GUILTY GA - Joy Morris, 47, raped & murdered, Lake Park, 1 Nov 2002

Slaying remains unsolved

Author: Brianne Sweetland
Publication Date: 2005-10-31


VALDOSTA — Three years ago Halloween night, a Kentucky woman was strangled in her late-model Ford Mustang.

Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office investigators are still looking for 47-year-old Joy Morris’ killer.

“We followed up every lead, and we hadn’t been able to come up with anything,” Capt. J.D. Yeager said.

Morris’ body was found Nov. 1, 2002. Her black Mustang was in a wooded grove behind the Best Western Motel off Interstate 75’s Exit 2.

None of Morris’ belongings, including her purse, credit cards and jewelry, were disturbed.

Morris and her husband operated a vehicle escort service for wide and oversized loads. She was scheduled to meet another load Nov. 2 at the T&A Truck Stop at Exit 2. She was last seen at the truck stop some time Halloween night. Her Mustang had a yellow “wide load” tag stripped across the rear bumper in large letters and a sign on the car door reading “Double M Escort Service.”

Because of her job, Morris spent extensive time talking on the CB radio with truckers and others. Her handle was “Bright Eyes.”

More: http://www.valdostadailytimes.com/content/1/17778/Slaying+remains+unsolved.htm

Migrant Worker Sentenced to Life for Murder of Lowndes County Woman

By: Deneige Broom
Posted: Wed 5:59 PM, Feb 06, 2013

Lowndes County, GA, February 6, 2013 - On Friday, November 1, 2002 the deceased body of Joy Morris was found in her vehicle at 6972 Lake Park Bellville Road in Lake Park. An investigation revealed that Joy Morris died as the result of strangulation. Investigators with the Sheriff’s Office conducted a number of interviews but developed few leads until 2007 when a potential match to a DNA sample was obtained. Detectives with the Valdosta Police Department had obtained a sample from Maurilio Martinez which when tested was found to be a match to DNA collected during the Sheriff’s Office investigation.

The case was presented at trial this week by the Office of the District Attorney J. David Miller. Following only 55 minutes of jury deliberations, Martinez was found guilty of both murder and rape. Lowndes County Superior Court Judge James G. Tunison, II sentenced Martinez to a life sentence plus 25 years.

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Much more at the link

Suspect arrested in 2002 Lowndes murder

By Malynda Fulton
February 12, 2010

LAKE PARK — Authorities have unraveled an 8-year-old cold case of a Kentucky woman strangled to death in Lake Park on Halloween night 2002.

The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office has charged Maurilio Masadiego Martinez, 40, with rape and murder in connection with the death of 47-year-old Joy Morris of Madisonville, Ky. Martinez is being held in custody at Lowndes County Jail and has been denied bond.

“When I found out, I was so excited,” she said. “I would’ve gotten up on the roof and shouted if I thought anyone would hear me. Closure is everything they say it is.”

Woody Morris, Joy’s husband, said, “It took a while to get to this point, but I think the authorities in charge of this investigation have done a wonderful job. I thank them for their work and dedication to the case.”

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