Fear kept witnesses silent in Joe Morrow murder case, grand jury transcript reveals Fear kept witnesses silent in Joe Morrow murder case, grand jury transcript reveals (December 03, 2003)

By Andrea Gemmet

Almanac Staff Writer

Once Joseph Morrow was safely behind bars, witnesses who had been too scared to speak to investigators began opening up, according to the grand jury transcripts in the Donna Morrow murder case. The transcripts, which were released Monday, December 1, include the testimony of 21 witnesses, providing an overview of the prosecution's case against Mr. Morrow.

Mr. Morrow, 55, was indicted November 6 for the 1991 killing of his wife, 37-year-old Menlo Park resident Donna Morrow, and charged with committing murder for financial gain.

Witnesses said Mr. Morrow knew his wife wanted a divorce, and he feared that she would take his office supply business and other assets away from him. Committing murder for financial gain is an enhanced charge that could make the crime a death-penalty case.

Five of the witnesses -- Mr. Morrow's brother, two sisters, daughter and a close friend -- all testified that he admitted or acknowledged killing Donna, according to the transcripts.

Other testimony detailed how Mr. Morrow allegedly transported his wife's body and buried it on undeveloped property he owned.

Sandra Migliazza, Mr. Morrow's wife for 2-1/2 years, described a violent end to the marriage after she asked for a separation. When she refused to sign divorce papers giving up her right to any assets, "he twisted my arm behind my back and threw me up against the wall, and said, sign them," Ms. Migliazza testified. "If I were to take anything out of the marriage he would have ... put a contract out on me and have me killed."

She said Mr. Morrow then tore her wedding and engagement rings off her fingers with his fingernails, leaving her hand bloody.

Testimony also revealed that Ms. Morrow and her four children were present the day Mr. Morrow showed an employee where he wanted a deep hole dug -- for a well, he told the employee. Almost 12 years later, his wife's skeletal remains were found buried at that spot.

Mr. Morrow was arrested in January in the Philippines, where he had been living under an assumed name, and he was deported back to the United States on passport fraud charges.

Menlo Park police had long suspected Mr. Morrow, who told police his wife left their home and their young children following an argument shortly before Christmas 1991. Despite conducting several searches of the undeveloped property in Los Gatos owned by Mr. Morrow, investigators were unable to find Ms. Morrow until her skeletal remains were discovered September 13.

Mr. Morrow is scheduled to enter a plea in San Mateo County Superior Court on December 18, and is being held without bail in county jail, said prosecutor Jack Grandsaert. District Attorney Jim Fox may ask for the death penalty in the case, Mr. Grandsaert said.

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