On January 14, 2003, Menlo Park Police Sergeant James Simpson was notified that fugitive Joseph Eli Morrow had been taken into custody in the Philippines by the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Menlo Park Police Investigators suspected that Morrow was living in the Philippines and had been working with the State Department and the FBI to follow that lead. On September 30, 1999, the FBI obtained a federal warrant charging Morrow with Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. 1073. Thereafter, based on information provided by the Menlo Park PD, the FBI began focusing their search for Morrow in an area close to Manila.

On January 14, 2003, the NBI and the FBI located Morrow in Imus Cavite, Philippines, and he was taken into custody without incident for being in the country illegally. The Philippine government deported Morrow, and the NBI and FBI transported Morrow to the United States on January 15, 2003. Upon arrival in San Francisco, Morrow was arrested by the State Department for passport fraud. Morrow was taken before U.S. Federal Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero in San Francisco on January 16, 2003 where he was charged with 1 count of Title 18 U.S.C. 1542 (Passport Fraud). Morrow is in the process of being transferred to Colorado where he will stand trial for the federal charges. Following the prosecution in Colorado, it is anticipated that Morrow will be returned to California to face charges for the murder of his wife Donna Morrow in San Mateo County, and to face sentencing on his felony grand theft conviction in Santa Clara County.

Family and friends have reported that Donna Morrow has been missing since December 19th, 1991 from the home she shared with her husband Joe and their four children in Menlo Park.

Menlo Park Police Chief Christopher W. Boyd will be conducting a press conference regarding the arrest of Joseph Morrow on January 17, 2003 at 3:30 P.M. in the City of Menlo Park Council Chambers located at 801 Laurel Street. He will be accompanied by Special Agent in Charge Doug Quiram of the U.S. State Department and Special Agent LaRae Quy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Menlo Park Police Department continues to request the assistance of the public in locating all information relating to the disappearance of Donna Morrow and encourages anyone with information to contact the Menlo Park Police Department Investigative Unit at: 650.251.8808.

Photographs of Donna and Joseph Morrow can be accessed on the Menlo Park Police Department website at: www.menloparkpolice.org  ###

FOR MORE INFORMATION, USE THE FOLLOWING AGENCY CONTACTS:

Menlo Park Police Department Chief Christopher W. Boyd 650-858-3315 Menlo Park Police Department Sergeant James Simpson 650-858-3324

San Mateo County Deputy District Attorney Jack Grandsaert 650-363-4000 U.S. State Department Special Agent in Charge Doug Quiram 415-705-1180 Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent LaRae Quy 415-553-7400

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PHOTO INDEX CLICK ON PHOTOS TO VIEW LARGER IMAGE              Joseph Morrow, 1991          Joseph Morrow, 1998                     Donna Morrow, 1989 CLICK ON PHOTOs TO ENLARGE