For The Record

​Interestingly, just a few days after posting “ Two Sad and Frustrating Years”, the Onslow County District Attorney’s Office contacted us with a proposed meeting date of December 1, 2021. Of course we jumped at the opportunity! Our NC attorney was present, as were our attorney here in NH and the investigator working for the Estate of Morgan Patten; yes, it still stings to write, speak or read those four words linked together. DA Ernie Lee, ADA Caroline Wahoff and Victim/Witness Advocate Lori Haga listened intently to our presentations of relevant facts and our pleas for further scrutiny for 2 hours and 16 minutes, and though our request to have Captain Mark Scott and Detective Matt Hipple present was not fulfilled, Sergeant John Edwards, NC Highway Patrol joined us. Our Team presented very well, and in review, we believed that the DA’s Office would come back to us with a solid plan for expansion of this investigation. After sharing the fruits of our investigative efforts with them, there was simply no other option. Eight days after this meeting, we received notice from ADA Wahoff that she would be pursuing three specific investigative efforts, which I would like to share with you all, but, because it was a private meeting and the investigation is ongoing, it is in Morgan’s best interest that it remain private. Of course we were all pleased with this news! Ms. Wahoff asked Renee and I to conduct a very specific task in order to expedite the proposed process and we promptly complied. Along with these efforts, we requested follow up by Ms. Wahoff, or better yet, Detective Hipple so that we may explain the relevance of our body of work. Two months have passed since that conveyance with no further communication from any Onslow County Officials. After four weeks, Renee and I made it a point to call Caroline Wahoff’s office and Lori Haga’s office at least twice per week seeking an update. We have not received a return call despite leaving polite pleading voicemails with each effort. It gets worse. Two weeks ago, I called Detective Matt Hipple to inquire about his progress and ensure that we were all on the same page. His response was, “I haven’t spoken to Caroline since May, 2021. This is the first I’ve heard about this”. He went on to inform me that he had no idea that Renee and I had been in Jacksonville for a meeting on December first! This is a good opportunity to share some of the other doors that have been slammed in our faces, starting with the United States Marine Corps. We have undeniable proof that Charles Cornwall lied to an Officer while providing sworn testimony during his Line of Duty/Misconduct Investigation. Other documents within the final Report clearly show Cornwall’s untruths, which were overlooked, perhaps ignored by those in his Command. I first shared this concern with Lt. Col. Michelle Over, Staff Judge Advocate, Marine Corps Installations East. Lt. Col. Over informed me that there was nothing she could do to help. The issue would have to be raised with Cornwall’s Command. She also stated that it has been over two years since the event occurred. I’m glad she reminded me of that fact! I then wrote Col. Kyle Phillips, Commanding Officer, Headquarters and Support Battalion, Camp Lejeune. I requested that Cornwall’s investigation be reopened. Col. Phillips responded quickly, stating that there was nothing he could do to help, and, by the way, this happened over two years ago. Again, thank you. Br. General Andrew Niebel, Commanding Officer, Camp Lejeune was next on my list. After making the same request, I promptly received his response, “it has been completed over two years ago and in the case of LCpl Cornwall is not something that the command is able to effect. LCpl Cornwall has been discharged from the Marine Corps.” Am I the only one that sees the problem here? I know it was over two years ago. I know Cornwall has been discharged. The problem I am trying to point out is the Line of Duty/Misconduct investigation was “shoddy” at best, resulting in Cornwall being discharged with rank, benefits and disability compensation after being involved with killing my daughter. How f’ing hard is that to understand? It was wrong two years ago and ignoring it in perpetuity will never make it right! During this time frame, I also reached out to the Camp Lejeune Office of Naval Criminal Investigative Services. After speaking with a Special Agent, he said he would look into the case, but he had no records of their involvement. He said he would get back to me with any information. I’m still waiting. Now, for the civilian side. Many months ago, we shared Morgan’s story with our U.S. Senator’s offices and our U.S. Representative. We received a reply from a Senior Legislative Assistant with Senator Jeanne Shaheen and set up a meeting. After hearing more detail this gentleman contacted the Salem, NH office of the FBI and requested that an Agent contact us. After discussing the case with an Agent a few days later, we were told that there is likely no angle that would give FBI jurisdiction over this case because Morgan was not a minor, nor did the vehicle cross State boundaries. As a good will measure though, this Agent did type up a bulletin and sent it to the Charlotte, NC office. He also informed us that the FBI would jump on board with assistance at the request of Onslow County. Representative Annie Kuster’s office called us and stated that Morgan’s homicide is not a Federal matter so there is nothing they can do. Senator Maggie Hassan’s staff is apparently too busy to respond to us. We contacted the NC State Bureau of Investigations to learn that they will only get involved in a case when requested by another investigating agency or an elected official. We sent a letter to Governor Chris Sununu’s office and followed up with a phone call. Several days later we received a call back. We were informed that Morgan was killed in North Carolina, not New Hampshire; we would have to call Governor Roy Cooper. Just a few days later, Gov. Sununu directly contacted an out-of State Agency regarding the sad and traumatic case of a missing 7 year old girl from Manchester, NH. His office also ensured that every news agency had a copy of his communications. Someone obviously determined that Gov. Sununu could score some major political points by doing so. We sent a formal request to Governor Roy Cooper expressing our concerns over the DA’s Office in Onslow County and the lack of investigation into Morgan’s homicide. We requested in writing that he hand over jurisdiction to the NC State Bureau of Investigations and followed up with a phone call, as did several Morgan Patten supporters; thank you!! The response we received from Governor Cooper’s Office was, “homicide investigations fall outside of the jurisdiction of the Governor”. “I am sorry that there is no further action our office can take at this time.” I find this statement intriguing. The Governor of North Carolina appoints a Director for the State Bureau of Investigations, for a term of 8 years. The Director of the NC State Bureau of Investigations reports to the Governor. Hmmmm. Let me make a few things clear- We do not believe that Morgan’s homicide investigation has been hampered solely by incompetence. We believe that corruption is involved as well. We have no reason to believe the corruption in this case has traveled outside of Camp Lejeune and Onslow County. Morgan NEEDS an advocate in the NC Justice System! Morgan needs an advocate that has knowledge of the system, disdain for corruption and neither fear of, or profound loyalty to, anyone else. We will keep searching. We will not be deterred.