Body Of Three Year Old Breeann Rodriguez Found In Drainage Ditch: Suspect In Custody
The Remains of three year old Breeann Rodriguez, reportedly last seen by her father riding her bike in the driveway of the family’s home, have been located in a drainage ditch in Dunklin County, MO.
Shawn Morgan, a neighbor to the Rodriguez family, has reportedly told police he admitted last seeing Breeann on the ladder to his pool, but then confessing to suffocating her, among other un-released details.
Check to www.blinkoncrime.com as the investigation continues
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I am so sorry
I held out hope for Princess Breeann. So much love to you, angel face.
Another beautiful, innocent child taken away by someone she should have been able to trust. Dear God, what has happened? My prayers for this grieving family. May justice be served.
Blink ~
Another babe taken … a sweet, sweet Breeann … 3 – years young …
May the angels hold & rock you gently … oh sweet baby Breeann – you are safe now.
Prayers for Breeann & her family.
I am happy her parents have her back.
This murder made me sick. All child homicides hit hard, but the details that are starting to emerge make me cry for humanity. No parent should have to go through this sort of horror. Do we know if this monster is a RSO – the police seemed to zoom in on him pretty quickly. Rest in peace little angel and prayers for the family. (And thanks, Blink, for covering it.)
What a very sad outcome. It also shows me to NOT rush to any judgement as I was very skeptical after learning the parents had possibly failed a polygraph.
Another story with a happy outcome…
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/hero-tells-of-girl's-dramatic-rescue
I sincerely hope Mr. O Riley removes his statement analysis implicating her father, inappropriate.
B
Saw this story the other night, so sad. The parents of this baby told Nancy Grace that they both failed their polygraphs??? What questions did they fail?
Why do people continually think “it can’t happen to my child”, or “not in my neighborhood”? People need to wake up, the world is not getting any safer. Supervise your children!
I am so horrified at this story. I have been reading about it today. I can’t imaging what this family and community are going through. Rest in peace little angel.
This guy is my hero! He seen a kidnapping of a six year old girl AND HE STOPPED IT!!!!
http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/08/17/new.mexico.kidnapping/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
Back to this topic, I am sick over what happened to this precious little angel Breeann. Rest in peace little one….My heart aches terribly for her parents.
Essay,
From all indications he is not a RSO. No criminal history except a couple of minor traffic violations.
I am having a problem with the time line. Police were all over the area once she was reported missing. He had to work pretty quick to do what he did to this little angel, dispose of her then come back and get the bike, disassemble it and dispose of it.
Blink wrote:
“I sincerely hope Mr. O Riley removes his statement analysis implicating her father, inappropriate.
B”
I disagree. I believe Mr. O’Riley’s statement analyses are vastly over-rated. To selectively remove his snafus creates an illusion that his analysis is much more accurate than it really is.
He should, however, put a disclaimer with his analysis stating the facts as they are.
I stand corrected, I agree.
B
The news article (see below) indicates that a search of online court records did not show any previous charges against Mr. Morgan. So I am assuming he isn’t a RSO.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44170843/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/#.TkvMxtR5mK0
Heartbreaking. What horrifies me even more is that these predators do this in daylight, in a neighborhood with other people around.
As Eric Clapton sings:
Beyond the door
There’s peace I’m sure.
And I know there’ll be no more…
Tears in heaven
Notice that when the innocent failed lie detector tests, they did not hide. They openly discussed it, and even didn’t object to the idea that maybe they really didn’t fail but that it was a police technique to see if they would change their stories or get more information from then. These parents placed finding their child above any concern about their own reputation, and supported whatever it took for police to do that. (Compare to other cases on BOC.)
Those moments of their child being unsupervised will haunt them, but there will be those seconds/minutes for most parents. We are not perfect. We just pray that evil is not watching and waiting at that very time. May they forgive each other, and not let this tear them asunder. Their son needs them.
I am relieved that Breeann’s remains have been located and this baby will have a proper burial. I had held little hope for a recovery with the vast area LE had to search.
May the Rodriquez family find peace and strength in the days to come.
This has been another heartbreaking story of a child taken from us under circumstances that I will never understand.
13.osu says:
August 17, 2011 at 9:41 am
Heartbreaking. What horrifies me even more is that these predators do this in daylight, in a neighborhood with other people around
***********************************************
and Morgan is/was married! WTH? I’m assuming wife wasn’t home at the time?
I’m so glad they found her. May this poor baby rest in peace and prayers for her parents.
Unfortunately Breeann’s parents do not have her back. They will have her body back. Breeann is gone.
