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WHEELING – Two cases in two separate counties became one Thursday as police identified a body found in Wheeling last week as that of missing Moundsville teen Kyle Jerry Dale Morgan.
Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger said the 15-year-old John Marshall High School student’s death is being treated as a homicide, as a coroner determined blunt force trauma as the cause of death. He said he couldn’t rule out an accidental fall, however.
The positive identification was made around 3 p.m. Thursday, according to Schwertfeger. Wheeling police were notified a short time later, followed by Morgan’s family.
Morgan was last seen around 11 p.m. June 15. A bicyclist found the body beneath the Fort Henry Bridge on the downtown side of the Ohio River at about 2 p.m. June 16, and Morgan wasn’t reported missing until the early morning hours of June 17.
“First and foremost, our hearts and prayers go out to the Morgan family,” Schwertfeger said.
Schwertfeger said the investigation right now is focusing on the 15-hour window between the last time Morgan was seen and when his body was discovered. He said investigators are particularly interested in how Morgan got from Moundsville to Wheeling.
“We need information from the public,” said Detective Gregg McKenzie.
McKenzie said it’s possible Morgan walked to Wheeling from Moundsville, but believes that scenario is unlikely.
“If he did catch a ride, we would love to know who, talk to that person and see what they have to say about it,” added Moundsville Police Chief Thomas Mitchell.
According to Schwertfeger, it’s not unusual for a medical examiner to classify a death as a homicide when blunt force trauma is the cause and there isn’t specific information indicating it was an accident.
“We’re certainly treating it as though it were (a murder),” he said.
There are no suspects, Schwertfeger said, as investigators are still uncertain whether a crime occurred. He described the area where Morgan was found as very rocky, with high weeds.
It’s also near a homeless encampment, but investigators haven’t found any witnesses, according to Schwertfeger.
Schwertfeger said Morgan’s body was clothed, and covered or wrapped in a blanket “as if he were sleeping.” He added he doesn’t believe the body was simply dumped beneath the bridge.
“I don’t believe any evidence was found that would indicate he was moved,” Schwertfeger said. “My professional opinion is that whatever happened, happened there.”
The identification process was complicated because of several factors, according to Schwertfeger. A lack of dental records and DNA comparison samples forced the medical examiner to use photo identification and unusual marks to confirm the body was Morgan’s.
Schwertfeger said Morgan appeared to have suffered minimal injuries beyond the blunt force trauma that caused his death. He said the exact location of that trauma isn’t being released to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Mitchell said an Amber Alert was not issued as the case did not meet the specifications.
“There is specific criteria for that which the case didn’t meet,” Mitchell said. “There has to be immediate urgency and you have to have more information than we had. There was too large of a gap between when he was last seen and when it was reported.”
Anyone with information should call Wheeling police at (304) 234-3664.
(Staff writer Drew Parker contributed to this story.)