Date: Fri 06-Sep-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

police-murder-Doheny-Shelton

Full Text:

Shelton Police Call Off Search For Murder Weapon

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

SHELTON - After four days of underwater searching in the Housatonic River,

Shelton police scuba divers stopped looking for a knife which a Derby teenager

told them he threw in the river after using it to kill a Sandy Hook teenager

on August 26.

Detective Sergeant John Youd of the Shelton police said Wednesday police don't

believe that the knife is in the Housatonic River at the Shelton town boat

launch. Derby teenager Gary J. Morgan, 18, allegedly said he threw it and a

set of keys in the river after fatally cutting the throat of acquaintance

Shawn T. Doheny, 19, of 73 Toddy Hill Road, Sandy Hook.

Morgan was being held on $1 million bond in the New Haven Correctional Center

and was scheduled for a September 5 appearance in Milford Superior Court.

Morgan was arraigned on the charges in Derby Superior Court on August 27.

Det Youd said the Shelton police divers used an underwater metal detector to

probe the silty, gravelly bottom of the Housatonic River for the knife and a

set of keys. Police searched a grid pattern to inspect the riverbed August 26

through 29.

Police also looked in woods near the boat launch for the items but didn't

locate them, Det Youd said, adding that police also brought in dogs to search

the area.

More than 15 Shelton police officers have been involved in investigating the

case, he said. Police are still interviewing the families and friends of the

the accused and the victim, according to the detective.

As far as police know, there were no witnesses to Mr Doheny's murder, Det Youd

said. "We feel that we've got evidence that puts him (Morgan) right at the

scene (of the murder)."

The apparent motive for the murder is the theft of car stereo equipment from

Mr Doheny, according to the detective.

Police received a call at about 6:40 am on August 26 from a Shelton resident

who had spotted a partially submerged car in the river, near the boat launch.

On inspecting the scene, police waded out about 90 feet from shore and found a

red 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier coupe with Mr Doheny's body inside.

Through a records check, police learned that Ansonia police had pulled over

the Mr Doheny vehicle the previous night on a motor vehicle violation. Ansonia

police provided Shelton police with information about the occupants of the

car, one of whom was Morgan.

Morgan confessed to police he had cut Mr Doheny's throat with a knife, Det

Youd said.

In Morgan's apartment, police reported finding bloody, wet clothing and new

car stereo equipment which had been taken from Mr Doheny's Chevrolet.

Police believe Mr Doheny found Mr Morgan stealing new stereo equipment from

his Chevrolet and an argument ensued in which Morgan cut Mr Doheny's throat.

Before making off with the stereo equipment, Mr Morgan pushed the car into the

river to cover up the killing, according to Det Youd.

While jailed in the Shelton police lock-up August 27, Mr Morgan attempted to

commit suicide by hanging himself in his cell with a sock, Det Youd said. A

scanning police surveillance camera spotted the incident and police rushed to

the cell, removing the sock from his neck.

Mr Doheny was employed at Thomas's Deli in Sandy Hook. His funeral was held

August 29 St Rose Church in Newtown.