Found Deceased OK - Cassidy Ritchie, 39, involved in domestic disturbance, car missing, Tulsa, 20 Jan 2024

[imstilla.grandma]

“We found the car on the side of the road, out there, it looked like it had been going off-roading, had quite a bit of damage, a lot of dirt and grass on it and, so we were again, that was another reason we’re extremely concerned," Watkins said. “They went off road somewhere with the car being parked out there on Highway 412 that far East. We’re guessing its somewhere between the Casino and the I Don’t Care Bar and Grill out that way."

FOX23 speaks with family of missing Tulsa woman, husband named person of interest

Tulsa Police said they now suspect foul play in the disappearance of 39-year old Cassidy Ritchie and are now considering her husband of less than a month as a person of interest.

www.fox23.com

 

[Knox]

He's not going to tell anything. Likely wants to be extradited to Texas and face the lesser charges there.

 

[GraceG]

A lot of the California court online search portals for the judicial system are now charging a fee for a simple name search. I did find some MSM articles but the person there spelled his last name with an "e" "Moreland". Still checking - thanks for the heads up.

I was hitting a roadblock with the records, as the LA Superior court system wanted $$ to do each name search. I found another access site to the court records, not a lot of detail but enough if you are fmiliar with the state Criminal code (or can google the codes). In 2001 he was sentenced to 18 years in state prison in California. One of the charges was 664-187(A) which I recognized - that's Attempted Murder. He had a prior 4 year prison sentence in 1993 for assault with a deadly weapon (CA Criminal Code 245(A)(1)) MORLAND, CHRIS EDWARD JR There are a lot more prior to that one linked through the unicourt database system - multiple arrests going back 30 some years. The general link to the name search is this page: Search | UniCourt Thanks Knox - I'd not have looked here if you hadn't shared what you did.

 

[swanniee11]

https://www.facebook.com/search/posts?q=Cassidy%20Ritchie&filters=eyJyZWNlbnRfcG9zdHM6MCI6IntcIm5hbWVcIjpcInJlY2VudF9wb3N0c1wiLFwiYXJnc1wiOlwiXCJ9In0%3D

Update to Missing Person Cassidy Ritchie
This morning, Detectives obtained a search warrant on Cassidy Ritchie's vehicle and recovered her body underneath clothing in the back of the SUV

 

[Linear13]

https://www.facebook.com/search/posts?q=Cassidy%20Ritchie&filters=eyJyZWNlbnRfcG9zdHM6MCI6IntcIm5hbWVcIjpcInJlY2VudF9wb3N0c1wiLFwiYXJnc1wiOlwiXCJ9In0%3D

Update to Missing Person Cassidy Ritchie
This morning, Detectives obtained a search warrant on Cassidy Ritchie's vehicle and recovered her body underneath clothing in the back of the SUV

Wait…what? They recovered the car days ago! Surely someone looked in the car. So do the police need a search warrant to look into a car of a reported missing person found abandoned? What if the person is unconscious and in need of medical help? If it takes 3 days to get a search warrant the person could die.

I know if it were my daughter/sister/mother and police reported that they had recovered the car I would open the car myself especially if it was piled up with clothing or debris where she may be hiding or could be hidden.

All comments are my own opinion and/or speculation.

 

[GraceG]

Wait…what? They recovered the car days ago! Surely someone looked in the car. So do the police need a search warrant to look into a car of a reported missing person found abandoned? What if the person is unconscious and in need of medical help? If it takes 3 days to get a search warrant the person could die.

I know if it were my daughter/sister/mother and police reported that they had recovered the car I would open the car myself especially if it was piled up with clothing or debris where she may be hiding or could be hidden.

All comments are my own opinion and/or speculation.

