Joslyn Morgan, a 43-year-old Black man known to friends as Josh, was a real estate investor and mentor in his Philadelphia community. Described as a leading figure who helped local families find homes, his life was cut short in a dispute that turned fatal. His death was deeply felt by the many people he had inspired and supported.
On the afternoon of January 21, 2020, firefighters were called to a parking lot on the 2700 block of South 3rd Street for a report of a smoking Jeep Wrangler.
After extinguishing the flames, they made a grim discovery in the back of the vehicle. The body of Joslyn Morgan was found wrapped in a blanket. An autopsy later determined he had died from a close-range gunshot wound to the head; he had also been stabbed in the neck.
The investigation quickly revealed that the killing stemmed from an argument over work. Morgan had hired a 39-year-old contractor, Luis Cruz, to do roofing work on his home. According to witnesses and the District Attorney’s Office, Morgan was dissatisfied with the quality of the work and refused to pay, leading to a "falling out" between the two men.
Using witness testimony, cellphone records, and video evidence, homicide detectives identified Cruz as the primary suspect. They executed a search warrant on his home and detached garage, where they found additional evidence linking him to the crime. Cruz was taken into custody on January 25, 2020. During questioning, he confessed to key details of the murder, including his attempt to dismember Morgan’s body and destroy the remains.
Cruz was charged with murder, arson, abuse of a corpse, obstruction of justice, and related weapons offenses. As the case proceeded, Morgan's family and friends, concerned about a potential plea deal that would downgrade the charges from first-degree murder, launched a social media campaign called #JusticeforJosh to advocate for a severe penalty.
In May 2022, Luis Cruz pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, arson, abuse of a corpse, and related offenses for the killing of Joslyn Morgan.
