Defense asks judge to dismiss Morrow murder charges Defense asks judge to dismiss Morrow murder charges (December 14, 2005)

By Andrea Gemmet

Almanac Staff Writer

Whose fault is it that Donna Morrow's body wasn't found for 12 years?

San Mateo County prosecutors say that it's the fault of Joe Morrow, the man who is charged with murdering his 37-year-old wife in their Menlo Park home and secretly burying her body on a remote piece of undeveloped property in Los Gatos.

Mr. Morrow's defense attorneys contend that if police had done a more thorough investigation, Ms. Morrow's body would have been found much sooner and crucial forensic evidence, evidence that could exonerate their client, might have been recovered. For that reason, Mr. Morrow's attorneys have asked a judge to dismiss the murder case against him.

Judge Craig Parsons heard testimony from three witnesses for the defense at a hearing held December 5. The hearing has been continued to 9 a.m. Monday, December 19. Prosecutor Steve Wagstaffe said he will call forward police officers to describe the extensive steps they took to discover Ms. Morrow's whereabouts.

Ms. Morrow disappeared from the College Avenue home she shared with her husband and four young children shortly before Christmas in 1991. Mr. Morrow reported her missing four days later, and told police she had left the house of her own accord following an argument.

Menlo Park police believe that Mr. Morrow killed his wife, hid her body at the bottom of a deep hole dug by his handyman, and subsequently fled the country. Mr. Morrow was found living under an assumed name in the Philippines and extradited to the U.S. on passport fraud charges in January 2003.

Ms. Morrow's skeletal remains were discovered in September 2003, after handyman Jose Maldonado came forward and showed investigators the area where Mr. Morrow had instructed him to dig an 8-foot deep hole shortly before Ms. Morrow disappeared.

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