Details on murder solicitation charges

From today’s Daily World:

By Jacob Jones

A 52-year-old Ocean Shores man allegedly offered cash and an Acura sedan in exchange for the murder of his wife of 20 years.
The Grays Harbor Prosecutor’s Office has charged James E. Morris with solicitation to commit murder in the first degree after he allegedly tried to hire an undercover detective as a hit man last week.
Court records stated Morris recently approached a friend about hiring someone to kill his estranged wife, another Ocean Shores man and burn down the man’s house. An undercover detective recorded a meeting with Morris on Dec. 22, outlining his requests.
“The defendant stated that he wanted to wait … until he had some money to set things in motion and offered to give (the detective) his wife’s Acura sedan and $2,500 cash,” court records stated. “He stated that he wanted to wait a while, but that he wanted it done.”
Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecutor Gerald Fuller said Morris made an initial appearance in District Court on Dec. 23.
Authorities reported Morris met with the investigator at the rest stop near Elma as deputies prepared to arrest him. Court records stated Morris gave little reason for wanting to kill his wife except describing an argument over her reaction to his use of her car.
“The defendant … explained that he wanted her to feel the same pain as he had,” court records stated. “The defendant talked about how she had treated him on an occasion when he had borrowed her car and been late in returning it.”
Court records stated the wife confirmed the argument, but told authorities “for the most part they got along.”

Morris also allegedly told the detective he wanted to have a man killed after a recent altercation that had resulted in Morris being cited for assault. Court records described the other man as a relative of Morris’ girlfriend.
“The defendant stated (the man) had ‘disrespected him in his house’ and that he wanted him gone, to disappear,” court records stated. “(The detective) asked if he meant that he wanted him dead, and the defendant stated, ‘yes.’ ”

Court records stated Morris told his friend he hoped to hire somebody from the Tacoma area or elsewhere to commit the murders while he was out of town.

“The defendant explained that he wanted to be in the casino on video when this occurred so that he would have an alibi,” court records stated. “The informant told the defendant that he might know someone and that he would get back to the defendant.”

After recording telephone calls and the rest stop meeting, deputies closed in and arrested Morris. He is now being held in the County Jail on $500,000 bail.