Fred & Muriel Morrison suicides 1940
A tragic case of a possible "mercy murder" followed by a suicide came to light when the bodies of Fred Morrison, 69, and his wife Muriel, 58, were discovered hanging from a beam on the back porch of their home at 1001 1/2 North Mariposa Avenue in Los Angeles. The unsettling discovery prompted authorities to consider the possibility that Fred Morrison had first taken his wife's life in an act of euthanasia before ending his own.
The theory of murder arose due to Mrs. Morrison's known illness and the condition of her body, which indicated she had likely been dead since the weekend, several days before her husband’s death. While Mrs. Morrison was last seen on Friday, neighbors reported that Fred Morrison, who had been unemployed and receiving county aid, was seen as late as Monday. The state of his body suggested that he had died more recently, possibly on Tuesday. According to their landlord, S.M. McCormick, Fred Morrison mentioned on Monday that his wife was "feeling all right," although by then, she may have already been deceased.
McCormick, who lived at 1001 North Mariposa Avenue and had rented the home to the Morrisons just six months prior, discovered the grim scene. He had noticed large flies swarming around the Morrison's back porch after not seeing any sign of life for two days. When he investigated, he found the couple’s bodies suspended from the porch beam. Neighbors informed police that Fred had been out of work for some time and that Muriel had been unwell.
Muriel Morrison's body was found hanging from a long belt tied to the beam, while Fred had used a section of bed sheet to hang himself. No suicide notes were found at the scene. Investigators prepared to conduct autopsies and expected to confirm their initial conclusions: that Fred Morrison and his wife had died as part of a suicide pact. Police believed that Fred assisted Muriel in taking her own life, leaving her body to hang for two days before he, too, tied a sheet around his neck and ended his life.
Adding to the theory, McCormick revealed that Fred had frequently spoken of suicide and had expressed attempts to convince his wife to enter into a suicide pact. A further detail emerged when an envelope containing $4 was found in the house, along with a funeral director’s card, suggesting the couple may have planned their deaths in advance.
Suicide prevention
If you are experiencing a suicidal or mental health crisis or are concerned for someone else, contact your local suicide prevention hotline.
🇺🇸 US ☎︎ 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
🇨🇦 CA ☎︎ 1-833-456-4566
🇬🇧 UK ☎︎ 0800-689-5652
🇦🇺 AUS ☎︎ 13-11-14 or 1300-659-467
ROK ROK ☎︎ 1393
🇩🇪 DE ☎︎ 0800-111-0-111
🇪🇸 ES ☎︎ 024
