Elderly Upper Darby woman slain

Details about the "sadistic" slaying of an 84-year-old Upper Darby woman elicited shock, grief and outrage yesterday, especially in the apartment complex where she lived for almost four decades.

Jane Morgan, known for her amiable demeanor and passion for cats, was fatally strangled, beaten and sexually assaulted, likely between Sunday night and Monday morning, said township Police Superintendent Michael J. Chitwood.

"This was a brutal and sadistic beating and sexual assault," Chitwood said yesterday. "The person who committed this heinous crime is an animal."

Police were first contacted at 2:10 p.m. Tuesday, Chitwood said.

Morgan, who lived alone in the Long Lane Apartments, had not answered the door that afternoon after arranging for a ride to a nursing home to visit a former resident of the apartment complex, said Louise Stromberg, the apartment manager.

When Morgan's driver, a relative of another resident, failed to get a response, he contacted the office staff, who found Morgan unresponsive in her bed and called police, Stromberg said.

"Everyone thought she'd suffered a massive heart attack," said Stromberg. "We're just absolutely devastated."

Chitwood said police initially had no reason to suspect foul play. The apartment was not in disarray, and there was no sign of forced entry. But police later learned that Morgan kept her doors unlocked "because of her cats," Chitwood said.

Stromberg said Morgan had two cats of her own and often took care of others' pets or strays.

An autopsy performed Tuesday afternoon revealed internal injuries, Chitwood said. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, citing asphyxiation as the cause, Chitwood said.

Chitwood, who described the investigation as a "full-court press," expressed outrage that someone would beat and sodomize an elderly woman. He said Morgan's health problems were serious enough that she could not drive.

He said police had no motive but had executed "at least two" search warrants and were looking at "a couple persons of interest" from the area. No one has been charged.

"I believe she knew who her killer was," Chitwood said.

Visitors to the red-brick, 215-unit complex at 146 Long Lane must use a code to phone a resident and announce their presence so they can be buzzed in.

Chitwood called the complex "well-managed and safe," and believes the perpetrator was familiar with it.

Stromberg, who said Morgan had resided at Long Lane since 1971, is hoping for a quick arrest.

"Nothing like this has ever happened here," she said. "It's like a family; everyone looks out for everyone else."

One of those people is Sunita Shah, for 14 years owner of the J&B deli, located in the same block.

Shah, who often makes deliveries to elderly residents in the complex, said Morgan was a friendly daily visitor to her store.

"She usually did her shopping on Monday," Shah said, adding that Morgan would pay for a full week of newspapers and then come in each day and get one.

Shah said she realized Monday that she had not seen Morgan but was not alarmed.

"Sometimes she had to change her schedule," she said.

Then she paused, shaking her head.

"It's so sad," she said.

A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Anyone with information is being asked to call Upper Darby Township Police Capt. Mike Kenny at 610-734-7762.