‘Mr. O Riley’ didn’t implicate the parents, he pointed out deception indicated in their words. Statement Analysis doesn’t tell you why a person is being deceptive, only that they are deceptive and/or that there is sensitivity around a subject. It is likely the deception was because they knew it had been longer than the 5 minutes they said she was outside alone and had guilty feelings about that and sought to hide it.
Your opinions about ‘Mr. O Riley’ show that you have only give his site a cursory look as if you took the time to understand what Statement Analysis is, you wouldn’t be saying what you’ve said.
@Jeannie
I read Oriley post on Breeanns parents.
I have read many of his posts and you have read mine on the subject you would know I have admired some of his work.
As professionals when we give our opinion on something that is proven incorrect, especially in a case like this, it is our duty to admit the error to our audience, that finds our work credible.
They is great benefit to statement analysis but it is ONLY one factor in determining whether or not a subject is deceptive and to say it was detectable because of a time differential is well, silly.
It is exactly why polys have a pretest interview to establish a baseline of the subject.
I really wish respectful dissenting opinions did not have to be met with ” well you must not know what your talking “about constantly.
Blink~ I am confused about Breeann’s bike….I thought I had remembered you saying that it was found at Mr.R’s Aunts house?
Prayers for Breeann and her family, my heart is breaking for them. I am glad that they have found her, though I was hoping it was a better outcome.
We need to be vigilant in not only watching after our own kids but for others also. We as parents are not perfect and there are sicko’s out there waiting for that moment when you turn your back or get distracted. We must watch out for each other and keep our children safe! We can’t bring Breann back but we can use this as a lesson in our own lives to be even more careful and aware and maybe save another child because of that.
I will share that just the other day my husband was outside with my daughter and my niece, both Breeann’s age. We have a deck and a large back yard that is mostly fenced and our neighbors yards are fully fenced. I was inside and heard him open our back sliding door and tell the girls to stay put while he washed his hands. I flew to the back door, heart pounding! I told him to never take his eyes off of them and if he comes in that they do as well. He knows this obviously and looked at me like he couldn’t believe he was just going to do that. He knew better but had a bad judgement call. I used Breeann’s story as an example of how fast this can happen. Trust he’ll never do that again and will always think of that moment when he had a lapse in judgement. You never know who is watching and waiting for that moment.
Hugs to everyone, when this happens to a child we all take it personally…as we should. We should feel sick and enraged because that is the normal reaction.
Time after time society has witnessed children being kidnapped and destroyed by a perp that has children of his own. These people are able to hide their uglyness from the communtiy until they strike.
How can we as a society prevent such behavior? Every community, block by block, is going to be needed to help fix this problem. Get to know your neighbors more than just a casual hello when you see them.
This is another example of why polygraphs are not used in a court. The parents failed the test and we may never know why. They were not guilty, but supposed they felt guilty because they allowed the child to be outside their view and control.
@xara
A similar bike.
I think we are going to hear the bike was found earlier and led them to the peep.
Blink re: comment #21. Now you are way ahead of ME! I was wondering if the perp could have planted that bike and was going to ask you…now I have to come up with another question
I do want to say one thing (again) about lie detectors. I mentioned on another thread that I took one once and failed (according to my boss who wanted to hire me full-time) almost EVERY question. That included my name and address which were, of course, true. I cannot understand it. Also, why would she say the folks who tested me said I was ‘not a good candidate based on my results’ for this type of test? I’m told I’m honest to a fault (I mean should often NOT be so forthcoming in what I believe in my heart of hearts). Can you offer any suggestion why I failed that stupid test? One other girl who took it passed and admitted to me she lied on the drug usage questions. How the heck did she pass? I was honest on that too saying I’d done pot experimentally as a teenager, but not is MANY years? I’m lost!!
Funeral Saturday for Breeann Rodriguez
http://www.bnd.com/2011/08/17/1825005/funeral-saturday-for-breeann-rodriguez.html
SENATH, Mo. — Funeral arrangements are now set for Breeann Rodriguez, the 3-year-old Missouri girl allegedly suffocated by her neighbor.
Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Senath Church of Christ Church with a funeral to follow at 4 p.m. at the church. Burial is at Senath Cemetery
ummm…IN many years…or since.
