The tranquility of a Rochester home was shattered by a deadly familial confrontation, leaving a 49-year-old man dead and his stepdaughter facing a murder charge. The Rochester Police Department has identified the suspect in Wednesday’s fatal stabbing as 33-year-old Tessa Richards, the stepdaughter of the victim, Gary Morgan.
The tragedy unfolded inside Morgan’s apartment on Wednesday. According to authorities, a violent argument erupted after Morgan confronted Richards about items he believed she had stolen from him. What began as a verbal dispute rapidly escalated into a physical altercation, culminating in Morgan being fatally stabbed.
Richards was swiftly taken into custody by responding officers. She has been formally charged with second-degree murder and is being held pending her arraignment. The investigation took a more severe turn as police uncovered Richards’s extensive criminal history beyond this incident. Authorities revealed she is wanted on two separate felony warrants from other states: one for burglary in Illinois, and another for burglary and assault in Florida. These outstanding warrants paint a picture of a significant prior criminal record.
The news has sent ripples of grief and shock through the community. Friends and family remember Gary Morgan as a well-known and beloved local figure, making the violent nature of his death all the more difficult to process.
As the investigation continues, police are working to piece together the precise sequence of events that led to the confrontation, including the nature of the stolen items and the full motive behind the alleged altercation. Law enforcement is urging anyone with additional information to come forward to assist in the ongoing case.