Jennifer: Doing what, working? Sheriff Boone: Tom couldve been gettin that information from the family cause at that point, you know, I tried to keep the family kind of up to date on what was going on, what was taking place, kind of where we were going. Finally. Pat Moug: I felt that being a police officer, someone that was a detective in sex crimes, that I thought Id be able to bring something to Jennifers story that other filmmakers might not be able to do. They were told a salesman from the Clayton Homes lot in Florence has been shot and killed. "We're optimistic, we just want justice," said Hansa Patel, sister of Vinaben Patel and aunt of Punam Gopaldas. Tom Morgan: It kept me awake at night, just thinking about it and thinking about it. Jim Morgan: It just takes time for it to really sink in and say yea you know it really is true and you know youre never gonna see her again. Tom said hed been living in Michigan when Jennifer was murdered, when in fact, a few weeks before she died, Tom moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. No. It seems unlikely, however, that Sheriff Boone would want to arrest him. She was previously a Nurse Extern in the Med, Kara Hanley has worked with McLeod Health for six years. But, we wondered, was any of it built on actual evidence? He said, You know, no matter what happens even if you solve it Tom, even if you find somebody who can solve this case doesnt bring her back.Morrison: Then why dont you just drop it?Tom Morgan: And thats when I looked at him and I said, But somethin just wont let me let go of it. Its an easy way to say you left Michigan as opposed to I was having sex with a married woman andI was doing other things that I wasnt too proud of and so I left.. Morrison: So, what do you think happened?Pat Moug: He had an unhealthy relationship with his sister. Tom Morgan: That what probably a lamp fell over and probably ignited the carpet, the chemicals in the carpets made the fumes and these fumes probably killed Jennifer before the fire ever got to her. Neither one of them had the money to make Toms movie. And as many independent films do, you know, never came. But remarkably, Pat had even darker suspicions. But what about a motive? You know, question his authority? Unsolved Murder Files; Unsolved Mystery Files; Legend Files; Suggested Cases; The Investigators . And said, How are you possibly working on this case when you dont even have any of the information? Anyone who may have information on this case should call 1-888-CRIME-SC. Pat is moving in for the kill for what he hopes will be Toms confession. I made her pure for my parents. The family court judge put a gag order on the case -- leaving the family, and they say some investigators, at a standstill with the criminal case. It wasnt even political. You know its like these bits and pieces of conversation that hes just drawn out to make this into a cowellMorrison: To make it look like a lie?Tom Morgan: To make it lookyeah. This is the last home video of Jennifer Morgan, recorded the summer before her death. Anyone who may have noticed something out of the ordinary on that Saturday afternoon in June. I was thinking about it in the car, on the way over here.and what probably happened. Several synthetic fibers in the sofa ulpostery are highly flammable. Pat Moug: Im on your side, but theres people out there that are telling me stuff. There You Have It - The Places With The Most Murders In South Carolina For 2021. In his fictional movie script, Tom had put himself at his sisters home just before the murder bringing ice cream. We were the lucky lottery winner that theyd pulled up our case. And that movie idea? Morrison: What are you worried about now?Jim Morgan: I worry about Tomlaw enforcement can really turn the screws down if they want to. And at the glacial pace the investigation has moved, the new generation of the Morgan family may be in college themselves before Tom can finally let it go. After all, Pat had put together material that implied without much subtlety that Tom had killed his sister and that Toms father and brother helped cover up the crime by burning her body. FLORENCE, SC (WMBF) - Three-and-a-half years have passed since the bodies of two women were found brutally stabbed in Florence. Most of his victims in the 1970s were buried in shallow graves in southern Florence County. Because at that very moment, Jennifer Morgan, is lying on her bed. Ryan had just returned . . Map Browse By State. But the Morgan family was convinced that Kenny Boone had, in fact, found the murderer. They can say that Im doing this because I didnt direct Toms film. It says, the file could not be located, but that the agency would continue to search for these missing records.. Ethan: