Joseph Morrow pleads guilty to passport fraud Joseph Morrow pleads guilty to passport fraud (May 07, 2003)

** Menlo Park man then faces murder charges.

By Andrea Gemmet
Almanac Staff Writer

Joseph Eli Morrow, the Menlo Park man suspected of killing his wife Donna in 1991, has pled guilty to federal passport fraud charges in Colorado and could be returned to San Mateo County to face prosecution on murder charges as early as July.

Jeff Dorschner, spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Colorado, said Mr. Morrow pleaded guilty to three counts of passport fraud on April 25 and faces an estimated seven months in federal prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced July 18, after which he'll be sent to California.

In January, Mr. Morrow was captured by federal authorities who found him living in a small town in the Philippines. He was extradited to the United States on passport fraud charges after being on the lam for 10 years.

Besides facing murder charges in San Mateo County, Mr. Morrow also faces sentencing for a grand-theft conviction in Santa Clara County. Which county he will be sent to first hasn't been decided yet, said Jack Grandsaert, the San Mateo County deputy district attorney who will prosecute the murder case against Mr. Morrow.

"We're going to plan for the possibility that he could be returned to us for prosecution in July," said Mr. Grandsaert.

Menlo Park police believe Mr. Morrow, 54, killed his wife, a 37-year-old mother of four, just before Christmas in 1991. He reported her missing from their College Avenue home several days later. Although her body was never found, a murder warrant was issued for Mr. Morrow in 1997.

Mr. Morrow disappeared in 1993. According to the plea agreement, he admitted to fraudulently applying for U.S. passports under the name of Thomas Bassett, his longtime friend, in 1993, 1996 and 1997.