In the spring of 2016, a chilling discovery was made in Michigan City, Indiana, shattering the quiet life of a respected local businessman. Hufracio Artega, a 65-year-old male who had moved to the United States from Mexico, was found deceased on April 23, 2016, inside his business, Easy Drive Auto Sales. His business partner, Sergio Serrano, made the grim find several days after Artega had gone missing, stumbling upon a scene that would deeply disturb even the most seasoned investigators.
An autopsy would later reveal the brutal nature of his death; Artega had been stabbed nine times, with the fatal wound being a cut to his carotid artery that caused him to bleed to death. The initial investigation was fraught with challenges, as there were no immediate witnesses to the crime. However, a crucial breakthrough came from a nearby surveillance camera that captured a figure dressed in dark clothing leaving the car dealership through a broken window. This individual was later seen on the footage driving away in one of two vehicles that were discovered to be stolen from the lot.
The man in the video was identified as David Morris, a 45-year-old who was known to Artega and would occasionally perform odd jobs and run errands for the dealership. The investigation quickly zeroed in on Morris, who was on probation at the time. Authorities located and arrested him after he reported to the Michigan City courthouse. Further evidence mounted against him when it was discovered that Artega's credit card had been used for several purchases shortly after the estimated time of his murder. Surveillance footage from the stores where the transactions occurred showed Morris using the stolen card.
During questioning, Morris admitted to stealing the cars and using the credit card, but he denied any involvement in Artega's death. However, forensic evidence told a different story. The clothes Morris was wearing at the time of his arrest, which matched the attire seen in the surveillance videos, were found to have blood on them that was a DNA match to Hufracio Artega. Blood spatter analysis further indicated that Morris was present during the murder. While awaiting trial, two inmates came forward and claimed that Morris had confessed to the murder.
David Morris was ultimately found guilty of felony murder, two counts of burglary, two counts of auto theft, and one count of fraud. For the murder conviction, he was sentenced to 60 years in prison. He received additional consecutive sentences of 10 years for each burglary count and two years for fraud, along with concurrent sentences for the auto theft charges. David Morris is currently incarcerated at the Pendleton Correctional Facility with a potential release date in 2077.
