Cory Deonn Morris: The 'Crackhead Killer'
Early Life
Cory Deonn Morris was born on May 10, 1978, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was the eldest of three children, with two younger siblings, Candice and Brandon. As a teenager, Morris attended Douglass High School in Oklahoma City and later participated in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) programs, aspiring to become a military officer. At age 22, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he lived in a trailer behind his aunt and uncle's home. He worked part-time as a karaoke disc jockey at a local bar frequented by prostitutes and pimps. His friendly demeanor earned him nicknames like "Huggy Bear" and "Teddy Bear."
The Murders
Between September 2002 and April 2003, Morris targeted female sex workers, luring them to his trailer under the pretense of paid sexual services. He would then strangle them during or after intercourse and engage in necrophilic acts with their corpses. Below is a detailed list of his known victims:
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Barbara Codman — September 2002
Morris met 46-year-old Barbara Codman in early September 2002. She agreed to have sex with him for $20. After their encounter, Morris claimed he left the trailer and returned to find Codman unresponsive, attributing her death to a drug overdose. He later changed his story, admitting he accidentally strangled her during sex. Codman's naked, decomposed body was discovered on September 11, 2002, in an alley near Morris's residence.
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Shanteria Davis — October 2002
In October 2002, Morris solicited Shanteria Davis for sex in exchange for $5. After their encounter, he claimed he left the trailer and returned to find Davis unconscious. He covered her body with a blanket and later disposed of her body in an alley near his home. Initially, Morris attributed her death to a drug overdose but later admitted to accidentally strangling her during sex at her request.
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Jade Velazquez — February 2003
In February 2003, Morris invited Jade Velazquez to his trailer for sex. After their encounter, he claimed they both went to sleep, and he awoke to find her dead. He disposed of her body in the street. Morris later confessed to accidentally strangling her during consensual erotic asphyxiation.
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Sherry Noah — March 2003
In March 2003, Morris met Sherry Noah and brought her to his trailer. After their encounter, he claimed he left and returned to find her dead from a drug overdose. He then disposed of her body near his neighbor's house. Morris later admitted to accidentally strangling her during sex at her request.
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Julie Castillo — April 2003
In early April 2003, Morris encountered Julie Castillo walking at night and invited her to his trailer. After providing her with drugs, he claimed he left and returned to find her dead from an overdose. He did not alert authorities and kept her body in his trailer. Castillo's decomposed body was discovered on April 12, 2003, leading to Morris's arrest.
Apprehension and Trial
In April 2003, Morris's boss and relatives noticed a foul odor emanating from his trailer. On April 12, 2003, Morris's uncle investigated and discovered the maggot-infested body of Julie Castillo under a blanket. He immediately contacted the police, leading to Morris's arrest. During interrogation, Morris initially claimed the women had died from drug overdoses but later admitted to accidentally strangling them during consensual erotic asphyxiation. Evidence presented at trial, including his shifting stories and the condition of the bodies, led to his conviction on five counts of first-degree murder. On July 19, 2005, Cory Deonn Morris was sentenced to death and is currently imprisoned at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Florence, Arizona.
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