TIERRA MORGAN - 2 yo - Lakehurst(near Monmouth) NJ

Tierra Morgan, 2, of Lakehurst was last seen Monday. / Ocean County Prosecutor's Office


Arthur Morgan III, 27, of Ocean Township is wanted on a warrant
for endangering the welfare of a child. / Ocean County Prosecutor's Office

LAKEHURST
— Police are asking the public to help them find a 2-year-old missing
girl who has not been seen since Monday, when she was picked up by her father.
Tierra Morgan weighs approximately
26 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen with her
father, Arthur Morgan III, 27, in Lakehurst, according to police.
Morgan was supposed to return the child to her mother in Lakehurst at about 7 p.m. Monday after court-approved visitation.
Morgan has been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a
second-degree offense, and interference with custody, which becomes a
second-degree offense if the child is not returned within 24 hours,
according to a statement issued by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Morgan and bail has been set at
$200,000 with no option to post 10 percent by Superior Court Judge Francis R. Hodgson.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Brian Haggerty of the Ocean
County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-814-3460, Officer Jeffrey Emmons of
the Lakehurst Police Department at 848-992-1420, Detective Michael
Clancy of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 800-533-7443 or
Detective Michael Legg of the Ocean Township, Monmouth County, Police Department at 732-531-1800.
http://www.app.com/article/20111122/NJNEWS/311220058/Missing-girl-2-last-seen-in-Lakehurst-with-father

A body believed to be that of a missing 2-year-old girl from
Lakehurst was found Tuesday afternoon in Shark River Park, authorities
said.


The body of a small girl was found partially submerged in a stream of
the Shark River by teens walking in the park early afternoon Tuesday,
First Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said.


Gramiccioni would not say whether the girl found was Tierra Morgan,
who has been missing since Monday when she did not return home from a
visitation with her father. Gramiccioni said only authorities believe it
to be the Lakehurst girl, and that an autopsy would be conducted
Wednesday.


Shark River Park, on Schoolhouse Road, occupies 924 acres bordering Wall, Neptune and Tinton Falls.


The park was the site of an unidentified crime scene, where throngs
of police and law enforcement authories have been seen poring over the
park since mid-afternoon Tuesday.


Authorities were not saying why they were there. Wall Township Police
Chief Robert Brice directed questions to the Monmouth County
Prosecutor's Office.


The girl was expected back in her mother's custody by 7 p.m. Monday
after a court-approved visitation with her father, 27-year-old Arthur
Morgan III, who is believed to live in Ocean Township, said Executive
Assistant Ocean County Prosecutor Michel A. Paulhus in a statement.


When the visitation period concluded, the girl was not returned to her mother, who was not identified by authorities.


Authorities said that the girl has not been seen since Monday when she was picked up by her father.


Morgan has been charged with the second degree offense of endangering
the welfare of a child and interference with custody, which Paulhus
said becomes a second degree offense if the girl is not returned within
24 hours. A warrant for Morgan's arrest has been set at $200,000 with no
10 percent option by Judge Francis R. Hodgson.
http://howell.patch.com/articles/police-comb-shark-river-park

A Lakehurst toddler, last seen with her father, was found dead still
strapped in her car seat in a park stream in Monmouth County this
afternoon, authorities said.

The body was
positively identified as Tierra Morgan, who had been missing since
Monday when her father, Arthur Morgan III, 27, picked her up for a
court-approved visitation, police said. Morgan never returned the child
to her mother, Imani Benton, 24, police said.
A
warrant charging Morgan with endangering the welfare of a child and
interference with custody was issued. An autopsy on the girl is
scheduled for Wednesday.
The
discovery was announced hours after multiple agencies swarmed to Shark
River Park, which lies in parts of Neptune, Wall and Tinton Falls, in a
closed-ranks investigation that coincided with an Ocean County alert
that 2-year-old Tierra Morgan was missing and authorities were seeking
her father, Arthur Morgan III.
Monmouth
County Prosecutor Peter E. Warshaw Jr. said Tierra was found by a group
of school-aged children secured in a car seat and “partially submerged
in a stream on or near the property of Shark River Park.”
Benton said police informed her at about 6:45 p.m. today that her daughter’s body had been found.
“She’s
dead. The detectives came to my door and told me she was dead in the
woods,” Benton said in a telephone interview from the emergency room of
Community Medical Center in Toms River.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t know what to think. I just don’t know,” she said.
The
notification to Benton was a little more than 24 hours since she had
met Morgan at a Dollar General store to let him take Tierra for the rest
of the day Monday, which was allowed by a court order, said Tierra’s
grandmother, Michelle Simmons of Lakehurst. It was Morgan’s first visit
with the child in a month, she said. A friend of Benton, Crystal Vadas,
said Morgan told Benton that he planned to take Tierra to the park and
see a movie, “Happy Feet Two.”
“He
was supposed to be back at six and the court order said he could have
her until 9 p.m., so she waited until 10 p.m., and when he didn’t come
back, she called the cops,” Simmons said.
http://www.app.com/article/20111122/NJNEWS/311220058/Prosecutor-Missing-Lakehurst-child-found-dead-in-park-in-Monmouth-County