Neighbor of Breeann Rodriguez says: ‘Felt like it took an hour for the girl to die’
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/08/body-of-missing-missouri-toddler-is-found-in-a-ditch-neighbor-arrested.html
Photo of perp/perv @ LINK
Breeann Rodriguez’s Body Found, to be Examined
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2011/08/17/breeann-rodriguezs-body-found-to-be-examined/
The remains of Breeann Rodriguez, 3, who disappeared in the Missouri Bootheel a week and a half ago, will be examined later Wednesday
“Finding her outside his property & dragging her into his house” looks “more accurate “then finding her on his pool ladder” …
Body of missing three-year-old Breeann Rodriguez discovered
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2026898/Body-missing-year-old-Breeann-Rodriguez-discovered.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Authorities say neighbour Shawn Morgan, 43, admitted suffocating Breeann with a trash bag after
==>finding her outside his property and dragging her into his house<==
Body of missing 3-year-old found near Hornersville
http://www.dddnews.com/story/1753900.html
On Monday, Aug. 15, a probable cause of death affidavit was released relating to the young child’s death.
According to the affidavit, on Friday, Aug. 12, authorities conducted an interview with Shawn Morgan, 43, of Senath, who stated on the day the child went missing, he discovered her standing on the ladder at the pool in his backyard. Morgan said he went to the girl, grabbed her, and carried her inside his house, where he used a white plastic trash bag to suffocate her, by holding it over her face and mouth.
Morgan has been charged with the felony counts of First Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action and Tampering with Physical Evidence. He made his first court appearance earlier today (Tuesday).
During his arraignment, Judge John Spielman read the charges against Morgan, and inquired about counsel. Morgan said he had not yet acquired an attorney.
A hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011, to allow Morgan time to acquire an attorney.
Missing girl’s case raises questions about AMBER Alert system
http://www.connecttristates.com/news/story.aspx?id=652658
Many of you have taken an interest in this case, as it shared similar circumstances with the Alisa Meier case down in Louisiana, Mo. Fortunately, Alisa was one of the lucky ones, but many of our viewers have commented on the lack of an AMBER Alert in Breann’s disappearance.
You’ll be surprised to find there are 5 pieces of criteria that must be met to create an AMBER Alert.
The five criteria are:
- There is reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred.
- The law enforcement agency believes that the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death.
- There is enough descriptive information about the victim and the abduction for law enforcement to issue an AMBER Alert to assist in the recovery of the child.
- The abduction is of a child aged 17 years or younger.
- The child’s name and other critical data elements, including the Child Abduction flag, have been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system.
(Source: amberalert.gov)
We’re taking to the Missouri Highway Patrol Wednesday to find out why some children make the list, and why others don’t.
Police: Motive unclear in death of Mo. 3-year-old
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/7701527.html
Breeann, who weighed about 30 pounds and wore her dark hair in pigtails, had been the subject of a frantic search since her parents reported her missing on Aug. 6. She was last seen riding her small pink bike with training wheels in front of the family home on Ode Johnson Street.
Neighbors who also live on Ode Johnson Street described Breeann as a quiet, happy girl, always outside tagging along with her brothers, always on her pink bike.
“I’ve seen her riding that bicycle up and down the street so many times,” said Ronnie Newman, 66. “She would wave as she’d pass by. This street is always full of kids.”
Newman said his own son went to high school with Morgan. He said Morgan is married with three children ranging in age from about 8 to about 14. He works at a factory in Paragould, Ark., Newman said
.
Neighbors described Morgan as quiet but not standoffish. Estelle Floyd, 90, said he comes from a good family and she was not aware of Morgan being in trouble before.
Newman said FBI agents and police knocked on doors throughout the neighborhood at around 2 a.m. Aug. 7, the day after Breeann went missing, then searched the homes.
===>The next morning, as neighbors were gathering to talk about the search, Morgan joined them, he said. “He came down and talked to us, talking like nothing was going on,” Newman said. “We were all wondering how somebody could do something like that, and he was saying the same thing.”<==
Neighbors said the Rodriguez family is friendly but reserved.
"I would see her (Breeann) out in the yard all the time," said next-door neighbor Sharon Haddock, a retiree in her 60s. "She was such a sweet little girl. It's just so tragic."
Floyd said that if such a crime can happen in Senath, it can happen anywhere. "All I can say is everybody be careful and watch your children," she said
Breeann Rodriguez’s Neighbor Reveals Details of Toddler’s Death
http://news.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474979935575
Morgan says he saw the missing toddler standing on the ladder of his backyard swimming pool. So instead of getting the obviously poorly watched child away from his pool and either returning her to parents or calling social services, he decided to snatch the 3-year old up and take her into his home with him. What he did next, according to his own statement, is suffocate her with the bag and then dispose of her dead body in a floodway/drainage ditch. He then dismantled the little girl’s bike to hide evidence of him even seeing her.
It’s obvious that this man took the diabolical steps of covering up a horrendous crime, showing that he was at least lucid enough to know that he had committed a crime and had done something unspeakably wrong. Had he been mentally incapacitated, he wouldn’t have been able to discern right from wrong, and therefore he wouldn’t have seen the need to cover-up his actions. This is hopefully something prosecutors consider when it comes time to put this man through the court of law.
