had become a suspect in the March 1959 murder of 9-year-old Cindy Rogers in Spokane, Washington. He first came to attention when investigators noticed several similarities in his movement and Rogers’ murder. When confronted, Morse denied killing Rogers. Morse was charged with second degree murder for the killing of Ronan, for which he received a life sentence. In December 1963, Morse attempted to commit suicide in his jail cell at Minnesota Correctional Facility by slashing his wrists and his neck with a blade.[1] A prison officer noticed Morse laying down covered in blood in his cell. He was treated by the prison doctors, thanks to which Morse made a full recovery.

The evidence from Candy Rogers murder was re-examined in 2001, thanks to which a DNA sample from the killer was compared to Morse's DNA. However, the results came back negative, excluding Morse as her killer. In 2021, The DNA was used to link John Reigh Hoff to her murder.[6] As for Morse, he died in prison in April 2003.[7] By the time of his death, he was 73-years-old, and had served 42-years in prison.[8]

See also

References
  1. "Killer Attempts Suicide in Cell". Spokane Daily Chronicle. December 31, 1963. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  2. "Sex Killing Suspect Arrested by FBI". Wilmington Evening Journal. October 14, 1961. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  3. "AWOL FROM MARINES". The Times. November 6, 1961. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  4. "'Lone Wolf' Sex Daviante Added To FBI Hunted Fugitive List". Delta Democrat Times. September 18, 1961. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  5. "NURSE ALERTS FBI". The Times. November 6, 1961. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  6. "Washington state police solve 62-year-old cold case of Camp Fire girl, 9, murdered while selling mints". Fox News. November 19, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  7. "Prime Suspect". The Spokesman-Review. March 9, 2008. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  8. "The longest prison sentences ever served". July 24, 2010. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
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