Suspect in Conneticut killing lived in Boulder Colorado

Left: Beautiful Johanna Justin-Jinich

May 8, 2009
Howard Panskratz
The Denver Post

BOULDER — The alleged killer of Colorado resident and Connecticut college student Johanna Justin-Jinich recently lived in a quiet Boulder neighborhood, apparently renting an apartment from a single mom who lived at the residence.

When Stephen Paul Morgan was stopped outside the Red & Black Cafe in Middletown, Conn., on Wednesday shortly after Justin-Jinich of Timnath was gunned down, he gave his address as 1245 Drexel St. in Boulder, Colorado.

At the time, Morgan, 29, was not arrested but let go. However, authorities began a manhunt for Morgan after Justin-Jinich's father, Dr. Daniel Jinich of Fort Collins, told police that Morgan had stalked his daughter in 2007.

Later, police in Middletown found a red 2001 Nissan Sentra bearing Colorado registration 921NNX parked in the northeast parking lot of the cafe. An NCIC check revealed that the vehicle was registered to Morgan.

Morgan turned himself in to police Thursday night in Meriden, Conn. He was arraigned Friday in Middletown Superior Court. A judge increased his bond from $10 million to $15 million.

His landlady, Patricia Wolter, who lives at 1245 Drexel St., declined comment when approached this afternoon by a Denver Post reporter. She said she was not interested in talking.

Neighbors said that Wolter rented a basement apartment on a regular basis over the years.
Most tenants were men and some were ex-military, they said. Morgan served in the Navy.
On Friday, neighbors on the street were cutting their lawns and cleaning their yards beneath Boulder's Flatirons.
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None recognized the photo of Morgan that appeared on Page 17A of Friday's Denver Post. None recalled talking to him; however, Morgan's appearance has changed dramatically since that photo.

He has grown a beard, let his hair grow out and has gained considerable weight.

Residents, who asked that their names not be used, expressed shock that somebody living in their midst could have committed such a crime.

Morgan (right) was enrolled for two semesters as a "non-degree" student at the University of Colorado-Boulder, said Bronson Hilliard, director of media relations for the university.

Hilliard said that Morgan was enrolled in Spring 2007 and Fall 2007, but school records don't indicate what courses he took.

Hilliard said that anybody living in Boulder or the adjacent area can sign up for classes as a "non-degree" student. They are allowed to attend the classes when space is available, said the spokesman.

According to the arrest affidavit filed in Connecticut, Justin-Jinich was a summer school student at New York University in 2007. She filed a report with the New York Police Department, according to the affidavit, complaining that Morgan was stalking her by calling her cell phone and by email.

Authorities said that an examination showed the emails to be "threatening and disturbing."
Police also recovered a composition book that was believed to have belonged to Morgan. It mentioned seeing all of the beautiful and smart people at Wesleyan University in Middletown.

On one of the pages, there was a entry dated May 6 at 11 a.m. which says "think it okay to kill Jews, and go on a killing spree at the school," according to the affidavit.

Another entry read, "Kill Johanna. She must die," according to the affidavit.

Sarah Huntley, spokeswoman for the Boulder Police Department, said that Connecticut authorities originally contacted the Colorado Information Analysis Center which distributes information to Colorado law enforcement agencies.

As a result, Boulder officers on Thursday were issued a description of Morgan as well as his photo and been asked to watch for him. Huntley said today that no searches or search warrants have been executed by the Boulder Police Department.

She said that had the FBI sought to search a residence in Boulder they would have asked for the assistance of the Boulder Police Department, but that has not happened.

Commander Phil West of the Boulder Sheriff's Office said this morning that his office had not conducted any searches or executed any search warrants in connection with the Boulder case.
Prior to living in Boulder, Morgan had lived in Colorado Springs several years beginning in 2002.
Morgan's father was quoted in the affidavit as saying he last saw his son late Tuesday and that his son said he had decided to move to Newport, R.I.