Annabeth wrote:I am so SICK of this .....WTH is wrong with people, killing sweet little children....

I know Annabeth. He just threw her into the river strapped in her car seat Another soul mate for Casey.

A joint investigation including even the FBI and U.S. Marshals
concluded that 2-year-old Tierra Morgan-Glover died by an act of
“homicidal violence” while on a visit with her father. Arthur Morgan
III, 27, has been charged with her murder.

Three children found the child’s body, still secured in her car seat,
partly submerged in a stream in Shark River Park on Tuesday. Monmouth
County Prosecutor Peter E. Warshaw would not say whether authorities
believe the girl was thrown from a vehicle into the stream, or whether
she was placed in the water.

NJ.com reported
that an Amber Alert had not been issued about the missing child because
it had been a court-approved visit by Morgan, according to authorities.
Morgan had picked up his daughter from her mother’s home in Lakehurst
on Monday and never returned.




According
to NJ.com, on Thanksgiving morning, Wall Township residents went to
Shark River Park to memorialize the child. Visitors brought roses and
daisies, along with a toy penguin from film "Happy Feet Two," the film
Morgan said he was taking his daughter to see.

RELATED


Search for father of 2-year-old Tierra Morgan, found dead in N.J. stream, still underway

Morgan was still at large despite a manhunt that included 13 law
enforcement agencies. Authorities believe Morgan may have left the
state. The Huffington Post reports
that Morgan was last seen at the Asbury Park train station Monday night
between 7 and 8 p.m., according to Monmouth County prosecutors. His
last permanent address had been in Eatontown.

According
to the Atlantic Highlands Herald, anyone who may have information
related to Morgan or the investigation is asked to contact Detective
Michael Clancy of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at (732)
577-8700; Detective Heath Bono of the Wall Township Police at (732)
449-4800; Detective Michael Legg of the Ocean Township Police at (732)
531-1800; Detective Brian Haggerty of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s
Office at (732) 814-3460; or Detective Jeffrey Emmons of the Lakehurst
Police at (848) 992-1420.
http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/nj-man-charged-with-murder-of-2-year-old-daughter-remains-at-large

FREEHOLD — An intense nationwide manhunt continues
for Arthur Morgan III, the 27-year-old Monmouth County man wanted on
murder charges stemming from the brutal slaying of his 2-year-old
daughter, authorities said.Christopher J.
Gramiccioni, First Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor, said the FBI
and U.S. Marshals are participating in the nationwide search for Morgan
that includes the NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force. Gramiccioni said
authorities have to consider that Morgan has left the state.
Morgan
was the featured fugitive Saturday on the website for the “America’s
Most Wanted” television show. The website says Morgan has ties in
California, New Mexico and Texas. He also lived in Eatontown, police
said.
About 100 people gathered at Shark River Park Friday night to honor Tierra Morgan-Glover.
The
child’s mother, Imani Benton, 24, of Lakehurst, was among those
attending the vigil and was visibly distraught throughout the event. She
had to be physically supported by other attendees and repeatedly cried
out “she was my baby girl” during the vigil.
Authorities
have been asking the public to help in providing any information about
the whereabouts of Morgan since the body was discovered by a group of
teens shortly before 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in Wall. The child’s body was
strapped in a car seat and she was partially submerged in a stream in
Shark River Park.
Morgan
picked up his daughter from Benton on Monday for a court-approved
visit. Morgan was supposed to return the child by 6 p.m., authorities
said. When Morgan failed to return, the mother called police. Morgan was
last seen on the platform of the Asbury Park train station between 7
and 8 p.m. Monday, authorities said.
An autopsy showed the child died from “homicidal violence.”
Anyone with information should call the Monmouth County Prosecutor's tip line at 1-800-533-7443.
http://www.app.com/article/20111126/NJNEWS/311260038/Nationwide-manhunt-continues-Monmouth-County-fugitive-toddler-s-murder

