THE MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING A
PROFESSIONAL POKER PLAYER.
WE BEGIN WITH NEW INFORMATION
COMING TO LIGHT IN A MURDER CASE
THAT HAS MADE NATIONAL
HEADLINES.
>> Devin: SUSIE ZHAO WAS FOUND
DEAD LAST MONTH AT THE PONTIAC
RECREATION CENTER.
60-YEAR-OLD JEFFREY MORRIS WAS
ARRESTED AND FORMALLY CHARGED
WITH HER MURDER.
SHAWN LEY IS LIVE IN PONTIAC
WITH WHAT WE’VE LEARNED ABOUT
MORRIS’S CRIMINAL HISTORY AND
WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE MURDER.
SHAWN?
>> Shawn: THAT’S ONE OF THE KEY
QUESTIONS.
HOW DOES A PROFESSIONAL POKER
PLAYER WHO WAS LIVING IN L.A.
KNOW A MAN STAYING TEMPORARILY
HERE ON THIS STREET IN PONTIAC?
OUR SOURCES TELLING US THEY MET
UP AT A MOTEL THE NIGHT BEFORE
THE MURDER.
THE MURDER.
HOURS LATER, SUSIE ZHAO’S BODY
WAS FOUND BURNED IN A NEARBY
PARK.
JEFFREY BERNARD MORRIS, A
60-YEAR-OLD FROM PONTIAC
ARRAIGNED LATE TODAY.
MORRIS IS IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER
HAVING A MEDICAL ISSUE EARLIER
IN THE DAY.
HE IS FACING CHARGES FOR THE
PREMEDITATED MURDER OF SUSIE
ZHAO.
HER BURNED BODY FOUND AT THE
PONTIAC LAKE RECREATION CENTER.
PONTIAC LAKE RECREATION CENTER.
HE HAS A HISTORY OF VIOLENT
CRIMES.
>> THE COURT IS GOING TO DENY
BOND.
>> Shawn: HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW:
ONCE THE REMAINS WERE
IDENTIFIED, SHE WAS A
PROFESSIONAL POKER PLAYER LIVING
IN L.A.
THEY HAD TO CONSIDER IF THAT HAD
ANYTHING TO DO WITH HER MURDER.
POKER WAS LIKELY NOT A FACTOR.
WHEN LIFE GOT DIFFICULT, IT WAS
COMMON FOR HER TO COME HOME TO
HER MOTHER’S HOME IN THE
WATERFORD AREA.
THE NIGHT BEFORE HER REMAINS
THE NIGHT BEFORE HER REMAINS
WERE FOUND, SHE MET HIM AT AN
AREA MOTEL.
AND MORRIS WAS TRACKED AND
ARRESTED LAST FRIDAY.
A HUSBAND AND WIFE IN PONTIAC
FELT BAD FOR MORRIS AND TOOK HIM
IN BUT HE WAS VIOLENT.
>> A SICK INDIVIDUAL TO DO
SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO A PERSON,
THAT’S REALLY SICK!
>> I HAD NIGHTMARES, I’M CARED
>> I HAD NIGHTMARES, I’M CARED
TO DEATH THEY’RE GONNA LET HIM
OUT.
>> Shawn: THE COUPLE WANTS TO
MAKE IT CLEAR THEY HAD NOTHING
TO DO WITH THIS GUY, TOOK HIM IN
FOR A BIT AND KICKED HIM OUT
WHEN HE GOT VIOLENT.
MORRIS IS ON PROBATION FOR
RETAIL FRAUD, DESTRUCTION OF A
BUILDING, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,
FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH SEX
OFFENDER REPORTING DUTIES.
IN 1988, A CHARGE OF CRIMINAL
SEXUAL CONDUCT, A DRUG
CONVICTION IN 1980, ASSAULT WITH
INTENT TO ROB WHILE ARMED,
CURRENTLY A WARRANT OUT FOR A
DUI IN FLORIDA, HELD WITHOUT
BOND.
THE EXACT MOTIVE IS BEING WORKED
ON.
POLICE WILL BRIEF US OFFICIALLY
