In the remote desert outpost of Grasshopper Junction, Arizona, a quiet morning on May 14, 1991, was shattered by a grim discovery. Dean Morrison, a 65-year-old male, and his partner, Jacqueline 'Jackie' Appelhans, were found murdered in their home, which was attached to the small restaurant and store they operated. An acquaintance, arriving for his customary morning coffee, sensed something was amiss when he noticed the restaurant door ajar and money scattered on the ground.
His concern grew as he approached the couple's residence and found the door open. Inside, he was met with a horrific scene: Morrison and Appelhans were lying face down, both having been shot multiple times.
The investigation into the brutal double homicide quickly pointed to a robbery gone tragically wrong. Authorities determined that the perpetrators had entered the home during the night. The scene suggested a violent struggle had occurred before Morrison and Appelhans were subdued. The house had been ransacked, and the cash register drawer from the store was missing. Despite the robbery, Morrison's wallet, containing a significant amount of cash, was found untouched in his pants pocket. Investigators at the scene collected crucial evidence, including footprints from two different types of shoes, one being a western-style boot and the other a tennis shoe.
Later that same day, a high-speed chase near Holbrook, Arizona, involving a vehicle with Alabama license plates, led to a breakthrough in the case. The occupants of the car, brothers Robert and Roger Murray, were apprehended. During the pursuit, they were seen discarding weapons that were later ballistically matched to the firearms used in the Grasshopper Junction murders. A search of their vehicle uncovered more evidence linking them to the crime, including cash, ammunition, and keys to a truck on Morrison's property. Notably, Robert was wearing western-style boots and Roger was wearing tennis shoes, consistent with the footprints found at the murder scene. The brothers were subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of armed robbery. They were tried, convicted, and both were sentenced to death for their roles in the murders of Dean Morrison and Jacqueline Appelhans. Robert Murray died on death row from natural causes, while Roger Murray remains incarcerated.
