A community in Bridgeton, New Jersey, will hold a vigil on Saturday to honor 23-year-old Jonathan Morris who was found dead after missing for days. Morris disappeared after leaving work in the town of Sicklerville on Thursday night, NJ.com reports. On Friday, police found his abandoned car in Hopewell Township, located about an hour away from Sicklerville.
Update on search investigation ????????Family members of 23yo Jonathan Morris of Bridgeton tell FOX29 that authorities found a body tonight during the search in CumberlandCo but they did not confirm if it was Morris @FOX29philly
pic.twitter.com/KYU6p1mufp— Shawnette Wilson (@SWilsonFOX29) February 1, 2022
After family and friends searched for the young man throughout the weekend, New Jersey State Police found Morris’ body on Monday. According to police, a 21-year-old acquaintance named Miguel A. Perez has been charged in the death of the Bridgeton man.
Perez allegedly shot Morris while he was in his car early Friday morning in Bridgeton and dumped his body in Hopewell, along the same road where the abandoned car was found. Police said the young man was covered in snow roughly 15 feet from the road when he was found.
“He was a good kid,” Morris' mother, Stephanie Pernell, told NJ.com. “He always kept a smile on his face.”
The devastated mother said her son worked at a group home in Sicklerville, taking care of disabled residents. Pernell last spoke to her son on social media Thursday when he was preparing to leave work.
“We were just laughing,” she said. “He was just a gentle giant. He never yelled, did anything bad … nothing.”
Pernell said she never met the suspect, but he was friends with Morris at Bridgeton High School. According to court documents, Perez led police to the body after confessing to the killing. Court documents add that the suspect attempted to destroy his cellphone and tried to escape from police custody.
Police said the 21-year-old, who is being held at Cumberland County Jail, was found in possession of a stolen handgun when he was arrested at his home on Monday. Perez faces multiple charges, including first-degree murder, desecration of human remains, tampering with evidence, hindering, obstruction, escape, receiving stolen property and several weapons offenses.
A GoFundMe page has been launched to support Morris' family while they take time away from work.
