Death plot trial begins

June 03--Muskogee police Investigator Rob Frazier testified Monday that he believed during his initial investigation of a possible murder for hire that the threat was legitimate.

"I knew this was real and it wasn't a game," he said.

Kenna Lee Morrison, 31, is charged with soliciting for murder in the first degree. She is accused of conspiring and soliciting assistance from three men -- Raymond Stout, Michael Gilmore and Stephen Gourd -- to kill Dewey Easom, court documents state. Easom is her former boyfriend.

Charges were filed against Morrison on Oct. 1. The jury of six men and six women began hearing testimony Monday afternoon.

Frazier testified that he was first told about a possible murder for hire Sept. 29, and his initial investigation included interviews with Stout and Gilmore. He also heard recorded phone conversations between Stout and Morrison.

Frazier said he then informed Easom of the alleged threat. Easom said that he had "kicked her out earlier that day" and said that she had stolen checks or some form of money from him.

Morrison, her children and her sister, Cara Rogers, were found later that day near the Five Civilized Tribes Museum. Morrison was taken to the police department for an interview. Rogers was allowed to take Morrison's children "so they would be safe," Frazier said.

During an interview at the police department that was not recorded, Morrison denied any plan to kill Easom and declined to write a statement before being booked into jail, Frazier said. Morrison's sister was later interviewed at a home in Broken Arrow. Her three-page statement was specific about the alleged plan to kill Easom.

Easom, 65, testified that he had known Morrison for six to eight months and "I kinda got attached to her and her kids."

Easom, a veteran, said he was injured during his military service. He receives $4,800 a month in benefits and receives medical care at the VA medical center.

Easom also testified that several of Morrison's friends and her sister were often at their house. He had asked Morrison to leave. He also had an altercation with one of the men who came to their residence.

Many of the problems he and Morrison had were due to the actions of Morrison's sister, he said.

"I still care about her (Morrison)," he said. "And I still care about the kids."

Easom also testified that he had given Morrison money for clothing for the children and had provided her with a car. His son and his son's girlfriend were beneficiaries of his life insurance policy, he testified.

When asked whether he thought Morrison was involved in the plan to have him killed, Easom replied, "I don't know, sir, I really don't."

District Judge Mike Norman told jurors that testimony may conclude today.

Reach Anita Reding at (918) 684-2903 or [email protected].

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