Deep Family Secrets

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The movie Deep Family Secrets also known as Dark Family Secrets and Family Secrets is based on the 1989 murder of Ruby Morris by her husband Gaylynn Earl Morris. Morris shot his wife Ruby in the head twice. Morris tried to cover up the murder by driving up to San Diego and leaving his wife's body in a burning boat in the Pacific Ocean. Her body was never found.

Players in the Case of Gaylynn Earl Morris

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Ruby Morris
The victim, she was just 49 years old at the time of her death

Gaylynn Earl Morris
The killer, was 51 years old. He made his money as an accountant. Records show he lived a very lavish life. He had cars, trucks, a 26 foot cabin cruiser, and a beautiful home.

Dawna Kay Wells
one of the daughters, she was also a country singer. She was also the daughter depicted in the movie who helped crack the case

Cyndi Morris
one of the daughters

Deep Family Secrets based on the case of Gaylynn Earl "Rusty" Morris, Dawna Kay Wells Solved Mother's Murder, Ruby Morris

2011-11-13T08:37:00.000-08:00

Photo of Gaylynn Earl Morris

June 3, 1989: Ruby disappears. Know one has any idea what has happened to her accept her husband Gaylynn Earl Morris.

At trial: according to trial transcripts Earl Morris shot his wife twice in the head. Morris denied this. He stated that he was in another area of the home. When he went to check in on Ruby, he found her on the bed, and he saw blood. He claimed that she committed suicide because she was distraught about his affairs, particularly the affair with her sister. In an attempt to cover up the crime he picked up her body, sat her on the side of the bathtub, and cleaned her up. Next, he took off the jump suit she was wearing and put her on a different one. He then put her body in his truck, propped her body up so that it would appear that she was sleeping, and he drove her out to San Diego. He then placed her in the boat, drove about 12 miles out into the Pacific Ocean, and lit the body on fire. The boat plummeted below the surface, and he body was never found again. Officials were later alerted that a burning boat was in the middle of the ocean.

Ruby and Earl are reported missing. Police investigate and find blood in the bedroom.

April 1992: Gaylynn Earl Morris is sentenced to life in prison

Tidbits

Earl Morris and his wife Ruby had been married for 30 years
the murder occurred in Phoenix, Arizona
the trial was held at Maricopa County Superior Court

Husband Murdered Wife, Hid Body, and then Burned Body (recent cases)

2011-11-10T08:33:00.000-08:00

For further reading, here are a few more cases similar to the one above. The following stories have not been made into movies...yet

November 2011

New Delhi

A 27 year old New Delhi woman was murdered in her home by her husband 31 year old Sumit Handa. Sumit Handa originally reported his wife as missing. He stated that his wife, Niranjani Pillay, had given him some tea that was spiked with some sort of sleeping agent just before bed. When he woke up, his wife was no where to be found. Money and jewelry were also missing from the home. The police investigation uncovered that the two had been having marital difficulties, and they had been fighting constantly After revealing the information that they had uncovered, Sumit Handa then confessed to murdering his wife on October 29th. He said that he hid her dead body in a plastic bag and drove to a remote area, where he set the body on fire. Handa led detectives to where her burned body could be found.