By John Dobberstein, Editor
The search for Tulsa’s Cassidy Ritchie is over, as police and her family said Sunday her body had been found.
The Tulsa Police Department obtained a search warrant on Ritchie’s vehicle Sunday and recovered her body underneath a pile of clothing in the back of her SUV.
The case is being investigated as a homicide, and her husband, Chris Morland of Tulsa, is being named as a person of interest. Morland is currently detained at the Tulsa County Jail on a warrant out of Medina County, Texas for unrelated charges.
Tulsa police are working with the Tulsa County District Attorney’s office to determine jurisdiction but police said they anticipate a first-degree murder charge will be filed soon against Morland.
Meanwhile, a friend of Ritchie’s family organized a GoFundMe campaign Sunday to help with funeral expenses.
“We want to be sure my mother has the best service possible because she was the best woman and mom possible,” said her oldest son, Joey, in a post announcing the fundraiser. “Anytime she walked into a room everybody’s faces lit up, and I wish I could see her walk through our front door one more time.”
Police noted Ritchie had been involved in several past domestic disturbances. She and Morland had just been married Jan. 7.
Tulsa County records also show Morland was married to another woman from Tulsa, who has been seeking a default divorce judgment against him for more than a year. They were married in 2018 in Montague County, Texas, court records show.
A member of Ritchie’s immediate family released a statement Sunday confirming Ritchie had been found.
“Thank you to everyone who took the time out of their day yesterday to help search for her. Thank you to all the friends, family, and strangers who came out, and thank you to everyone who has kept us in your thoughts and prayers. Please give my family and I privacy as we deal with the grieving process.”
Ritchie, 39, hadn’t been seen or heard from since Jan. 20, having not answered calls or texts from family. Authorities found her vehicle, a blue Chrysler Pacifica, near Highway 412 on Friday.
Tulsa police said a good samaritan — who they have been trying to identify — had helped pull her car from a ditch near the I Don’t Care Bar & Grill near Catoosa. Her car was found damaged with heavy mud and field debris.
Numerous members of the public and police — including childhood friends, family and even those who didn’t know the family — conducted a public search on Saturday for Ritchie along the Verdigris River and other waterways, as well as strip pits and other infrastructure.
Thomas Fisher says
My heart felt prayers 🙏 going out to her family and friends as well as a big thank you to the police and community for joining in the search only wish it were a happier ending. May she rest in peace 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