GUILTY MI - Susie Zhao, 33, professional poker player, found fatally burned, Detroit, 13 Jul 2020 *arrest*

[asmi106082]

I won’t bother quoting this ignoramus’ posts since I’m sure they’ll soon be removed.
Clearly someone is threatened by strong, intelligent women. How cute.

 

[Puzzles8]

Here’s a totally different story from the motel owner, saying they didn’t check in together

“The motel owner said Zhao checked in on July 9, checked out July 11 and Morris checked into the same room July 12.

Zhao’s remains were found the next day. The motel owner said they never saw Zhao and Morris together.”

Police release details in murder of woman found burned in White Lake Township

Perhaps this particular motel is known for management's "discretion"?

Might the room have been used earlier in the day for a private poker game? Maybe earlier in the day other people were involved in the game?

I doubt she would have invited people over to her parent's house to play poker.

JMO, MOO

 

[Niner]

He still is not in the court site, so going by the article re hearing for today.

Monday, Sept. 14th:
*Mental Competency Evaluation Hearing (@ 10am CT) – MI – Susie Zhao (33) (last seen by her mother on 7/12/20 @ 5:30pm leaving home, found July 13, 2020 near Pontiac Lake State Recreation park in White Lake Township @ 8:30am, Detroit; due to severe burns to her face & body, authorities needed a week to identify Zhao) - *Jeffrey Bernard Morris (60) was arrested (7/31/20) after being pulled over on a warrant in Ypsilanti. Charged & arraigned (8/4/20) with 1st degree premeditated murder. Denied bond.
Zhao was bound with zip ties, tortured, sexually assaulted & set on fire after meeting a convicted sex offender at a motel the night before her badly burned body was found. Morris is a Tier 3 sex offender.
8/4/20 Update: Arraignment hearing was held. Held without bond. Probable cause hearing on 8/18/20. 8/18/20 Update: Michigan Circuit Court Judge Kelley R. Kostin, who is presiding over the case, ordered Morris to be examined on Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, at 10:00 AM. Such a mental-competency evaluation was a near certainty in the matter, given the extreme nature of the alleged murderer’s actions. Article called this a “probable cause hearing”.

 

[Niner]

Graphic testimony reveals poker player Susie Zhao was burned alive in Waterford

Sept. 14, 2020


The man accused of killing professional poker player Susie Zhao was in court Monday for a preliminary hearing and graphic testimony revealed she had been burned alive.

Jeffery Morris was in court Monday for a preliminary hearing on murder charges in the death of Zhao.
[.....]
But it was the testimony by deputy medical examiner Dr. Andrew Hanosh that revealed she had her hair burned off, her tongue had been burned, and soot was found in her airway, leading to the horrifying conclusion she was alive while being burned.

"It was extensively burned. I would estimate at least 90% of the body's surface area," Dr. Hanosh said.
[.....]
An FBI agent also providing testimony using a map to pinpoint phone records of Morris and the victim to show they had contact with one another.
[......]
Morris, 60, was ordered bound over for trial on first-degree murder charges.

In the end, the judge ruled the prosecution had enough evidence and Morris to be bound over for trial.

 

[Niner]

He is finally in the court system.


09/15/2020 N NOTICE FROM COURT ADMINISTRATOR FILED

09/15/2020 A PROSECUTORS ORDER 20-76232

09/15/2020 ARRESTING AGENCY: WHITE LAKE TWP. POLICE DEPT.

09/15/2020 52/2 DISTRICT COURT 20-002050

09/15/2020 CTN CENTRAL TRACT 63-20-076232-01

09/15/2020 SID STATE ID 1096662E

09/15/2020 DOF DATE OF OFFENSE 07/13/20

09/15/2020 CCA ARRAIGNMENT - THU, 09242020 AT 0830AM

09/15/2020 DCX EXAM FOR 09/14/20 HAD

09/15/2020 DOB BIRTH YEAR - 60

09/15/2020 CHG 750.316-A HOMICIDE-MUR FIRST DEG-PREMED

09/15/2020 BOUND OVER AS CHARGED

09/15/2020 COB CONDITIONS ON BOND

09/15/2020 TYPE: DENIED

09/15/2020 AMOUNT: $0

09/15/2020 APR DATE SET FOR ARRAIGNMENT ON 09242020 08 30 AM Y


link: Court Explorer

 

