Log in to WRAL.com with one click using your favorite social network:
OR
Log in using your WRAL.com account:



Wrong email/password combination.

Forgot password?

Register with WRAL.com using your favorite social network:
OR
Register for a WRAL.com account using our web form.

Login Options

12:03 a.m. • 2-9-12

Weather Forecast for Raleigh

  • Today: Partly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 52° F
  • Fri: Mostly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 58° F
  • Sat: Partly Cloudy.
    • Hi: 52° F

Other Locations

> 7 Day Forecast

Doppler Image

Marketplace Links

Social Links

Main Menu

Judge extends temporary custody of Morrises' daughter


e-mail print friendly
Scott and Kelly Morris
Scott and Kelly Morris

A District Court judge on Friday extended an order giving temporary custody of the 6-year-old daughter of Scott and Kelly Morris to her maternal grandfather until at least January.

Pat Currin and his wife, Juanita Currin, filed a request for custody Tuesday, the same day authorities discovered his daughter, Kelly Morris', skeletal remains in a wooded area in Creedmoor.

The Stem mother of two had been missing for more than 14 months after she failed to show up for work on Sept. 4, 2008. The same day, the house she shared with her family caught fire and her car, purse and cell phone were found in a neighborhood about a mile from her home.

Her husband, Scott Morris, 35, was charged this week with first-degree murder and with fraudulently burning a dwelling.

He is in jail without bond, but he did appear at the brief hearing Friday about the custody of the couple's daughter, Haley.

Kelly Morris' other daughter, Taylor, has been staying with her biological father since her mother's disappearance.

"In my position, I really don't see what I can do," he told Judge Daniel Finch. "The only thing that I ask is that I would like for you to allow my parents to see (Haley)."

Scott Morris did not indicate whether he planned to hire an attorney to represent him in the civil matter. He has 30 days to respond to the complaint.

In the document, Kelly Morris' father and stepmother allege that in the months prior to their daughter's disappearance that Scott Morris "engaged in a pattern of emotional abuse directed toward Kelly and both of her children."

It also cites an affidavit of an State Bureau of Investigation agent claiming that Scott Morris had "punched holes in the wall during arguments and once threw a computer out a window."

The Currins also state in their complaint that "the continued separation of Haley from her sister Taylor is causing Haley substantial emotional distress" and that Scott Morris had been uncooperative in helping his daughter cope with the loss of their mother.

Pat Currin declined to talk about the custody issue Friday but said he and his family are planning a funeral for his daughter.

"This is just one more page in the book," Currin said, speaking publicly for the first time since his daughter's remains were found.

"It's some relief," he continued. "We're glad to have found Kelly. At least we got some closure with that."

Meanwhile, Scott Morris remains in custody of the Granville County Sheriff's Office.

At a news conference Wednesday, Sheriff Brindell Wilkins said dental records helped identify Kelly Morris' remains but he declined to comment further on the criminal case, including how she might have died or a motive.

Family members told WRAL News that the remains were found in the Tar River Fox Pen along Sam Moss Hayes Road.

According to search warrant affidavits related to the case, investigators said the couple had been having marital problems and had been talking about the divorce.

RELATED TOPICS: Granville County, Hayes Barton

e-mail print friendly

52 Comments


WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

View Comments VIEW ALL 52 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments
kellyslicklen,

I think you need to stop writing on here. We've all heard enough from you.

To the grandfather who now has custody, Stay strong and your family is in my families prayer's.

kellyslicklen -- Are you Scott's girlfriend? You're not the only one that knows these people. It's pretty hard for a parent to be a parent when he's behind bars. So it makes Pat a bad guy that he has money??? I guess you feel sorry that Scott and his father didn't have the money that Pat does so he could continue to cover up his "mistake" and live as a free in this world for the rest of his life? Scott has a funny way of showing love for his his daughter by murdering her mother! I could only hope and pray I get called up for jury duty on this one! If Scott and his family are so innocent -- why didn't they help out? Don't you think that would've made them look better -- showing concern and pitching in??

i'll (try) to end with this: i also think its appropriate to point out that no matter what you say on your soap box, scott morris is in jail being charged with murdering his childs mother and setting fire to their home. mr. pat currin is currently a law abiding citizen. furthermore, i think it goes without saying that nobody is perfect and theres some reason for every single one of us not to like eachother b/c well, every single person in this world has their imperfections. but hey, that would be such a miserable state of mind to live in....anyhow-glad that kelly has been found, that her children, family and friends have begun to get some answers and now they can take the steps to heal.

That's true, our opinion doesn't matter. Too bad they go by who has the most money. If Scott's parents had the money Kelly's dad does I bet they'd fight like hell. It's not about who/what/where is best for her it's about who can pay for a better laywer. Even if they clear Scott's dad they will probably never get her back because Kelly's dad 'won't allow it'. I wouldn't be surprised if he's got the judge on payroll. Of course they look like stand up people, they're rich and proud of it! Just because they come across as stand up people, it doesn't mean they are. Very sad. My heart breaks for poor, beautiful, sweet, innocent Haley. God help her through this mess...

cghsmom, Haley has reunited with her sister every other weekend for at least the last 8 months AND Scott has had Haley in therapy/getting help.

View Comments VIEW ALL 52 COMMENTS
Report It

Multimedia

Click Here