Security guard’s life was taking new road

Cathy Scott

Wednesday, Oct. 16, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Michael Morrow had landed the security job at the Sun Harbor Budget Suites just two months ago. In one violent moment, it was all over.

Morrow was killed Monday night, struck down in the complex's parking lot by a van, dragged more than 50 feet, then run over a second time, witnesses told police.

The 31-year-old and his 46-year-old wife, Linda, had moved into the Sun Harbor Budget Suites after he was hired by Bigelow Cos. to watch the property at 4625 S. Boulder Highway.

Morrow had stopped the van, allegedly driven by 24-year-old Patrick Juarez, after he saw it speeding through the parking lot. Juarez works for Teens of Nevada, a door-to-door candy sales business.

The driver had just dropped off a teenager so he could sell candy, witnesses told police. As the driver approached the entrance to the residential motel, Morrow tried to stop him, police said.

Morrow was taken to University Medical Center, where he died around midnight.

His wife now "has absolutely nothing," said Mark Erickson, a neighbor and friend. "She has just 75 cents to her name. He was her sole support."

The couple met while driving trucks cross-country, married in 1994 in Clarksville, Tenn., and honeymooned at Graceland.

They moved to Las Vegas six months ago.

"Both of them were raised in small towns," Erickson said. "Las Vegas was new to them."

Linda Morrow told Erickson that her husband was happiest when he was at Disneyland or Magic Mountain, which he visited about once a year.

"The guy loved Disneyland," Erickson said. "It was his passion."

The Anaheim, Calif., theme park is where Morrow's wife and friends would like to have his ashes scattered.

Morrow was also a "Trekkie," friend Debra Erickson said. Morrow named his black Labrador puppy "Warf" after a Klingon character in the "Star Trek" series. Still sitting on the windowsill of his motel room were "Star Trek" miniature characters and collectibles.

Morrow's dog is staying with the Ericksons because "Linda can't see him right now," Debra Erickson said. "He reminds her too much of Mike. He loved his dog."

Morrow would like to see her father-in-law, Ernest, but she can't afford the air fare to bring him to Las Vegas from Tennessee, she said.

"We're trying to raise the money to bring him here," Debra Erickson said.

Michael Morrow, who served in the Army as an electrician until 1992, was raised by his father, a former Marine.

Morrow's mother, Barbara Kerr of San Diego, was scheduled to arrive in Las Vegas today. Morrow also has a sister.

While Morrow's family and friends deal with Morrow's death, detectives spent all day Tuesday interviewing witnesses, Sgt. Bill Keeton said.

Juarez, who was arrested shortly after the incident, has refused to talk to investigators, Keeton said.

Police have two more witnesses to interview today who earlier told police they saw the suspect drive the van in reverse and run over Morrow a second time.

"He had tire marks all over his body," said Debra Erickson, who also lives at Sun Harbor.

Juarez, arrested at his boss' sister's house, was booked into the Clark County Detention Center and charged with open murder.

Steve McCoy, Bigelow vice president, said it was the first time an employee had died on the job. The company, which builds motels, has offices in four states.

"We've never, ever had anything like this happen while someone was on duty," McCoy said. "We were all in a state of shock. We spent the night at the hospital with Linda."

The company "will help the family as much as possible," he said.

Mark Erickson said Sun Harbor residents "are pulling together."

"We're all going to miss him," Erickson said. "It's like a little city here. We take care of each other."

A Michael Morrow memorial fund was expected to be opened at First Security Bank to help cover costs of the funeral and to help pay for out-of-town family members to attend his funeral, Mark Erickson said. Services are pending.