PHOENIX — A man has been arrested for killing his brother after the older sibling went missing earlier this month after an altercation between the two, according to the Phoenix Police Department.
Court documents in 45-year-old George Morgan's disappearance reveal a bloody crime scene. Police said the man's own brother, Michael Morgan, 44, is responsible.
The men shared a home with their mother, along with a third brother.
The investigation into George Morgan's disappearance began on Nov. 11. According to police, the men were involved in several fights at their home near 19th Avenue and Encanto Boulevard.
Court documents said the men began fighting in their home's living room and then started arguing in the backyard. Police believe something happened to George Morgan during the altercation.
Documents said on the day of the fight, blood was found in the backyard by the victim's son. A water hose had been used to try to clean the bloody area. Other items were also found to have blood on them, including blood splatter on a vehicle in the yard. A bloody baseball cap was found, as well.
The men's mother saw Michael Morgan's red 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe drive away just after the altercation, court documents said.
George Morgan's family reported him missing on Nov. 12. His cell phone was traced which showed he left the home at the same time as Michael Morgan, according to court documents.
Between Nov. 11 when the fights happened and Nov. 12 when police were called, chemicals were used by Michael Morgan to clean up the area in the backyard, according to the documents.
George Morgan's family said the man would not have abandoned his daughter. He also would not have left several necessary items like his eyeglasses and false teeth.
Police then established probable cause to arrest Michael Morgan in his brother's murder.
Michael Morgan was arrested on Nov. 18 after last being seen by his family on Nov. 13. He was located at a Home Depot in Queen Creek, as was his red Tahoe. Evidence of a crime was found in the vehicle, court documents said.
According to police, Michael Morgan is facing several charges, murder among them.
The case remains under investigation and police are still trying to locate George Morgan's remains. Anyone with information is asked to call the Phoenix Police Department or Silent Witness at 480(WITNESS) or 480(TESTIGO) and provide an anonymous tip.
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Silent Witness:
Arizona's Silent Witness program allows people to send in tips and share information about crimes happening within their local communities.
The program shares unsolved felony case information in multiple ways, including TV, radio and social media.
Anyone who has information on a crime or recognizes a suspect described by the program is asked to call 480-948-6377, go to the program's website online or download the Silent Witness app to provide a tip. The identity of anyone who submits a tip is kept anonymous.
Calls to Silent Witness are answered 24/7 by a live person and submitted tips are accepted at all times. Submitted tips are then sent to the detective(s) in charge of the specific case.
Individuals who submit tips that lead to an arrest or indictment in the case can get a reward of up to $1,000.
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