Breeann's Accused Killer Makes Court Appearance

Family members say Breeann is alive and Morgan will not reveal location.

Regarding profiling,   thus far, we have only heard that Morgan has no criminal history.  

Breeann's remains have not been located.  

Morgan makes first court appearance

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

LECIA FORESTER , Daily Dunklin Democrat

Shawn Morgan, center leaning, shields his face from the cameras as he leaves the Dunklin County Courthouse following his arraignment on Tuesday. Also pictured is Craig Crow-Kennett Police Department, left, Dunklin County Sheriff Bob Holder, center, and Morris Lambert, investigator for the Dunklin County Prosecutor's Office.
(Staff photo by George Anderson)

The neighbor charged in the disappearance and death of 3-year old BreeAnn Rodriguezappeared for arraignment in Dunklin County Circuit Court, Division two, on Tuesday morning, with Judge John C. Spielman presiding.Shawn Morgan, 43, of Senath, Mo., arrived at the Dunklin County Courthouse in shackles, wearing a bullet proof vest, heavily guarded by officers from the Dunklin County Sheriff's Department.
Inside to observe the proceedings were the parents, and other family members of missing 3-year old, as well as those who merely showed up to lend support.

Shawn Morgan

Morgan was the first to approach the bench, flanked by officers on all sides, shielding him and the judge from onlookers. Spielman first read the charges against Morgan concerning the case of Rodriguez. Spielman then inquired of Morgan about counsel to which he said he had not acquired an attorney as of yet.In order to allow Morgan ample time to obtain representation, the next hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011.
Upon leaving the courtroom, Morgan was taken back to the Dunklin County Justice Center where he will remain since a no bond order has been issued in this case.

Outside the courthouse, family and friends of the Rodriguez family gathered. Cynthia Moreno, aunt of BreeAnn's father and her daughter, Gloria, carried signs showing their support and love for the family.
"We believe she's still alive. He knows where he has her but he won't say," Cynthia Moreno said.
"I came to support them," Angelica Vargas, a Senath resident, said of her decision to make an appearance.
Alex Moreno, uncle of Edgar Rodriguez said, "We're trying to see [this] resolved and see our girl back."
Morgan has been held in the Dunklin County Justice Center since Saturday, Aug. 13, when he was formally charged in the young child's disappearance and death.
In a press conference on Saturday, Prosecuting Attorney Stephen P. Sokoloff, who was joined by Dunklin County Sheriff Bob Holder and Senath Chief of Police Omar Karnes, informed members of the press that Morgan had been charged with the felony counts of First Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action and Tampering with Physical evidence in connection to the case.
On Monday, a probable cause of death affidavit was released relating to the young child's death
According to the affidavit, on Friday, Aug. 12, authorities conducted an interview with Shawn Morgan, 43, of Senath, who stated on the day the child went missing, he discovered her standing on the ladder at the pool in his backyard. Morgan said he went to the girl, grabbed her, and carried her inside his house, where he used a white plastic trash bag to suffocate her, by holding it over her face and mouth.
The affidavit continues, adding Morgan then stated he placed the child's body in the same trash bag, drove to the floodway ditches at Highway 164, and disposed of her by throwing her over the railing. Morgan added that upon returning to his residence, he dismantled the bicycle that Rodriguez had been riding, and disposed of it in the same river system.
At the time of the affidavit, a search of the river system revealed the bicycle, which was identified by the father as belonging to the child.
It is not know if Morgan has been convicted prior to this case or whether he was a registered sex offender.
Rodriguez was first reported missing from her home on Saturday, Aug. 6, by her parents who had reported that she along with her older brother, 5, had been riding their bicycles in the front yard of their residence. Rodriguez' brother went into the house for a drink of water and came out to find BreeAnn and her bicycle missing. After a search by the parents for around 30 minutes, law enforcement officials were called in. Immediately, a reverse 911 call went out into the community, and local residents gathered at the local fire station to help with the search for the missing child.
Enlisted in the search for the missing child over the past week has been various law enforcement agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation Task Force, Dunklin County Sheriff's Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Kennett Police Department and the Bootheel Drug Task Force.
Rodriguez' body has yet to be found at this time and authorities are searching the floodway drainage system.
On Monday, Aug. 15, Dunklin County Sheriff Bob Holder said nearly 50 searchers, search dogs, two helicopters, and several boats were canvassing the drainage ditch area east of the rural farming community of Hornersville, Mo.