[Niner]

Thursday, Sept. 24th:
*Arraignment Hearing (@ 8:30am CT) – MI – Susie Zhao (33) (last seen by her mother on July, 12, 2020 @ 5:30pm leaving home, found July 13, 2020 near Pontiac Lake State Recreation park in White Lake Township @ 8:30am, Detroit; due to severe burns (90%) to her face & body, authorities needed a week to identify Zhao) - *Jeffrey Bernard Morris (60) was arrested (7/31/20) after being pulled over on a warrant in Ypsilanti. Charged & arraigned (8/4/20) with 1st degree premeditated murder. Denied bond.
Zhao was bound with zip ties, tortured, sexually assaulted & set on fire after meeting a convicted sex offender at a motel the night before her badly burned body was found. Morris is a Tier 3 sex offender.
8/4/20 Update: Arraignment hearing was held. Held without bond. Probable cause hearing on 8/18/20. 8/18/20 Update: Michigan Circuit Court Judge Kelley R. Kostin, who is presiding over the case, ordered Morris to be examined on Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, at 10:00 AM. Such a mental-competency evaluation was a near certainty in the matter, given the extreme nature of the alleged murderer’s actions. Article called this a “probable cause hearing”.
9/14/20 Update: Witnesses: Ronald Granville (found body). Deputy medical examiner Dr. Andrew Hanosh. FBI agent George Rienerth. In the end, the judge ruled the prosecution had enough evidence and Morris to be bound over for trial on first-degree murder charges. Arraignment hearing on 9/24/20.

 

[margarita25]

Horrific.

I wonder what other cases this perp may be tied to.

 

[Niner]

09/24/2020 GIF GEN INFO FILED Order Document

09/24/2020 AFFIDAVIT/PROOF OF SERVICE FILED

09/17/2020 N NTC CT ADMN FILED

09/16/2020 NSE NOTICE SEEK SENTENCE ENHANCEMENT FILED 4TH OR SUB

09/16/2020 ABM ARRAIGNMENT BY MAIL

09/16/2020 APR DATE SET FOR PRETRIAL ON 10152020 10 30 AM Y

09/16/2020 ROA RECORD OF ARRAIGNMENT FILED

link: Court Explorer

 

[MajorHoople]

From Court TV

Court Docs Reveal Pro Poker Player Was Alive When She Was Set On Fire

 

[Niner]

Docket update:

Date Code Description
10/14/2020 MTN MOTION FILED FOR EXPERT FEES/BRF

10/14/2020 MPS MIFILE PROOF OF SERVICE FILED

10/14/2020 ORD ORDER FILED INVESTIGATOR FUNDS AT CTY EXPENSE
10/09/2020 TRN TRANSCRIPT FILED PRELIM 09/14/20

10/05/2020 MRR REQ/NTC-FILM/MEDIA COVERAGE FILED

10/05/2020 AFFIDAVIT/PROOF OF SERVICE FILED

link: Court Explorer

 

[Niner]

Thursday, october 15th:
*Pretrial Hearing (@ 10:30am CT) – MI – Susie Zhao (33) (last seen by her mother on July, 12, 2020 @ 5:30pm leaving home, found July 13, 2020 near Pontiac Lake State Recreation park in White Lake Township @ 8:30am, Detroit; due to severe burns (90%) to her face & body, authorities needed a week to identify Zhao) - *Jeffery Bernard Morris (60) was arrested (7/31/20) after being pulled over on a warrant in Ypsilanti. Charged (8/4/20) & arraigned (9/24/20) with 1st degree premeditated murder. Plead not guilty. Denied bond.
Zhao was bound with zip ties, tortured, sexually assaulted & set on fire after meeting a convicted sex offender at a motel the night before her badly burned body was found. Morris is a Tier 3 sex offender.
Court info from 8/4/20 thru 8/18/20 reference post #86 here:
MI - Susie Zhao, 33, professional poker player, found fatally burned, Detroit, 13 Jul 2020 *arrest*
9/14/20 Update: Witnesses: Ronald Granville (found body). Deputy medical examiner Dr. Andrew Hanosh. FBI agent George Rienerth. In the end, the judge ruled the prosecution had enough evidence and Morris to be bound over for trial on first-degree murder charges. Arraignment hearing on 9/24/20.
9/24/20 Update: Plead not guilty. Notice to seek sentence enhancement filed 4th or sub. Next pretrial hearing on 10/15/20.

