Notice: Undefined offset: 0 in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/includes/single/single_post_meta_query.php on line 43
Notice: Trying to get property 'paywall' of non-object in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/includes/single/single_post_meta_query.php on line 43
Washington man charged in Finleyville murder
Notice: Undefined variable: article_ad_placement3 in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/single.php on line 128
A Washington man has been arrested in the murder of Richard Morse, who was found dead in his Nottingham Township home Friday evening.
William Jeremiah Slider, 34, of Washington, was arrested by state police March 6 on nine counts, including robbery, stealing a motor vehicle, aggravated assault and charges of criminal homicide, according to the criminal complaint.
According to the coroner’s report, a body, later identified as 69-year-old Morse, was found by a neighbor inside 627 Mingo Park Estates in Finleyville Friday, March 8. The neighbor called police to the scene at 5:11 p.m., according to the report.
Morse was declared dead at the scene at 12:52 a.m. Saturday, March 9, more than seven hours after the neighbor dialed 911, according to the coroner’s report.
Washington County coroner Timothy Warco said he was not called to Mingo Park Estates until the early hours of March 9.
“I’m as perplexed right now as you are,” Warco said, when asked why there was such a long period of time between when authorities were called to the scene and when Morse was pronounced dead. “They can’t disturb the scene until we get there. My big concern is what is happening, why didn’t they call me? I’m looking into that. Why they didn’t call me has yet to be determined.”
State police issued a statement March 9 to address the time discrepancy.
“We contacted the coroner’s office as soon as we needed them during the course of the investigation,” Commanding Officer of Troop B Captain Jeremy Barni said in the release. “There are many moving parts when coordinating a Homicide Investigation, and each entity plays an important role; however, in order to coordinate that it’s like choreography. Especially when blood spatter experts are activated.”
According to the state police report, Slider struck Morse in the head with a blunt force object sometime between 6 and 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 6.
Slider was arrested by state police March 6 and appeared before Magisterial District Judge Michael L. Manfredi Saturday morning. Slider is being held without bail in Washington County Prison.
Barni credited the Washington County District Attorney’s office, state parole and the coroner for the investigation’s quick resolution.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for 11:30 a.m. March 18 before Judge Manfredi.