Cold Case: 3 Decades After Motel Murder, Police Seek Riverside County Man's Killer

RIVERSIDE, CA — Riverside police are seeking the public's help identifying a cold case suspect in the 1991 killing of a man in a Riverside motel parking lot.

Shortly before 3 a.m. on July 11, 1991, the body of Stephen Morgan, 30, was discovered lying at the driver's side door of his vehicle. Police were called to the University Lodge at 1860 University Avenue. The original reports say Morgan was shot in the head, and his body lay partially beneath his red Camaro.

Investigators learned that Morgan was not robbed. His personal items, wallet, keys, and briefcase, were found with him, police said.

Police are still seeking the one responsible for Morgan's death, and the case remains unsolved as they revealed details in hopes of generating new tips from the public.

Who was Stephen Morgan?

"Morgan worked at a movie theater in Moreno Valley. He had just returned to the motel after his shift, mere moments before he was murdered," Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback said.

He was living at the University Lodge Motel at the time of his death, according to the Riverside Police Department.

The landscape of that area has changed in 30 years.

Looking back to 1991, the University Lodge motel had 131 units, all suites, typically rented out monthly, according to original reports. Morgan had lived there for about a year and had held jobs as a hairdresser, a bouncer, and a security guard before becoming the manager at the Moreno Valley movie theater. He worked there for about two months before he was killed.

Morgan was 6-feet five-inches tall, was a black belt in karate and kung fu, and frequently went "out of his way to avoid violence," according to a statement from the Lodge manager, Richard LaVigne, who found his body in the parking lot.

Despite detectives following multiple leads in the investigation, the suspect has not been identified. "Our detectives remain committed to pursuing every lead to bring justice for victims and provide long-awaited closure for their families," Railsback said.

The women who have searched for his killer for 3 decades:

Morgan's mother, Lucille (Dougan) Morgan, and his one-time girlfriend Annette Melvin were both deeply involved in the initial investigation. His aging mother remains deeply involved in the investigation and is determined to see the case resolved, according to Railsback. She still lives in Jurupa Valley.

"It's been more than three decades, but not a day goes by that I don't think about Stephen," she said. "I still believe someone out there knows what happened that night. Please, if you have any information, no matter how small, come forward and help the detectives find the person who took my son's life."

Anyone with information regarding Morgan's killing was urged to contact the Riverside Police Department's Homicide Cold Case Unit at HomicideCold@RiversideCA.gov or 951-320-8000.