I saw the guy outside. How often do you get updates? FLORENCE Delmae Elementary School students held signs and cheered principal Roy Anne Jolley Monday as she was paraded around the schools bu, FLORENCE, S.C. -- One person was taken to a Florence area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries Sunday afternoon following a two-car cra, FLORENCE, S.C. Students from Wilson High School placed first among schools from North and South America in an engineering contest, winning t, Vera Nicole Godwin has been caring for patients at McLeod Regional Medical Center for five years. Tom Morgan: Heres a guy that I think potentially did it and what would that conversation be like? But I think youve got a patrolman with a rookie attitude wanting to make a name for himself. It didnt make him feel better of course. Brother: something you wouldnt know much about right? Keith Morrison, Dateline correspondent: What was the thing that got you obsessed?Tom Morgan: I felt like we knew who did it. Why? The family was not surprised to hear about the arrest. And many of them are puzzled why S.C. law enforcement hadnt welcomed Pat into the investigation. And finally, here it was: 11 years after her death, Jennifers story, flickered to life on the screen. So Moug traveled down to South Carolina, interviewed Jennifers friends. National Detectives Just Used DNA To Solve A 1956 Double Homicide. What do you do? Pat Moug: For two years youve been telling me things that put you at your sisters accidentTom Morgan: Pat, this is what Im telling you. And now he decided he really would make a documentary. Days after the murder, a tantalizing lead in the classified section of a local newspaper. To Tom, they were evidence that his suspect, Chris, had left them there out of his continuing remorse. Morrison: And you think Tom did it.Pat Moug: I think theres a distinct possibility that Tom did it, absolutely. Hed found milk jugs scattered about, which smelled not of milk, but of gasoline. He agreed to read his script and said he liked it. It was a shoestring budget. Pat Moug: I wanna thank everybody for coming out. And they believed Jennifer must have been attacked by someone she knew. It was absorbed in the carpet. Pat Moug: Was this milky white substance placed there as a result of an assault including oral sex? So now, the waiting game started up again. Since he was writing fiction, he says, he wanted to make a change. In the small town of Florence, Montana, a nail and hair salon stood alone off the side of Highway 93. . Sheriff Boone: Well, you know, its one of my only unsolved homicides. David Deitz: Just spending time around her was an uplifting thing. And one more piece of evidence that had seemed to point at Chris or Tom suddenly vanished. Please subscribe to keep reading. Sheriff Boone: Now, and, you know, now, in our mind, you know, Im thinking, you know, Jenny, are you trying to send us a message? Thats about the point Pats theories took a turn toward something way out there, something no one else had ever even imagined some sort of sexual dysfunction between Tom and his sister. But remember, one of Pats insinuations went way beyond all the others. And that maybe your family has done the same thing. November the 9th, 1994. Pat Moug: I knew the road I was about to go down. It was he, said David, who left the bracelet and the ring at the grave, as tributes to a good friend. As the interview continued, Pat heard other suspicious statements. Pat Moug: They can say whatever they want to me. And then the second the advanced class is like a two-day seminar.Morrison:Then what? Tom Morgan: And he said your sister died today in a fire and I dont want you to come home until tomorrow and he hung up the phone. Im gonna work on the case. Map Browse By State. Investors would never see this tape, but Pat had every intention of ensuring that investigators did. For Pat it was crucial. He sat there with a fraternity brother and described what probably happened that day. It wasnt even that hard, even though he was a real estate broker, not a writer, the words just fell to page. Tom Morgan: Takes a second mortgage out on his house to pay for a film and resigns from the bank and says Im going for it and its like, God, I got the right guy. So, had the state police decided to teach him a lesson? Boone said Moag called him wanting information and falsely told him he was an FBI agent. It seemed to Tom that the watch must be important evidence. As the story progresses, the fraternity boy has an argument with Jennifer. To make it contradict itself. And the Ethan character is left tortured by what hes done, but unwilling to turn himself in. The premise was destroyed. Tom Morgan: He said at that time I was gonna