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MURRAY — A Millcreek woman has been identified as the victim of a fatal fire at a Murray storage unit that police say she was locked inside of by her boyfriend.
Morgan Kay Harris, 27, and her dog were locked in a storage unit, 4608 S. 900 East, on Saturday by her boyfriend, according to police. The unit caught fire while Harris was trapped inside. She and her dog were found deceased when fire crews were finally able to get in.
"We are devastated at the loss of our daughter and appreciate the love and support from the community but ask for your privacy at this time as we maneuver through the unimaginable," Harris' family said Monday in a prepared statement.
The family says Harris is originally from southern Utah and had recently started a new job in Draper.
"Our daughter, Morgan Kay Harris was always known for her sweet, shy and kind temperament, being a deep thinker with amazing artistic abilities and always having an infectious giggle. She was a beautiful model and makeup artist and a successful medical assistant," the family said. "She loved her dog, Huck, who passed with her. Leaving behind her parents, siblings, nieces and nephews whom she adored."
The cause of the fire remained under investigation on Monday.
Alexander Paul Wardell, 30, was arrested for investigation of negligent homicide and kidnapping. Police say Wardell admitted to putting Harris in the storage unit, putting a lock on the door and then leaving. Detectives have not released a possible motive for why Wardell allegedly locked Harris in the unit.
Court records indicate Wardell has a history of domestic violence. He was convicted of aggravated assault in two domestic violence related cases in 2019. In one incident, he got mad at his girlfriend and hit her in the head, threw vases at her, hit her with a towel rod and then several more times with a golf club before stabbing her in her arm, according to charging documents.
In another incident, he punched his girlfriend in the head with closed fists, charges state.
Wardell was arrested on a warrant on Friday for violating the conditions of his probation for those cases, but was able to post bail and was released just before midnight the same day, according to Salt Lake County Jail records.
In June 2021, Wardell was a probation fugitive when he was found with an Airsoft gun and a knife in his backpack, according to charging documents. He was convicted of attempted possession of a weapon by a restricted person and placed on probation. But in January, a judge ruled he had violated his probation and had his probation reinstated for three years, according to court records.
Domestic violence resources
Help for people in abusive relationships can be found by contacting:
- Utah Domestic Violence Coalition: Utah's confidential statewide, 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465)
- YWCA Women in Jeopardy program: 801-537-8600
- Utah's statewide child abuse and neglect hotline: 1-855-323-DCFS (3237)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
