Son jailed for life for murdering mother and living with her body for two months

SON JAILED FOR LIFE FOR MURDERING MOTHER AND LIVING WITH HER BODY FOR TWO MONTHS

In December 2020, Dale Morgan was convicted of the murder of his 68-year-old mother, Judith Rhead.

The 43-year-old carried out a brutal assault on her with a hammer, delivering 14 blows to her head in a sustained attack.

Her body was found partially clothed, with a plastic bag tied over her head, and showed signs of decomposition, indicating she had been deceased for some time.

The court heard that Morgan admitted to the killing, which occurred between December 10, 2020, and February 20, 2021.

Following the murder, he remained in her house with her decomposing body for approximately two months, convincingly pretending she was elsewhere, such as in hospital, to her friends and neighbors.

The judge described the attack as 'savage and sustained against a defenceless woman,' and remarked on Morgan’s cruelty and betrayal of her trust.

Morgan pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 21.5 years before he qualifies for parole.

Law enforcement and prosecutors condemned his actions as horrific, particularly noting his callousness in tying a plastic bag around her head and leaving her body while others were worried about her whereabouts.

Judith Rhead was a respected figure in her community, and her family expressed their deep sorrow, describing her as a gentle person who was undeserving of such a violent end.

The case underscores the brutality of the crime committed by her own son, who was convicted of this tragic act.