be sorry. But, what about that watch? Chris Woodsons real-life identity was never revealed in the movie. She started seeing other guys, I started seeing other girls. It wasnt at all surprising, said Boone, that Tom seemed to know things about the crime that perhaps only the killer would have known. She was like what? But you know, to me, until someones convicted, everyones still a suspect. Kerry Morgan: Almost as if she was down there tossing it to us. As the grim wheel of investigation began to turn, the news was sent to Jennifers family. As time passed, approximately 13,853 of those murders were solved, leaving the state with approximately 3,868 unsolved murders in South Carolina as of the last website update. It did, however, complicate the investigation a bit, because Pat Moag, a law enforcement officer from Michigan, and Morgans brother, Tom, went public with their own versions of what happened. Southern sun. You can cancel at any time. Tom Morgan, the brother whod been pestering investigators for years to solve his sisters murder, had been hauled in for questioning, and now seemed to be a suspect himself. At that point it just seemed like Id be chasing another one of his lies anyway. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Independent Contractor (Newspaper Carrier), Delmae Elementary principal paraded around for 70th birthday, Canada makes new contract offer to striking public workers, Scott Cook no longer East Clarendon A.D., has re-applied to remain football coach, One person injured in Sunday afternoon Florence crash, Wilson High School engineering students place first in international competition, Head-on collision kills four in Marion County, Vera Nicole Godwin, RN, BS, McLeod Regional Medical Center Day Hospital, Kara Hanley, BSN, McLeod Regional Medical Center Cardiovascular Surgery, Trinity Collegiate announces junior marshals, ushers, Concert highlights similarities between Lake City, Canadian town, Florence police investigate South Irby Street shooting, State championship coach Southard set for Saturday reunion at West Florence, Trinity Collegiate baseball coach Michael Rogers wants to retire on high note, Coward manhunt ends in arrest of man wanted by Delaware, Mattel introduces first Barbie doll representing a person with Down syndrome, Ukrainian soldiers get targeted by rockets while digging trenches near Bakhmut, Scientists launch new study into humans after realizing spiders lose eyesight due to malnutrition, Analysis: Mom and pop safe as First Republic Bank fails, Biden vows banking system is 'safe and sound'. . Well the man thats there is Tom Morgan. Discuss Florence, South Carolina (SC) on our hugely popular South Carolina forum. In fact, Kenny Boone didnt tell them somebody killed Jennifer and tried to hide the crime with a fire until the day after Chris offered his explanation. A charming college campus in Florence, South Carolina, November 9, 1994. Tom suggested those were left by his suspect, Chris Woodson. So we took pictures of it and we sent it to Florence County. The air seems different. This is a story about movies. Another time, investigators thought someone named Barney had acknowledging his guilt in an ad placed in The Sun News newspaper in Myrtle Beach. And you know what they say about first impressions. 423-8616 or the state Crime Stoppers hotline at (888) CRIME SC (274-6372). The Florence salon and the Dolly Madison Bakery murders remain unsolved. Well, yes, in fact, someone did the South Carolina State Police. His name is David Deitz. They met through his sister Dina, who was Jennifers best friend. Still, hes not giving up hope. Inside the burned mobile home in Country Squire Mobile Home Park lay the body of Jennifer Morgan, a 23-year-old FMU student from Horry County who shared the mobile home with a roommate. Now, nearly a year after Jennifers death, Tom felt frantic about evidence that might have been missed and opportunities lost. Pat Moug: The detective from Florence county would not return any of my calls. Thats what I meant by I was gonna be sorry. What the family needs now are more witnesses. Well, not exactly because now, on they go, these three contending investigators, down their opposing paths. So this certainly wasnt a non-fiction movie. And they were gonna bring this thing to some closure for us. A big, friendly bundle of gung ho. In the years since, investigators have sent information on the Morgan murder to a group of retired FBI agents who profile cases for other agencies. Working on it? Well, said both Boone and the state police, it was all the available evidence that made them decide that the polygraph result was simply an error. Kerry Morgan: Tom was a protector, Tom always wanted to take the role