The Edmond Sun

Local News

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November 4, 2009

Homeless man faces murder charge

Relative thanks community for outpouring of support

Mark Schlachtenhaufen

EDMOND — Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater filed a first-degree murder charge Wednesday against the man being held in the Bicycle Bob homicide.

Travis Monroe Jim, 20, is accused of killing Dwite Morgan, 54, by stabbing him multiple times with a knife and striking him with a hammer on Oct. 18. Both men were homeless, and the attack occurred at Morgan’s sleep spot in the alley behind Farmers Grain Company, 102 W. First St.

Information on Jim’s attorney was not available at press time.

Morgan’s death ignited an outpouring of support from the community, which included the First Christian Church hosting his funeral service, and residents, businesses and the city funding funeral costs, including a headstone for his grave site.

Adella Graves, of Edmond, a cousin of Morgan’s, said his death came as a shock to her, although she has been concerned about Morgan’s safety for years. Graves said when Dwite was killed she was working to have him come live on her property. She said she has committed the issue into God’s hands and she is praying for Jim’s salvation.

“I pray he gets saved,” Graves said. “I’m concerned about his soul.”

Regarding the outpouring of community support, Graves said she is thankful and somewhat surprised.

“I just didn’t know that many people cared for him,” Graves said. “I was so surprised and so happy.”

Graves said she and Morgan were close. Morgan told her he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior in 1975, she said. Graves said she attended Morgan’s funeral service. About 350 people remembered the man who was a fixture in the community for decades. Edmond Police officers served as pallbearers. Flowers brightened the sanctuary.

“I thought it was beautiful,” Graves said.

Morgan was buried at Edmond’s Gracelawn Cemetery next to his grandmother, Grace Mae Ballard.

Chris Shorow, First Christian’s senior pastor, said he is attempting to visit Jim in jail. Shorow said Morgan’s death was a “terrible tragedy.”

“Two lives were ruined that day,” Shorow said.

In Edmond Police Detective Mark Oak’s affidavit of probable cause, Jim is identified as the person who found Morgan’s body and reported it to police. Jim told police he had known Morgan for about a month.

Jim told police he consumed a large amount of alcohol the previous day. Jim reportedly slept in Morgan’s spot, and claimed Morgan became upset when he refused to abandon the spot. Jim then allegedly grabbed a nearby knife, the affidavit states.



marks@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 108

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