Missing woman’s body found in 55-gallon drum

Harry Wayne Walden

By Monica Land

MERIDIAN – The body of a woman reported missing by her boyfriend was found in a 55-gallon drum behind her home, and her boyfriend has been charged with her death.

Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie said the body of 60-year old Elizabeth Morris was found around 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 10, after evidence collected at the scene led authorities to the drum.

“This evidence led us to obtain a search warrant from Justice Court Judge Gerald Thompson,” Sollie said.“

Pending the investigation, Sollie said he could not release specific details about the crime, but said the drum was metal and about waist high.

Sollie said Monday he is still waiting for autopsy results to determine Morris’ cause of death.

He would not release if Morris’ body had any physical trauma.

Sollie said the drum was at the rear of Morris’ residence in the 3300 block of Sportsman Circle in Toomsuba, a community just outside Meridian. Morris shared the home with 62-year-old Harry Wayne Walden.

“He was her common law husband,” Sollie said. “And they’ve lived together for about 12 years.”

Sollie said Morris was a manager at the Dixie Service Station on Interstate 20 near the Mississippi/Alabama state line and Walden called the authorities when she failed to return home from work that Sunday night.

“He claimed she left work at 6 p.m. and never came home,” said Sollie. “And he reported her missing around 7 a.m. Monday morning.

When deputies began a search for Morris, Sollie said they discovered her vehicle and doubt was cast on Walden’s story.

“We found her white Mazda Miata on Old Highway 45,” he said, “And when we inventoried the vehicle, the money and the bank bag [from Dixie] were missing along with an undisclosed amount of cash and checks. And during the course of our investigation,” he continued, “it appeared that Mr. Walden had Ms. Morris’ vehicle towed to that location.”

Walden was questioned and taken into custody without incident.

Sollie said Walden has been charged with manslaughter and his bond has been set at $50,000.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*