over his dad; wanted to know who she was seeing what she was doing, taking care of her.Morrison: So you felt you could go to bed at night if she was out because Tom?Kerry Morgan: Tom was right there waiting for herExactly. Heres a quote from the transcript of the interrogation: I said Jennifer promise me one thing. Gradually what emerged was a screenplay about one young mans terrible, deadly, mistake. Morrison: When you heard that it was a murder, did your mind go to suspicions?Kerry Morgan: Yes.Jim Morgan: My mind went right to who did it. Yeah. A struggled ensued, and the suspect strangled or suffocated Morgan to death, Boone said. (from the movie) Ethan: Im Ethan by the way.Jennifer: Im Tiger Woods.Ethan: You are definitely NOT Tiger Woods. And we didnt know if the person whos responsible for this couldve been sending a message, you know, kinda like, Im sorry kinda thing.Keith Morrison, Dateline correspondent: It was an apology?Sheriff Boone: An apology. Episode 1; . Because, says Boone, both Tom Morgan and his nemesis Pat Moug have likely been looking in all the wrong places from the very beginning. Fifteen international film festivals asked to screen Among Brothers and in the end, the little independent made with the directors second mortgage got a distribution deal. Now, in his film, Pat offered a whole new set of locations, and timelines. And so did that arson investigator in charge of the case. A good video, suggested Pat, could attract investors. Explore. We felt we couldn't talk about certain subjects and if we had, then we would lose our rights and it would have a detrimental effect on custody of the child, Patel told WMBF News. And that, strange though it may sound, was the birth of the movie; it came out of anger and frustration. For it to happen so early in the morning it shows that it mustve been somebody she knew. But to Pat, Toms story about the way he was told took on a completely different meaning. 1:00. And what did Pat Moug do? They buried her, or what was left of her after the fire, in this garden-like cemetery, in the finest casket they could find. First, Pat looked through the interviews hed shot before he was dropped from the movie project. We would do anything to bring her back.Morrison: The key argument that Pat Moug makes isyou put yourself in this moviemaybe because youre a narcissistic sociopath who needs to get to taunt peopleto get as close as you can to the crime. After all, the murder and the fire to cover it up all happened in broad daylight right in the middle of a mobile home park next to a busy four-lane highway. Jim Morgan: We were asked by the police department to make sure, in case something did come up in the future, that they could exhume her body, and do DNA testing. But, I cant put him in that trailer yet.Morrison: What do you mean, yet?Sheriff Boone: You never know. There was no police presence, said Tom. He had gone in there - a brother looking for justice for his sister. And lo and behold the detective has this milky white substance in the vagina.Morrison: But arent you taking two and two and coming up with five?Pat Moug: No, I dont think so. What happened to Jennifer Morgan has become enmeshed in suspicion and professional jealousy. Jennifer: Im Jennifer. Get Alerts Map; Browse By State; Submit a Crime Tip Square with arrow pointing upper right. Tom Morgan: No, listen to me. If youre Pat Moug, you make a movie. Scott Snowden: I gave it to her as a gift for Christmas, maybe her birthday. This person who was so in love with her would come and instead of shedding one tear or even saying Im so sorry. His name was Chris Woodson, a science major Jennifer met at her college campus. Though there is no particular rush to find the man. Pat Moug is a 4th generation policeman. Another experienced set of eyes to consider the evidence. Tom Morgan: I told everybody I moved down here after my sister died. Tom Morgan: When I got that letter, I called him that day. There would be two movies, remember twin parades of hope and folly. He was crying and he was, his emotions and stuff thy way he was acting, you know, it kinda led me to believe that you this could be our man. The only thing I can say is when I go to that grave site, when I see her headstone there she wouldnt have let go of it. He called it Bold as a Lion. But it certainly wasnt to raise money, as his fake undercover alibi had suggested. Where did you get the information youre using there?Tom Morgan: We were all speculating at the time. Well, actually no. How do you like your 15 minutes of fame.Morrison: So far. I thought it was great. But Pat Moug was right about one thing: Kenny Boone did not cooperate with a fellow police officerthe one from Livonia, Michigan. Tom Morgan: Then were sitting and waiting for funding. One year after the murders, all charges in the case were dropped. Hed reverted from filmmaker to cop. Pat Moug: How does he know by coincidence he writes this script where hes bringing ice cream to the murder scene. Mind you, Jennifers father had been feeling that way since two days after the fire when he came here to the trailer park to pick up her car. You know that was a red flag and we just werent sure. And that is absolutely despicablebecause at that point, he has slandered our familys name. One more thing. But, it turned out, there was an alibi, said Boone, and a pretty solid one. I went to this seminar on forgiveness and on all these things and how do I not stay angry? So if thats the way that evidence, potential evidence was treated, Im sure theres not much. They've been in contact with SLED and say witnesses are being re-interviewed. Sheriff Boone: I remember Chris. The film ends with some wishful thinking by Tom. Crime . What set it off was that phrase. No way. Tom Morgan: I said some not so flattering things in the past in the media about the case. Tom Morgan: Knowing that this is what it was like that day eight years ago. Kerry Morgan: She hadnt been stabbed she hadnt been raped she hadnt been shot. She started as a nurse extern while completing her nursing degree at Florence-Darling. Jarring questions, said Tom. We dont want anything tainted by you telling people because everybody still thought it was an accident. That was histhat was his background.Morrison: The acting detective?Tom Morgan: Yeah, he worked on the SWAT team. Though at first what he said didnt seem to make sense. Sheriff Boone: I felt like this could be it because the motive could be there because of his jealousy or anger. Later, at his movie premiere, Pat admits he never did check out the alibi. Morrison: When you called them, what was the response?Tom Morgan: I had called the lead investigator at the time and he would always assure me we were working on this, not a day goes by that I dont think about the case. I told a lot of peopleI moved to Michigan after my sister passed away. And he said, we can arrange tointerview some people that knew my sister too.Morrison: So he was keen on being interviewed.Pat Moug: Yes. Toms mother says she could scarcely believe Pat Moug could imply such an awful lie about her family. I can remember it just like it was yesterday, Boone said. That included any fibers, hairs or fingerprints that might lead to a suspect. To Pat Moug, they were evidence that Tom Morgan had staged those items to direct attention away from his own guilt. We could hardly wait to get back to South Carolina to confront with Pat Mougs theories the two men hed spent most of his film attacking: And Tom Morgan. But not before they searched the Internet to identify the fraternity that issued such a distinctive ring. Murder There's new DNA technology [investigators] are saying they are very excited with it, and they'll be applying those techniques, Bhav Patel told WMBF News. And both the guys were there on Monday night. Morrison: What were the questions?Tom Morgan: Were you there when Jennifer Morgans trailer caught fire. She was like, you know, quit nothing aint gonna never happen to me..And it did.. It was an accident, after all. It wasnt payback. But Jennifer, like the center of any Movieland mystery as you will see hides her secret well. And then she winds up face down on her bed. And though his days as a suspect are apparently over, Tom Morgan still worries that a cop might someday come knocking at his door. He indicated to me that he did not remember telling Tom Morgan any of these facts. Working on it. The people I care about know I didnt do it, and thats good enough for me.. And Id love to be able to solve it today. Murder Info. Boone was a young investigator with the sheriffs office at the time and soon learned there was much more to this call than fire. HORRY COUNTY, SC (WBTW) - Since 1978, the Criminal Investigations Division of the Horry County Police Department reports there are 49 unsolved homicides. But then, with his investigators instinct engaged, he came up with his plan to follow his suspicions. Many, though theyd never met Tom Morgan were now deeply suspicious. But ridiculous. Thats the time when Pat suggested Tom knew too much about the killingthat he knew things only the murderer would know. And who might that mysterious suspicious somebody have been? Boone pieced together a timeline for the day of the killing. RightrightSheriff Boone: At the time I think the fire was set, right before it was called in at 12:28.Morrison: So, if that was a deliberately set fire, you can put him right hereSheriff Boone: I can put him in this street.