@ A Texas Grandfather says:
August 17, 2011 at 2:07 pm
“This is another example of why polygraphs are not used in a court. The parents failed the test and we may never know why. They were not guilty, but supposed they felt guilty because they allowed the child to be outside their view and control.”
*******************************************
Agreed that polygraph tests have limitations. However, keep in mind that we don’t know if the tests actually indicated that the parents failed or if law enforcement told the parents that they failed in order to guage their reaction in the process of elimination.
10.TTM says:
“August 17, 2011 at 7:59 am
Essay,
From all indications he is not a RSO. No criminal history except a couple of minor traffic violations”
He may be the same violent offender as Shawn Morgan who was arrested in Montana, but with Montana’s ludicrous laws regarding violent predators, it is impossible to verify at this time, but this may be how they found their suspect. What good is a registry with no photo? Who does society need to protect, the children, or predators?
RIP Breeann. You will not be forgotten.
2 years ago, a woman I know was given temporary custody of her two young grandchildren. All the time that they were with grandma, she kept a very close watch on them. The children were recently returned to their mother. Mom moved into an apartment near grandmas. Once mom was back, the children were allowed to play outdoors on the playground of the apartment complex, while mom was indoors. I became aware of this while visiting, and was adamant that the children, 4 and 8, should not be out without adult supervision. I spoke with grandma, then mom, and mom said that she could hear them, while they were outdoors, playing. The children were on bikes, in front of the apartments, when I drove up most recently, playing with other unsupervised neighborhood children. They saw my car as I turned onto the street that runs in front of the apartments from the main street. They called my name, and came toward the street. I motioned them back, parked, and went in. (What IF it was a pedo in the same type of car???) I again told grandma. I told mom that children the age of hers are abducted and murdered on a regular basis, and children are molested much more often. She said that no one but the neighbors is ever out and about, and that she could hear the children when they were playing, and I cited the many child abduction cases from our (northern cal) area. Thank God that the youngest child started getting into altercations with other children, which caused complaints from the neighbor kids on a daily basis. I understand that mom is now sending an adult out with the children. We live within an hour of where Sandra Cantu was taken. I lived down the street from Michaela when she was taken, back in 88. I do NOT let my grandchild play outdoors without adult supervision. I am sure that some people think I’m over-protective. When my children were growing up, they were not allowed to go outdoors without their eldest brother, who is 10 years older than the youngest.
This is NOT the 1970s, folks. I do not blame any person, particularly a grieving parent, for being naive. The perps who commit these crimes are the parties responsible. We cannot control the actions of others. The best that we can do is to be as vigilant as possible, when it comes to our children. I am NOT willing to bet a child’s life that the neighbors in their apartment complex aren’t capable of harming them. What we can do, as responsible people, is bring it to the attention of the parents. We can report negligence when it occurs. I don’t know that allowing one’s 4 & 8 year old to play on the playground without adult supervision, right outside of their back door, is considered negligent, under the law. I believe it is not. But I will share Breeann’s story, and the stories of so many others who were lost before her, with any person I see allowing such.
God be with the family. A child’s death is like nuclear bomb to a family. It is very difficult to go on with one’s life after burying one’s child. Each family member is impacted, even those who are not yet born.
I wonder. I just wonder if it wasn’t racially motivated. The guy has no criminal/SO history. Does he have a history of being a bigot?
Georgiadad 8:54 & Blink’s response,
Lizzie 11:08,
This case has taken another little chunk out of me. I sometimes wonder if life is too short to follow along here – but I know how virtually all of you here keep checking in, desperately hoping we can collectively make some difference at least every now and then.
Occasionally I find something here at least a little profound, the two posts I reference above merit that label. Seeing your collective insights and wisdom, Blinkers, tempers the fury a bit and keeps me here and hoping.
God Bless this child, this family, these parents and damn those who question anyone but the semi-human debris that did this evil.
Another lost one found- I am thankful that they found Breeann- I am so sorry that she was a victim of this very bad bad man.
I hope her being found comforts her family in some way-and ultimately aids in the prosecution of her killer.
Sleep with the angels- RIP Breeann.
Oh my goodness, I live in Missouri and I tell anyone that will listen that I live in a small town of 2000 people on sundays. I always tell people with kids that this is exactly where I would come if I was a weirdo to take a child, as they are always out in their yards or walking home from school or at a sports event and so many parents work in a larger town at least 23 miles away. It is so sad.
