Morgan

Yelm woman believed shot by Braae forever damaged

LIONA TANNESEN, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published December 28, 2001

THURSTON COUNTY -- Marchelle Morgan can talk and walk, but the Yelm woman who was shot in the head earlier this year will never be the same, her sister said.

"She's going to have to live in a care facility for the rest of her life," sister Allison Torres said.

Morgan was found along a Yakima County road July 14 with a gunshot wound to the head. Yakima County prosecutors have filed attempted first-degree murder charges against Michael Braae, who awaits an Idaho trial.

Morgan now lives in an assisted care center in Montana near her mother, Torres said.

Morgan's mother -- who also has custody of Morgan's 15-year-old son -- is in constant contact with Morgan, her sister said.

"It's put a lot of stress on my mother," Torres said.

Morgan is able to recognize people, and sometimes she seems OK, Torres said. But at other times she is childlike, said Torres, who visited for Thanksgiving.

Morgan has double vision, but she does walk unassisted.

"She's doing better than what we had originally thought she would be," Torres said. "But it's sad that she is not the same person."

The Olympian Copyright 2001

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