 

[Niner]

Morris Trial Date for Zhao Murder Set for March 22

October 15, 2020

The Michigan court system moved one step closer to putting Jeffery Bernard Morris on trial for the first-degree murder of longtime poker player Susie Zhao.

A pretrial hearing in the Oakland County district court today resulted in an official pretrial date set for February and the start of the trial in March.
[.....]
That hearing on September 14 put Morris in front of the judge for a five-hour overview of the case, during which time Prosecuting Attorney Kenneth Frazee questioned numerous witnesses. All of their testimony supported the case of first-degree murder, including the forensic pathologist who described Zhao’s injuries in horrifying detail.

Morris’ attorney called no witnesses. After closing statements, Judge Kostin quickly and unequivocally bound the matter over to the circuit court for trial. She was also clear to set no bond.
[.....]
Quick Pretrial Hearing Sets Dates
Circuit Court Judge Martha Anderson of Pontiac, Michigan, received the case and participated in a pretrial hearing on the morning of October 15.
[.....]
Meanwhile, the court set the following dates:

Pretrial Date: February 11

Trial Date: March 22 onward

 

[Niner]

from court site:

Date Code Description
10/16/2020 APR DATE SET FOR PRETRIAL ON 02112021 10 30 AM

10/16/2020 APR DATE SET FOR TRIAL ON 03222021 09 00 AM

link: Court Explorer

 

[JerseyGirl]

Jury selection is expected to begin March 22, 2021 for the case against Jeffery Morris, 60, a convicted sex offender facing a first-degree premeditated murder charge for Zhao’s death. Morris is also scheduled for a final pretrial hearing on Feb. 11. Judge Martha Anderson of Oakland County Circuit Court is overseeing the case.

Trial date set for Susie Zhao murder case, pro poker player brutally raped and set on fire

 

[Niner]

Thursday, Feb. 11th:
*Pretrial Hearing (@ 10:30am CT) – MI – Susie Zhao (33) (last seen by her mother on July, 12, 2020 @ 5:30pm leaving home, found July 13, 2020 near Pontiac Lake State Recreation park in White Lake Township @ 8:30am, Detroit; due to severe burns (90%) to her face & body, authorities needed a week to identify Zhao) - *Jeffery Bernard Morris (60) was arrested (7/31/20) after being pulled over on a warrant in Ypsilanti. Charged (8/4/20) & arraigned (9/24/20) with 1st degree premeditated murder. Plead not guilty. Denied bond.
Zhao was bound with zip ties, tortured, sexually assaulted & set on fire after meeting a convicted sex offender at a motel the night before her badly burned body was found. Morris is a Tier 3 sex offender.
Trial set to begin on 3/22/21 with jury selection.
Court info from 8/4/20 thru 8/18/20 reference post #86 here:
MI - Susie Zhao, 33, professional poker player, found fatally burned, Detroit, 13 Jul 2020 *arrest*
9/14/20 Update: Witnesses: Ronald Granville (found body). Deputy medical examiner Dr. Andrew Hanosh. FBI agent George Rienerth. In the end, the judge ruled the prosecution had enough evidence and Morris to be bound over for trial on first-degree murder charges. Arraignment hearing on 9/24/20.
9/24/20 Update: Plead not guilty. Notice to seek sentence enhancement filed 4th or sub. Next pretrial hearing on 10/15/20. 10/14/20: Order filed for investigator funds at County expense. Motion filed for expert fees. 10/15/20: Order filed for final pretrial. Request/Notice of media coverage filed.
10/15/20 Update: Next pretrial hearing on 2/11/21 @ 10:30am & trial will begin on 3/22/21 @ 9am with jury selection.

