August 9th was his first hearing. We all met at the courthouse, waiting for his attorney. I went solo, and I got to be honest I was sick to my stomach. The threats have already circulated the streets, and I was nervous to walk in alone. Luckily, I knew a deputy who worked at that courthouse. Prior to going I had talked to the wife, and she told me to reach out to him if I needed anything. They were aware of the threats being made.
I walked in with my head held high. The deputy I knew told me what floor to go on and asked if I was okay. They've known me a long time and know how severe my anxiety is, they were always looking out. I walked to the 2nd floor and waited for familiar faces. The kids walk in, and then his attorney. He briefly explains what is going to happen and what he is going to push for.
They finally allow us in the courtroom and it's packed. The media is there and a lot of other people. JM is being escorted in by the sheriff and shackles. He looks confused, scared, anxious. I didn't understand one thing that was being said other than "broad daylight, open fire, and 500,000". It took all of 5 minutes, JM signed a document, and the attorney told us after that if he can post the $500,000, he could be out today.
His son and I made phone calls to friends and family to let them know what was going on and what we needed. Those friends made calls to other people and JM was out that afternoon. Talk about blessing. When I found out who and how many people came forward to put their houses up and businesses, I instantly knew he was loved.
I made a few calls to local bondsmen to see what we needed to do. The one guy I spoke to said, "is this the Morgan case". I replied, "yeah it is". What he said next surprised me. "Can you tell me more about the case, something didn't sound right. As soon as I heard it on the news, I knew something wasn't adding up". I told him very little as I didn't know what I could or couldn't say and I didn't want to jeopardize the case. He told me he would have to make a call to his insurance company with a bond that high.
He called me back within the hour to let me know they would do it but by then his friend had found someone else that didn't have wild stipulations, because JM was well-known in the area. We posted his bail, and he was home the next day.
I mentioned in my last post that we were advised not to pick him up from county, to let the bondsman pick him up due to the threats. The guy picked him up that night and brought him to a undisclosed location, where I met him a few hours later.
I pulled into the driveway, and he was surrounded by people who loved him. I walked in nervous to see him. We hugged and held each other for a few hours before I left and he went to bed. It stayed like this for a few weeks until JM decided "I'm going home".
I picked him up and brought him back to his house where my anxiety was at an all-time high. I was paranoid for months, constantly looking over my shoulders and peeking out the windows every time the wind blew. Some of you would laugh as this doesn't come as a surprise, but it was intense. I'm almost positive I had JM in panic mode over my paranoia.
The events that would unfold over the next two years were mind-blowing. Stay tuned, my friends. Things become entertaining, devastating, and mind-blowing. Literally, I watched this stuff on lifetime. No way has it become my life.
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