CONSPIRACY: Charles “Chuck” Morgan
When detectives discover a mysterious death in the desert southwest of Tucson, Arizona questions immediately start swirling. Was this self-inflicted or an execution? As detectives dig deeper into the case, the plot thickens with alleged fraudulent land transactions and potential gold scams. It’s been over 45 years since this mysterious death. And once you hear about the conspiracies circling Tucson and Phoenix in the 70’s and 80s…
For our friends in the Deaf and Signing community, you can view an ASL version of this episode.
If you have any information about the death of Charles “Chuck” Morgan, please reach out to:
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department
Call 520-882-7463, or submit a tip online at org.
We’d love to speak with you and see how we can support.
If you’re a law enforcement agency or family member of one of the people we mentioned in this episode, or if you’re looking for more coverage on a case, please reach out. You can email us at:
Episode Source Material
- Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ): 1977 shooting ended Tucsonan’s two lives by Ernie Heltsley and John Rawlinson. Published February 4, 1979. Accessed February 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/163640908/ & https://www.newspapers.com/image/163642378/
- Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ): 2 capital infusions set off series of scandals. Published February 28, 1982. Accessed February 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/163605331
- Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ): Cold Case: Strange evidence found in ‘77 on, near man’s body by Kimberly Matas. Published March 31, 2010. Accessed February 22, 2024 via tucson.com. https://tucson.com/news/local/crime/cold-case-strange-evidence-found-in-77-on-near-mans-body/article_e84a1034-c078-5a43-81a1-e602f52eda02.html
- Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ): Death still under inquiry. Published January 30, 1978. Accessed February 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/170015322
- Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ): Investigators baffled by Morgan death clue by Bob Svejcara. Published June 22, 1977. Accessed February 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/163527293/
- Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ): FBI to check Morgan’s death. Published June 24, 1977. Accessed February 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/163556777
- Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ): Missing executive found dead by Sam Stinson. Published June 19, 1977. Accessed February 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/163488841
- Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ): ‘Mysteries’ takes on Tucson case of escrow agent’s bizarre death. Published February 7, 1990. Accessed February 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/168106189
- Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ): Phoenix death a mistaken ‘hit’? by Abraham Kwok. Published May 6, 1992. Accessed Mar 12, 2024. A https://www.newspapers.com/image/123309127/ + B https://www.newspapers.com/image/123309136/
- Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ): Sheriff finds no foul play in Morgan death by Bob Svejcara. Published August 11, 1977. Accessed February 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/163725166
- Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ): Slain businessman seen during ‘absence’ by Bob Svejcara and Ernie Heltsley. Published June 23, 1977. Accessed February 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/163536775 & https://www.newspapers.com/image/163537478/
- Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ): Slain man testified in state bank inquiry by Bob Svejcara. Published June 21, 1977. Accessed February 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/163524204
- Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ): Kin angry, unsure over violent death of ‘happiest man’ by Abraham Kwok. Published May 17, 1990. Accessed March 12, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/122377529
- Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ): Woman says slain businessman sought to pay off contract killer by Associated Press. Published June 22, 1977. Accessed February 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/118471873
- The Standard-Star (New Rochelle, New York): Did truth die with Danny Casolaro? by Mary McGrory. Published August 19, 1991. Accessed March 12, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/928178298/
- Tucson Citizen (Tucson, AZ): Businessman missing here. Published June 18, 1977. Accessed February 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/583093575
- Tucson Citizen (Tucson, AZ): Mystery death a suicide? by Edward W. Bassett and David Dykes. Published June 22, 1977. Accessed February 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/583095344 & https://www.newspapers.com/image/583095355
- Tucson Citizen (Tucson, AZ): Sheriff’s probe says Morgan was a suicide. Published August 11, 1977. Accessed February 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/583088848
- Tucson Citizen (Tucson, AZ): Slain businessman’s bank dealings probed by Edward W. Bassett and Richard Wood. Published June 27, 1977. Accessed February 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/583098439
- Tucson Citizen (Tucson, AZ): Slain executive was probe witness by Tomas Guillen and Richard Wood. Published June 20, 1977. Accessed February 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/583094107 & https://www.newspapers.com/image/583094134
- Tucson Citizen (Tucson, AZ): Slain Tucson executive: Solid citizen… mystery man by Richard Wood. Published June 21, 1977. Accessed February 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/583094516
- Tucson Citizen (Tucson, AZ): Widow: Love, devotion filled house, not mystery by Richard Wood. Published June 22, 1977. Accessed February 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/583095355
- Tucson Citizen (Tucson, AZ): Woman says Morgan hid, trying to buy off his life by Richard Wood. Published June 21, 1977. Accessed February 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/583094506
- Tudum by Netflix: American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders Revisits the Death of Danny Casolaro, by Roxanna Fequierre. Published February 29, 2024. Accessed March 12, 2024. https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/american-conspiracy-octopus-murders-release-date-trailer-news
- Unsolved Mysteries (Season 3, episode 9). Directed by John Cosgrove. Aired November 13, 1990. Accessed February 23, 2024 via Prime Video. https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B06XG3KK1N/ref=atv_dp_season_select_s3
- Unsolved Mysteries (Season 5, episode 24). Directed by John Cosgrove. Aired March 10, 1993. Accessed March 12, 2024 via Prime Video. https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.78ae3dc8-a1ca-710e-50bf-0e5467bbf1ec?ref_=imdbref_tt_wo_tp_pvt_aiv&tag=imdbtag_tt_wo_tp_pvt_aiv-20
- Washington Post: What killed Danny Casolaro? by Kim Masters. Published August 31, 1991. Accessed March 12, 2024. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1991/08/31/what-killed-danny-casolaro/ea110460-d4d0-4052-a84c-3660b6989ebe/
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