Posted on 01/09/2010 10:48:56 AM PST by DogByte6RER
By Scott Smith
Record Staff Writer
January 09, 2010 12:00 AM
STOCKTON - Two gay men who could face a death sentence on charges they murdered a Tracy woman last year were mistakenly kept in a cell together despite a judge's order barring their contact, authorities said Friday.
Robert and Jorge Morgan - who are legal domestic partners and consider themselves married to each other - stand accused of murdering Cynthia Ramos, 58, on Aug. 6 in her trailer at Green Oaks Mobile Home Park.
A forensic pathologist who performed Ramos' autopsy said she was "killed over and over and over," fighting back as she was stabbed 55 times, struck 13 times with something hard, and strangled.
Prosecutors are now weighing the decision to seek a death sentence against the Morgans. The additional charges of robbery, burglary and lying in wait make them eligible.
While awaiting trial, an order by San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Bernard Garber requires they be kept apart, like any co-defendants. They had asked for time together to plan their defense, insisting sex was not their motive.
The mix-up happened upon their transfers as parole violators from the San Joaquin County Jail to Deuel Vocational Institution last month, when they spent about two days in the same cell, Deuel spokesman Lt. Gilbert Valenzuela said.
Valenzuela said Robert Morgan is listed in the prison system as Robert Plunkett, and Deuel staffers didn't know of the judge's order. Officials constantly put together inmates because Deuel is cramped for space, he said.
"We wind up celling these guys together because they're compatible," Valenzuela said.
Once the judge's order came to light, Deuel separated them, Valenzuela said, adding that prisoners are prohibited from sexual activity under the Prison Rape Elimination Act. The pair could face bigger problems.
In a brief hearing Friday morning, Judge Garber goaded San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Valli Israels into deciding if she would seek a death sentence, so the defense has time to prepare.
Garber set the Morgan's next hearing for Jan. 25, when he is expected to set a trial date. He told Israels that is also when he wants to know the penalty she will seek.
"You think you might have that decision in two weeks?" Garber asked.
"I hope so," Israels replied, saying that her boss, District Attorney Jim Willett, ultimately decides if a case is worth capital charges. He needed more time, she said.
"The district attorney's office takes the death sentence very seriously," Israels said.
On pink gurneys?
Hate Crime, anyone?
LOL!
Israels [said] that her boss, District Attorney Jim Willett, ultimately decides if a case is worth capital charges. He needed more time, she said.
Yeah, in this case it's a really tough decision.
fighting back as she was stabbed 55 times, struck 13 times with something hard, and strangled.
These "guys" will be back on the street within 6 years.
The pathologist was referring to the fact that any number of the wounds were fatal all by themselves.
It's an important point, because it indicates a savagery from the murderers far beyond what was necessary to just kill her.
Yeah, they were obviously very, very committed to the idea that she BECOME dead AND STAY dead.
Yeah.
But in their mind, they killed her over and over and over.
HATE CRIME?
Oh, but queers don’t commit hate crimes.
Robert Morgan 39 (left) and Jorge Morgan 24 (right) appear in Stockton court as they face charges for killing Cynthia Ramos. Glenn Moore/Tracy Press
So much for the two married perverts just staying at home and playing ‘hide the pickle’ together.
Hope they fry. Wonder ifthey have to go through extra biological waste procedures with ‘em because of well, you know.
You can tell they have the love of Jesus in their eyes. /sarc
Yes, the victim hated gays. Does anyone believe this will not be the defense?
Sorry, there is only 'one' cause of death, one cannot die repeatedly.
I'm told that usually after about the 27th stab wound (give or take 5 or 10), the perpetrator usually gets an inclining that the victim is dead; anything after that, it becomes "personal".
Hence the "killed over and over and over" comment.
In any event, let's hope these two murdering sexual deviants are executed, as life in prison (i.e. being gang raped on a daily basis) would be more like pleasure to them.
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