Wesleyan Shooting Suspect Appears in Court, Bond Raised to $15 Million
Suspect Stephen Morgan silent in court; warrant alleges anti-Semitism.
May 8, 2009— -- Accused killer Stephen Morgan said nothing today when he appeared in court to face charges he murdered 21-year-old Wesleyan University student Johanna Justin-Jinich.
But the warrant for his arrest alleged that he had written in a journal, found by police, "Kill Johanna. She must Die" and, "I think it's ok to kill Jews and go on a killing spree," the Associated Press reported today.
The news service also reported today that Morgan's attorney, Richard Brown, denied that his client targeted anyone at the school despite the journal entries. Morgan, he said after today's arraignment, plans to plead not guilty.
Earlier in Middletown Superior Court, the judge raised Morgan's bond from $10 million to $15 million and continued the case to May 19.
Dressed in a blue, zip-up jumpsuit, Morgan spent much of the time staring straight ahead or with his head bowed, occasionally looking up to survey the courtroom. He nodded once after being read his rights by the judge.
His lawyer, Richard Brown, told the judge that he would not be seeking a lower bond today as he was retained late Thursday and had only 15 minutes to speak with Morgan before the arraignment.
Morgan is accused of shooting Justin-Jinich, an acquaintance from a class at New York University, seven times at the Red & Black Cafe on the Wesleyan campus, disguised in a wig.
Morgan's parents and two sisters attended the brief hearing. One sister wept as Morgan, scruffy and unkempt, left the courtroom accompanied by judicial marshals.
Morgan's father identified his son as the man seen in bookstore surveillance photos and told investigators his son was a loner who kept a journal and was known to make anti-Semitic comments, according to the warrant.
Justin-Jinich, of Timnath, Colo., came from a Jewish family, and her grandmother was a Holocaust survivor.
Morgan was arrested without incident Thursday after contacting police in nearby Meriden, Conn., from a Cumberland Farms convenience store. Police said he had seen his photograph in a newspaper.
The school's Red &Black Cafe posted a tribute to Johanna on its Web site and asked for the media to refrain from contacting staff as police continue their investigation. The cafe will be closed until further notice, according to the Web site.
"The brutal murder of Johanna Justin-Jinich has left us devastated," the statement read. "Johanna was our employee, our co-worker and our friend. Our thoughts are with her family, friends and our staff."
The motive for the shooting and the nature of the relationship between Morgan and Justin-Jinich is still unclear. Justin-Jinich, who was reportedly Jewish, had been in the same class with Morgan two years ago when they both attended a summer session at New York University in Manhattan.
The New York Times reported today that officials were trying to determine if Justin-Jinich and Morgan had crossed paths while living in different Colorado towns or if the class at NYU was their first introduction.
Related Stories
ABC News Live