Cassidy Ritchie and the damaged SUV where police say they found her body underneath clothes in the back (Tulsa Police Department)
The search for a 39-year-old mother in Oklahoma who went missing less than a month after getting married came to a tragic end over the weekend, when police found her body hidden beneath clothing in the back seat of her heavily-damaged SUV, authorities announced.
According to a news release from the Tulsa Police Department, officers found Cassidy Ritchie dead in the back of her 2006 Chrysler Pacifica on Sunday morning.
Authorities said that Ritchie had last been seen alive on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2023. She was reported missing by family members after they had not heard from her and were unable to reach her for several days.
Police on Thursday, Jan. 25 put out a “missing and endangered” alert for Ritchie in which they described her light blue SUV and noted that she “has been involved in a domestic disturbance.”
The vehicle was discovered abandoned on the highway the following day in what appeared to be suspicious circumstances, police said.
“We have reason to believe that Ritchie may have been the victim of foul play and left somewhere off Highway 412 between Tulsa and Inola,” police wrote in a Jan. 26 release.
In a Facebook post, police attached a photograph of Ritchie’s SUV showing significant damage to the front right, front bumper, and hood of the vehicle. Authorities also noted that her car had “extensive off-road debris on it” at the time it was discovered. The post again reiterated that Ritchie “has been involved in prior domestic violence incidents.”
Investigators on Jan. 27 continued to search for Ritchie and asked for the public’s help in locating a good Samaritan who helped pull Ritchie’s car out of a ditch near the “I Don’t Care Bar and Grill” sometime between Jan. 21 and Jan. 23. The bar is located in the 11000 block of E 590 Road in Catoosa, Oklahoma, which is about 20 miles east of Tulsa.
“We do suspect foul play in this case,” the release repeated.
Two days after locating Ritchie’s vehicle, authorities obtained and executed a search warrant for the car where they discovered her body “underneath clothing in the back of the SUV.”
“We previously reported that Ritchie was involved in prior domestic violence incidents,” Sunday’s news release repeated. “Detectives are currently investigating this case as a homicide.”
Anyone with information relevant to the investigation is being urged to call Tulsa Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS.
Court records reviewed by Law&Crime show that Ritchie on Jan. 7 married Chris Edward Morland. On Jan. 25, Morland was arrested by officers with the Tulsa Police Department on an unrelated warrant out of Medina County, Texas, where he is charged with theft greater than $750 but less than $2,500. He is currently being held without bond as a fugitive from justice.
TPD Lt. Brandon Watkins reportedly told Tulsa Fox affiliate KOKI that Morland is a “person of interest” in the death of his wife. Police are still working with the district attorney’s office to determine proper jurisdiction over the case, but authorities are reportedly expected to file first-degree murder charges against Morland imminently.
Ritchie’s brother told Tulsa NBC affiliate KJRH that his sister’s wedding day bliss earlier this month changed quickly following her marriage to Morland.
“She was so happy on her wedding day,” Kyle Ritchie told the station. “I don’t know if she was just too scared, too scared to say anything. (Morland) just was a whole different person after the marriage.”
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