Procedures for searching a vehicle that's been damaged/abandoned can vary depending on who impounded it - if LE impounds it, they typically do an inventory at that time as they could incur civil liability if something of value is then reported missing from the car. If it is moved by a towing company to an impound lot because it's a hazard where it's been found, then I could see having to get a warrant but I don't know enough about this particular case, or OK law to make an opinion with the missing person element thrown in. Here's a good article (FBI bulletin that's available on the web to the public) on search warrants and searches of abandoned property. https://www.njsacop.org/rc_files/79...ed with the Person - FBI Bulletin Article.pdf

 

[Ladyotm]

Wait…what? They recovered the car days ago! Surely someone looked in the car. So do the police need a search warrant to look into a car of a reported missing person found abandoned? What if the person is unconscious and in need of medical help? If it takes 3 days to get a search warrant the person could die.

I know if it were my daughter/sister/mother and police reported that they had recovered the car I would open the car myself especially if it was piled up with clothing or debris where she may be hiding or could be hidden.

All comments are my own opinion and/or speculation.

Such a sad ending, which we all were guessing. I wish the search warrant process was automatically a part of the investigation from the beginning. We know she's driving this type of car. Let's get the vin number from state records and get a search warrant so we can investigate it once we've found it. I guess more probable cause than someone missing would be needed to obtain one.

 

[Knox]

Oh wow, that wasn't where or how I expected Cassidy to be found
My heartfelt condolences to her Son & Family~

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“Cassidy couldn’t go a day without talking to her kids, her mom or somebody and when two days went by I’m like ‘No this ain’t right,’” a third coworker said.

“It was just too much, she married so fast, she didn’t talk to us, she quit her job here, that wasn’t her, she loved us, she loved this job,” a fourth coworker said

“She wanted to give him a chance because he portrayed that he was doing good and changing his life around,” the second coworker said.

“She loved everybody guys, she really did, and she loved her kids and her momma and her daddy and her brother, and I know what love is and she loved hard and she fell in love real fast on this one and that hurt too, cause she didn’t know who she was loving. And it hurts, it hurts a lot,” the fourth coworker said.

Ritchie's family released the following statement via Facebook:

"Our mother has been found. Unfortunately, she is no longer with us. We cannot say anything more as it is an ongoing investigation. Thank you to everyone who took the time out of their day yesterday to help search for her. Thank you to all the friends, family, and strangers who came out, and thank you to everyone who has kept us in your thoughts and prayers. Please give my family and I privacy as we deal with the grieving process."

Former co-workers remember 39-year-old woman after Tulsa Police find her body

Former coworkers of Ritchie, are remembering Ritchie as a mom, a daughter and a great friend.

www.fox23.com

 

[GuyfromCanada]

The suspect, Morland, was arrested for 1st Degree Murder on 1/29/2024 and the case was submitted to the District Attorney's Office to file formal charges.

https://www.facebook.com/tulsapolice/posts/pfbid0bqFNBJ9wiEdkUUU3csehHUSdTu77j5UhqCNYfPach4st3THkcSa7jqMmCmyRj2MTl

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Video: Rose Bowl Community Center to host celebration of life for missing Tulsa woman who was found dead

The Rose Bowl Community Center will host a celebration of life for a missing Tulsa woman who was found dead.

www.fox23.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Both said they weren't aware of Morland's past with domestic violence, and that Cassidy Ritchie might not have been either.

"(Morland) just said the right things at the wrong time (to gain Cassidy's trust)," David said. "And he just took advantage of her."

"She saw the good in everybody and she just, she didn't deserve this at all. No one does," Cheryl Ritchie said.

"Our new family motto is, 'He messed with the wrong family.' he messed with the wrong family," she added.

Because they were married, detectives had to ask Morland for permission to search the vehicle.

Morland refused the request and as of Jan. 29 still refuses to answer any questions about Ritchie.

Because of this, according to Lt. Brandon Watkins, police had to get a search warrant before they could search the car even though they had it in their possession.

"It's a much more trusive(sic) search. We're looking for trace evidence, blood evidence. And what you don't want to do is contaminate the crime scene," Lt. Watkins told 2 News.