 

[Niner]

Okay - it looks like his case was moved to District Court - so from the bold below - I looked at the 52nd Dist. Court/Div. 2 - and case #20-00250 - found it!


from docket - Oakland County Circuit Court:
Date Code Description
02/11/2021 MPS MIFILE PROOF OF SERVICE FILED
02/11/2021 RMD ORDER OF REMAND FILED 52/2
02/11/2021 AFFIDAVIT/PROOF OF SERVICE FILED

02/10/2021 OTH ZOOM VIDEO APPEARANCE
02/10/2021 OTH DEF WAIVED PHYSICAL PRESENCE
02/10/2021 M MOTION TO AMEND GENERAL INFO - DENIED
02/10/2021 DM DEFENSE MOTION (ORAL) TO REMAND TO DISTRICT COURT - GRTD
02/10/2021 FD FINAL DISPOSITION
02/10/2021 REM REMANDED 52/2 DISTRICT CT. 20-002050

02/05/2021 MRR REQ/NTC-FILM/MEDIA COVERAGE FILED
02/05/2021 RES RESPONSE FILED TO MTN AMD GIF/
02/05/2021 MPS MIFILE PROOF OF SERVICE FILED
02/05/2021 AFFIDAVIT/PROOF OF SERVICE FILED
02/05/2021 MPS MIFILE PROOF OF SERVICE FILED
02/05/2021 BRF BRIEF FILED RES TO MTN AMD GIF

02/02/2021 BRF BRIEF FILED SUPPT RESP MTN AMD GIF
02/02/2021 MPS MIFILE PROOF OF SERVICE FILED
02/02/2021 AFFIDAVIT/PROOF OF SERVICE FILED

02/01/2021 AFFIDAVIT/PROOF OF SERVICE FILED
02/01/2021 MTN MOTION FILED AMD GIF
02/01/2021 MPS MIFILE PROOF OF SERVICE FILED
02/01/2021 MPR MOTION PRAECIPE FILED FOR 02102021 JUDGE 05

01/14/2021 AFFIDAVIT/PROOF OF SERVICE FILED

01/02/2021 CPA CHANGE OF PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY/PROSECUTOR P23242

11/10/2020 AFFIDAVIT/PROOF OF SERVICE FILED

10/28/2020 AFFIDAVIT/PROOF OF SERVICE FILED

10/26/2020 STO STIP/ORD FILED DNA SAMPLES
10/26/2020 AFFIDAVIT/PROOF OF SERVICE FILED

10/16/2020 APR DATE SET FOR PRETRIAL ON 02112021 10 30 AM


link: Court Explorer


from 52nd Dist. court:
Case ID Case type Case Title Name Yr Birth Party Type
20-002050 FY STATE OF MICHIGAN V MORRIS MORRIS, JEFFERY, BERNARD 1960 DEFENDANT

Next Hearing Case Status Court Location
02/23/2021 02:00 PM SCHEDULED FOR EXAMINATION DISPOSED 52-2

link: https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/CaseSearch/Court/D52-2/Search?SearchText=Jeffery+Bernard+Morris

 

[Niner]

Felony Murder Charge Added Against Jeffery Morris in Susie Zhao Case

Feb. 14, 2021

Jeffery Bernard Morris, the accused murderer of poker player Susie Zhao, has had his case remanded to its originating court as prosecutors continue fleshing out an additional charge of felony murder against him.

Morris’s trial in an Oakland County (Michigan) Circuit Court was scheduled to get underway this month, with the 60-year drifter and convicted sex offender already facing a charge of premeditated, first-degree murder in the death of Zhao, whose bound and burned body was discovered in the parking lot of an Oakland County nature refuge on July 13, 2020.

However, Circuit Court Judge Martha Anderson ordered the case returned to the 52-2 District Court where charges were first filed so the additional charge or charges can be appended to the case. A felony murder charge can be added when the murder occurs during the commission of another felony; in this case, investigators had ready evidence of both kidnapping and sexual assault, and a charge or charges of that nature may also be considered.
[.....]
Morris was denied bond at his initial court appearance and remains held in an Oakland County jail. The remanding of his case means that his initial trial date has been cancelled. No new date for his trial on the expanded charges will be set until those charges are finalized by prosecutors.

 

[amandab]

Jesus, what a terrifying case.

 

[Niner]

Looks like hearing has been moved...

20-002050 FY STATE OF MICHIGAN V MORRIS MORRIS, JEFFERY, BERNARD 1960 DEFENDANT $0.00 03/08/2021 08:35 AM SCHEDULED FOR EXAMINATION DISPOSED 52-2

link: https://micourt.courts.michigan.gov/CaseSearch/Court/D52-2/Search?SearchText=Jeffery+Bernard+Morris

 

[swedeheart]

(My bad. I think this is just a repost of the same video from May.)