Authorities arrest suspect in toddler's death

By Dominique Debucquoy-Dodley, CNN
updated 10:24 PM EST, Tue November 29, 2011


Authorities had information that Arthur Eugene Morgan III might be staying with friends in East San Diego.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: Prosecutor: Authorities will request the suspect's transfer to New Jersey
  
• Arthur Eugene Morgan III was arrested on Tuesday in San Diego
  
• His daughter's body was found in a New Jersey stream on November 22
  
• Prosecutor: It appears the child and car seat were thrown from an overpass
  

(CNN)
-- A fugitive task force in San Diego Tuesday captured a New Jersey man who is suspected in the death of his 2-year-old daughter, authorities said.

The FBI had issued a nationwide manhunt for Arthur Eugene Morgan III, who was charged with homicide in Monmouth County, New Jersey.

A tip from authorities in New Jersey led investigators to Morgan, the U.S. Marshals said in a statement.

"U.S. Marshals in San Diego received information from New Jersey authorities that Morgan may be staying with friends in East San Diego," the statement said.

Authorities will request Morgan's transfer to New Jersey to face the homicide charge, Monmouth County Prosecutor Peter E. Warshaw Jr. said in a statement.

On November 22, a group of boys discovered the body of Morgan's daughter partly submerged in a stream in Shark River Park in Monmouth County, officials said. She was strapped into her car seat, CNN affiliate WABC reported. The stream runs beneath an overpass, suggesting that the child, Tierra Morgan-Glover, and the car seat were thrown from the overpass, said Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni.

Morgan was supposed to return the child to her mother the night of November 21 following a custody visit, Gramiccioni said. When he didn't return the girl, prosecutors in Ocean County charged him the next morning with endangering the welfare of a child and interfering with child custody. The girl was found dead about 20 hours later, WABC reported.

"Although the victim was a small person, our team of investigators is treating this case as if she were one of our own daughters," FBI Public Affairs Officer Bryan Travers told CNN.

This is the dramatic moment a father was arrested on suspicion of murdering his two-year-old daughter by tossing her into a creek still strapped into her car seat.

Arthur Morgan III was captured yesterday afternoon at a home in San Diego, California, a week after he allegedly murdered Tierra Morgan-Glover in a New Jersey park while on a court-approved visit.

New Jersey prosecutors today said they will move quickly to extradite Morgan, who had sparked a nationwide manhunt after fleeing the state.


Caught: Arthur Morgan III, with his arms handcuffed behind his back, lies on the ground surrounded by U.S. Marshals. He was arrested after a week on the run at a house in San Diego, California, yesterday over the alleged murder of his daughter





Floored: Morgan was being held in California in the early hours of today. New Jersey prosecutors are hoping for a quick extradition, although no hearing date been confirmed as yet


He was being held early today in California, but it was not clear when an extradition hearing would be scheduled.

His arrest came just hours after Tierra's funeral at the Cathedral International in Asbury Park, New Jersey.


Morgan, of Ocean Township, New Jersey, had been due to take his daughter to see the animated film Happy Feet Two on Monday, November 21.
]He was legally-obliged to return Tierra by 9pm, but when he did not come back her mother, Imani Benton, called the police.

Ms Benton learned of his arrest when she arrived at a friend's home yesterday evening and heard people cheering.

Fugitive: Morgan sparked a nationwide manhunt after fleeing New Jersey last week following Tierra Morgan-Glover's alleged murder








'Murdered': Tierra Morgan-Glover (left) was allegedly killed by Morgan (right) while the 27-year-old was on a court-approved visit with her. They had been due to watch the animated film Happy Feet Two together



Tierra was found face down in a stream, still strapped in her car seat, at Shark River in Wall, New Jersey.

An autopsy revealed she was alive when she was tossed into the water.

