MURRAY, UTAH: A 27-year-old woman from Utah and her dog were discovered dead on February 18 in a storage container after the woman's boyfriend allegedly locked her inside and left, leaving her with no way to escape when a fire started.
According to several sources, Alexander Wardell, 30, was detained and lodged in the Salt Lake County Prison on charges of kidnapping and negligent homicide. Wardell had just been released from custody when the fire started at a Murray CubeSmart Self Storage facility. Workers at a nearby car wash observed the fire starting and phoned for assistance. Six storage containers were on fire when emergency personnel arrived, including the one the woman was locked in.
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Morgan's boyfriend locked her inside the storage unit
The woman, identified by the authorities as Morgan Kay Harris, and her dog were found dead inside one unit. According to a worker who spoke to KSL-TV, surveillance from the car wash showed a man leaving the scene and "coming over the fence" soon before the fire started.
According to an affidavit, Wardell, who was arrested by police, admitted that Harris was his girlfriend and that he "closed the door to the unit putting a lock into door." It is still unclear if Wardell ignited the fire as the cause of it is still being investigated, as per PEOPLE.
Wardell has a long history with the law
According to ABC4, Wardell has a long history with the law. He had already had multiple convictions for acts of domestic violence by the year 2013. Wardell was given a warrant by Salt Lake City police on February 16 for violating his probation, according to the local news station KUTV. He posted a $5,000 bond and was let go the following day.
'A deep thinker with amazing artistic abilities'
In a statement released by Harris' family, they expressed their devastation at losing their daughter. "Our daughter, Morgan Kay Harris was always known for her sweet, shy, and kind temperament, being a deep thinker with amazing artistic abilities and always having an infectious giggle. She was a beautiful model and makeup artist and a successful medical assistant. We are devastated at the loss of our daughter and appreciate the love and support from the community but ask for your privacy at this time as we maneuver through the unimaginable."
The family has established a GoFundMe to assist with funeral expenses. The fundraising effort had received more than $16,000 in contributions as of February 23. "Thank you so much for your generosity and supportive words," wrote Harris' mother, Laurice Williamson. "Not having the stress of finances does help us deal with the tragedy somewhat. We are also trying to make a difference in how the legal system handles violent criminals- so that innocent people like Morgan may be saved. I so appreciate every dollar and every word."
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