Missing woman's husband detained after skeletal remains found

Oxford, N.C. — WRAL News has learned that investigators believe skeletal remains found Tuesday afternoon belong to missing Stem mother Kelly Morris.

Her husband, Scott Morris, was taken into custody and was being booked late Tuesday at the Oxford magistrate's office.

A judge has signed a court order granting emergency custody of the Morrises' 6-year-old daughter to her maternal grandparents. A hearing will be held Friday.

Kelly Morris, 28, was last seen at her home on Sept. 3, 2008.

The following day, the house she shared with her family, including her husband, caught fire, which officials ruled was arson. Hours afterward, authorities found Morris' car about a mile from her home with her keys, purse and cell phone inside.

Since her disappearance, authorities and volunteers have searched numerous times to find her.

Investigators are awaiting confirmation of the official identity of the remains from the State Medical Examiner's Office.

The sheriff would not say Tuesday what the charges against Scott Morris are, and officials would not allow WRAL News access to the arrest paperwork, which is a matter of public record.

Investigators have called Scott Morris a person of interest in her disappearance, and he has been a focus of investigators in multiple search warrants related to the case.

Family members and friends told authorities the couple was having marital problems and had talked about divorce, investigators’ affidavits say. They also indicate inconsistencies between Scott Morris' account and those of others regarding his actions in the hours after he says he last saw his wife and the following day.

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Latest Comments

Come on Granville County, don't be so redneck -- did the man do it, probably, but he's innocent until proven guilty! I'm from Granville county; however, at this point not proud to say so because you sound like a lynch mob.

eccgc
November 19, 2009 7:44 p.m.

tarheelblue919 said, "I wouldnt wish this experience on anyone!"

I agree. But, your "free will" argument goes out the window when you have massive, daily suffering (do I really need to repeat the 30,000 starving children example?) that any loving creature (like you or me) would end in a split-second if we were able.

hereandnow99
November 19, 2009 9:05 a.m.

No thanks, Deathrow...grew up in church, read a few (competing) religious books and that's why I now ask the hard questions...why would a loving, powerful god allow 30,000 children to starve to death every day?

He'd either be uncaring or powerless. Either way...not worth any worship, IMO.

hereandnow99
November 19, 2009 9:00 a.m.

I don't understand! Why murder your wife? It has GOT to be cheaper and simpler to simply divorce and everybody goes their separate way. Why do spouses try to get away with murder? Don't they know the spouse is almost ALWAYS the prime suspect. How can they be so stupid!! We won't even get into the subject of right and wrong...

Vietnam Vet
November 18, 2009 3:27 p.m.

NC..man

I doesn't matter who ends up with what......

death should not be an option to get out of divorce.....

He burnt his own home down, and killed his wife out of greed.

I would rather live in a hole, and know I did the right thing, than to have killed to think I could benefit from it.

I do not understand your basis or rationalization. Makes it sound like it was an excusable action.....

I hope her children will soon be together again. That has broken my heart since she became missing.

The children need one another now as much as ever.

My continued condolences to her family, her children, and friends. I know this is a sad day, but it is also a momentous one, as Kelly will finally begin to get justice for her death.....I hope.