I mean I am not a weirdo, thank God and I am always telling my step grandkids parents about these cases but they just don’t think it will happen to them or their kids, I pray that it doesn’t.
I also know of at least 20 SO that are supposed to be registered and the parents don’t even look, we have the FBI on a case here in town for this and I don’t even know who he has attacked? geesh I wish it would stop.
Rest in peace sweet baby girl.
It’s such a scary world today. Breaks my heart to see that children today are missing out on being able to just enjoy being a child! I know when I was young we never had to think about “stranger danger”. Sure, there were still abductions, missing children, etc., but it was almost unheard of back in the 70s.
Now, my boys were never allowed out front unsupervised. Even in our fenced in back yard (with a 6 foot privacy fence)I would be with them, except for a brief run in to the house to do something. You just never know what can happen in a heartbeat!
I just don’t understand the sickness running through the soul of a person who could intentionally hurt a child. Rest in peace, little baby. She deserved so much more goodness than this world has shown her.
FBI debuts child information iPhone app
http://www.kgw.com/news/FBI-Child-ID-App-127977898.html
A new iPhone application from the Federal Bureau of Investigation lets you have all your child’s vital statistics right in the palm of your hand.
It will help them find your child if he or she goes missing and is a quick resource when time is of the essence, said FBI Supervisory Special Agent Glenn Norling.
Check out the app at FBI.gov
“It looks like I could just take a photo of my child; it would go there and then enter their information in,” parent Mary Davis said.
Just download the free app from the app store on iTunes, add the latest picture of your child and enter your child’s key information. An app for other smartphone brands will be added soon.
Make sure to update it regularly as the child grows, Special Agent Norling said. He also said you can also add more than one child.
“Any type of distinguishing characteristics; if they have a mole or something like that. Add hair color and eye color,” he said “All sorts of things that might make your child stand out in a crowd,” said Norling.
If the unimaginable happens and your child goes missing, you immediately have the info at your fingertips with a recent photo to show authorities.
“In the case of a missing child, time is of the essence,” said Norling.
“Yeah, I like it,” Davis said, after testing out the app Wednesday.
The FBI said all of the information is stored in your phone, agents are not keeping any of your personal information.
Because it’s done through iTunes, the FBI said to work with your cell phone provider as far as keeping the overall password secure for your phone.
“It’s basically a resource kept with you … and you alone,” said Norling. “You choose to email it to police in an emergency.”
“It’s nice when technology is used for things that benefit families and children,” said Portland parent Jill Zahm.
Right now, the FBI app is only available on the iPhone, but expect to see a similar app for other phones soon, agents said.
What goes through my head over and over is WHY? WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY!!! What did this little cutie pie ever do to him? My heart breaks for her family. And also his. His innocent family gets the Scarlet Letter now. He has just altered the lives of so many. So G-damned selfish.
Folks who agonize over why, why, why, someone would do something like this should obtain a copy that explains the sociopaths personality. It will help you understand how these things happen. A sociopath is incapable of feeling empathy. They exist first and foremost to please themselves. The disorder manifests itself in various ways but if an individual is a sociopath and pedophile, they will have no problem doing whatever it takes to continue to pursue their twisted desires.
@ Riverpearl says:
August 18, 2011 at 2:53 pm
FBI debuts child information iPhone app
http://www.kgw.com/news/FBI-Child-ID-App-127977898.html
*******************
Thanks, Riverpearl, for the very useful information.
“Morgan has been charged with the felony counts of First Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action and Tampering with Physical Evidence.”
I’m not sure I know what “armed criminal action” means in this context.
Any insight?
http://www.semissourian.com/story/1754330.html – from another blog, suspect had a misdemeanor record
Tells me he had some type of mental problem, not to mention this recent horrific crime
Also the Rodriguez family had also lived in the town where SM wrote this bomb threat note – Paragould AR, perhaps it is very close by
I would never trust a polygraph, I don’t know why they use them, but I do know some people make good money administering them
Whaazupwitchu, with all due respect I have grown weary of the excuse of “must be a mental problem”. It is a spritual problem called EVIL. Agreed there are a few out there who do have mental issue, but that’s a small percentage. It’s a problem with the soul unless one does not believe in the soul of course.
@Moi – I must second that. Evil does exist, and with a crime like this one, a little sin goes a long way. So many people have now lost so much and will continue to be grieved in so many ways for the rest of their lives. We must be buoyed by the understanding that good deeds and selflessness also have their ripple effect in this world, far beyond what we will ever comprehend.
BLINK ~
It was announced that Breeann’s autopsy would be on Wed [08/17].
Why have there been no further “announcements” w/COD &/ or MOD ??
Not even further “testing results required”??
Why “such silence”??
TIA