Family angry after missing Tulsa woman's body found

Her family last saw Cassidy Ritchie, 39, on Jan. 20. Police now believe Ritchie might be the victim of first degree murder by her own husband, whom she married Jan. 7.

www.kjrh.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

"Sunday when she last spoke to a member of the family and then Monday when the car was wrecked. We believe she was there the whole time,” said Watkins. "When we found the car on Friday, obviously she was there multiple days in the freezing weather.”

Watkins said Ritchie was severely beaten. They are waiting to hear back from the medical examiner as to the exact cause of death.

Investigators believe her husband, Chris Morland, was with the vehicle until last Wednesday.

"We know he was attempting to get a ride away from the car on Tuesday, but no one was able to come pick him up until Wednesday morning. So he was there with the vehicle until Wednesday,” Watkins said.

As to the Good Samaritan who pulled her vehicle out of the ditch near the "I Don't Care Bar and Grill" after it was wrecked on Monday, police are still asking for the public's help.

"We don't know if she was sitting in the car or if she was nowhere to be seen. It would give us a better idea of the timeline, but we're still looking for that person,” Watkins said.

Tulsa Police believe Cassidy Ritchie was inside her SUV the entire time she was missing

FOX23 is learning more about the details surrounding the disappearance and death of 39-year old Cassidy Ritchie that’s now being investigated as a homicide.

www.fox23.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Ritchie’s eldest son, Joey David, hammered a cross into the ground at the side of Highway 412 to mark the spot.

“That’s where she was last and we just want to be where she was and want her to know that all the family were there and we all care for her still,” David said.

“We want her to know that we care for her we’ll keep caring for her and we’ll keep fighting for her until she gets the justice she deserves,” David said.

David told FOX23 the place where the cross sits is really important for the family, and they want people to remember her as they drive by.

“I want the story to be out there and be able to say, ‘Hey that’s Cassidy Ritchie’s cross right there,’ you know just kind of, even for a split second, just know, ‘Hey that’s Cassidy Ritchie right there and that’s where she was’ and just know who she was and why that cross is there and I want it to be there for a purpose for people to remember her and always think about her,” David said.

Cross placed at side of highway where missing woman was found dead

A crowd of Ritchie’s loved ones turned out to honor her with tributes and a special cross ceremony at the site where her body was discovered inside her badly damaged car.

www.fox23.com

 

[Sincerely]

Ritchie’s eldest son, Joey David, hammered a cross into the ground at the side of Highway 412 to mark the spot.

“That’s where she was last and we just want to be where she was and want her to know that all the family were there and we all care for her still,” David said.

“We want her to know that we care for her we’ll keep caring for her and we’ll keep fighting for her until she gets the justice she deserves,” David said.

David told FOX23 the place where the cross sits is really important for the family, and they want people to remember her as they drive by.

“I want the story to be out there and be able to say, ‘Hey that’s Cassidy Ritchie’s cross right there,’ you know just kind of, even for a split second, just know, ‘Hey that’s Cassidy Ritchie right there and that’s where she was’ and just know who she was and why that cross is there and I want it to be there for a purpose for people to remember her and always think about her,” David said.

Cross placed at side of highway where missing woman was found dead

A crowd of Ritchie’s loved ones turned out to honor her with tributes and a special cross ceremony at the site where her body was discovered inside her badly damaged car.

www.fox23.com

I live nearby and will think of Cassidy, a person who I’ve never met, when I pass by this cross. What a sad ending but as I read, I can tell she was so loved.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The State Medical Examiner says Cassidy Ritchie's manner of death is a homicide due to multiple blunt force injuries to her head, middle section, arms and legs.

State Medical Examiner Rules Cause Of Death Of Tulsa Woman As Homicide

The State Medical Examiner says Cassidy Ritchie's manner of death is a homicide due to multiple blunt force injuries to her head, middle section, arms and legs.

www.newson6.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

"He actually did confess that one time then turned around and did a not guilty plea," said Cheryl

Family of murdered Tulsa woman holds cross ceremony in her honor

The family of a murdered Tulsa woman held a cross ceremony in her honor close to a year after she went missing and was found dead last January.

www.pryorinfopub.com