Yesterday, three people carried Tierra's tiny coffin into the cathedral while a minister followed with a large stuffed teddy bear.

During a videotaped eulogy, Bishop Donald Hilliard Jr. tried to comfort mourners.\

As she was placed into that creek, an angel caught her,' Hilliard said. 'She did not suffer at all.'

Ms Benton was helped into the church, supported on either side by relatives.

She clutched a bouquet of purple and white roses, which were later placed on the child's three-foot-long white casket.

Tierra was wearing a white dress and had several gold bracelets on her wrist.


Tragic: The toddler was still strapped in her car seat when she was found partially submerged in a creek at Shark River Park (pictured) in New Jersey





Map: The creek, about 20 miles north of where she lived, is up to 7ft deep in the area where the body was found, near an overpass 15ft above the creek


Morgan, who has since been charged with her murder, met Ms Benton, 24, at a supermarket to take her out for the rest of the day, it was reported.

A 15-year-old boy was one of three teenagers who saw her hand sticking out of the creek and realised it was that of a child. Park rangers then called police.

The creek, about 20 miles north of where she lived, is up to 7ft deep in the area where the body was found, near an overpass 15ft above the creek.

Around 100 neighbours and friends gathered outside the child's home last Wednesday for a candlelight vigil in memory of the little girl.

A visibly distressed Ms Benton cried out repeatedly: 'She was my baby girl'.

Speaking through tears, Tierra's grandmother, Michelle Simmons, told mourners last week: 'I appreciate all the neighbours,' it was reported on patch.com.

She added: 'I hope that he is caught and justice is served.'


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2067944/Captured-The-dramatic-arrest-fugitive-father-killed-daughter-2-tossing-creek-strapped-car-seat.html#ixzz1fBej2skP

What a senseless death of a sweet little girl. And to think her father killled her. I hope he burns in hell.

SAN DIEGO -- Arthur Morgan III, the New Jersey man accused of killing his 2-year-old daughter by leaving her in a park creek still strapped into her car seat, is due to appear in a San Diego courtroom Thursday morning.

He was arrested Tuesday in San Diego, a week after authorities in New Jersey say he killed Tierra Morgan-Glover, whose body was found partly submerged in a creek in Wall Township, N.J.

Morgan was the subject of a nationwide manhunt before being nabbed at an apartment complex.

He is charged with murder, interstate flight to avoid prosecution, and child custody offenses.

New Jersey authorities are seeking to extradite him to stand trial in his home state.

Child welfare authorities in New Jersey say they investigated the turbulent relationship between Morgan and his girlfriend, Imani Benton, four times in the past 13 months, but could not determine that abuse or neglect was occurring.

Benton's family accuses the state's child welfare agency and the court system of not doing enough to help her. The agency says it is conducting a review of its handling of the case.

The toddler's body was found Nov. 22 in Shark River Park, about 20 miles north of her home in Lakehurst. Her cause of death was listed as "homicidal violence, including submersion in water."

After fleeing New Jersey, Morgan was the subject of a coast-to-coast manhunt and had been featured on the website of "America's Most Wanted" after the child's body was found.

The U.S. Marshals Service office in San Diego got a tip from New Jersey authorities on Tuesday that Morgan might be at a home there. Marshals conducted surveillance for most of the day. Morgan was then spotted on the home's back porch and arrested without incident.

Benton's mother, Michelle Simmons, says her family is eager to see Morgan brought to justice.

"We want to know why he did what he did to that baby," she said

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/11/30/4091892/nj-man-due-in-calif-court-in-daughters.html#ixzz1fIH7nG7W

FREEHOLD, N.J. -- A man charged with killing his 2-year-old daughter and leaving her in a park creek, still strapped into her car seat, is due in a New Jersey courtroom Monday afternoon.
Arthur Morgan III was arrested Monday in San Diego and has agreed to return to his home state to stand trial.
The
Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office says Morgan is being transferred
back home, but would not say if he had arrived as of Friday night,
citing security reasons.



Morgan is charged with the murder of Tierra Morgan-Glover, whose
body was found Nov. 22 in a creek in Wall Township. He had picked the
child up from her mother's house in Lakehurst, about 20 miles south of
the park, but failed to return her.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/02/4096043/suspect-in-daughter-killing-due.html#ixzz1fUxZeDNY