Story by Thomas Fuller – Manatee Mysteries
At twenty years old, Sheena Morris was a bright light, a shining personality, lively, and the life of every party. She loved life, loved her dogs, loved others, and they loved her right back. She was born on August 1, 1986 in New York and had moved to Tampa with her mom and step-dad when she was 18. She had great dreams and aspirations for the future. Yes, Sheena seemed to have the world by the tail, that is, until she met Joe. Even though he initially lied about his age, Joe was more than 20 years her senior. He worked as a contractor, and of all things, was still married. Needless to say, Kelley, Sheena’s mom, had some concerns. Small wonder. But there’s more.
Added to the age issue, the lying and the little detail of already having a wife, to say the relationship was turbulent would have been an understatement. They fought intensely and broke up often. Somehow they got back together, time after time. On one occasion, he threatened a male acquaintance of Sheenas with a gun. Finally, Sheena told her mom that it was over, done, finished, kaput. That’s why Kelley was shocked to hear that Joe was back. He had even proposed and given Sheena a ring (later discovered to be a cheap fake). And to celebrate, the lovebirds were going to spend New Year’s together at the beach on Anna Maria Island.
Well, that last day of 2008 seemed to pass pretty well for Sheena and Joe out there on the island, but somehow, past mid-night and into the wee hours of 2009, things went south. Neighbors in the adjoining rooms heard arguing and fighting so violent and loud that they called 911. Bradenton Beach Police arrived in time to pass Joe in the parking lot as he left the hotel. Not knowing who he was, they proceeded to Sheena’s room. They found her covered with scrapes and bruises. She told them that Joe had just left, gave a description of him and his car, and that he was drunk. Also, she reported that he had taken her purse containing her money, credit cards and car keys. The officers took her statement and left the hotel. Evidently it didn’t dawn on them that the report of an intoxicated man driving a car who had just assaulted a woman deserved any follow-up.
After the officers left, Sheena called the Tampa Police to report that her violent boyfriend had stolen her purse, containing keys and money and threatened to trash her apartment that was located in Tampa. That’s the last anyone ever heard from Sheena. Later on that first day of the year, when family could not find or contact Sheena, her lifeless body was found tied to a shower head with one of her dog’s leashes. The police were quick to label it a suicide, but that seemed ridiculous to everyone who knew her. The Bradenton Beach Police had no homicide experience and, of course, without going into great detail, many clues were over-looked and the crime scene was heavily compromised. Eventually the cause of death was changed to “un-determined.” Sheena’s mom Kelley has been tireless to find justice for her daughter. The family has even appeared on the Dr. Phil Show along with, and this is unbelievable, Joe, the prime suspect, who actually took and failed a polygraph test on the program.
Never-the-less, Joe insists on his innocence. He claims he never returned to the hotel. But this is very interesting. Remember that purse, the one containing Sheena’s money and keys, that she reported stolen by Joe to two different police departments? Well, in many of the post-mortem crime scene photos, there’s the purse. Joe took the purse, then told police he never returned to the hotel. If he indeed never returned, then that is one magic purse.
