Description

James W. Morse, a disabled WWII Veteran and carpenter, was last seen by his mother on February 2, 1982 in Apopka, FL. He was enroute to West Palm Beach, FL to visit his daughter at her home. He never arrived to his daughter's house and has not been heard from since. Police discovered David Lee Armstrong, a transient and fugitive from Mountain View, AR, had used Morse's credit cards after his disappearance. Armstrong also sold Morse's silver 1964 Ford step van to his own uncle for $70. The interior of the van was heavily stained with Morse's blood and there was evidence of human tissue, including brain cells. Authorities had determined that there was enough blood present in the van to prove that Morse had sustained fatal injuries. Armstrong was apprehended by police in Illinois when he was arrested for forgery in connection with Morse's credit cards. He was also wanted in Arkansas for an escape charge. Armstrong confessed to killing James Morse. He said that Morse had picked him up as a hitchhiker; he then beat and stabbed Morse to death. Armstrong claimed to have dumped Morse's body in a sugar cane field near Belle Glade. An extensive search was conducted, but the body was never found. David Armstrong pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 years in prison for manslaughter in August, 1982. Police have searched for Morse's body without success.