In the early hours of October 21, 2023, the life of 39-year-old Denise Morgan, an Irish woman living in Queens, New York, was tragically cut short. Responding to a 911 call about a disturbance, police arrived at her Glendale apartment to find a grim scene. Morgan and her partner, 33-year-old Joed Taveras, were discovered unresponsive with gunshot wounds. A firearm was found near Taveras's body, leading investigators to believe he shot Morgan before taking his own life in a murder-suicide.
Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Just days before her death, Morgan had been making plans for a new beginning. She had recently ended her relationship with Taveras and was preparing to move into a new apartment on November 1st, a place where she hoped to feel 'safe and cared for.' Friends and family described her as looking forward to this new chapter with her nine-year-old daughter. Hours before the tragic incident, she had been dining with her daughter at The Cottage Bar and Restaurant in Forest Hills, where she worked.
The investigation into the deaths of Morgan and Taveras revealed a history of a troubled and abusive relationship. According to her family, Taveras had been controlling and jealous. Morgan had confided in her mother that she once woke up to him choking her. Her sisters also spoke of his manipulative behavior, stating he would try to make her feel guilty for wanting to leave. They believe that when Taveras realized she was determined to end the relationship, he chose to end her life.
The case has been classified as a murder-suicide, with Joed Taveras as the sole suspect in Denise Morgan's death. As Taveras is deceased, there will be no arrest or trial. The New York Police Department's investigation concluded that Taveras shot Morgan before turning the gun on himself. The tragic event has left her family, friends, and the community to mourn the loss of a woman described as having a warm, kind, and vibrant spirit.
