Olivia man charged with murder of 13-year-old boy, attempted murder of his mother
The man arrested Thursday is now facing charges of murder and attempted murder after officers responded to a domestic assault call in Olivia just before 6 a.m.
Houston Allen Morris, 38-years old, faces one count of second-degree murder with intent, one count of second-degree murder without intent, and one count of attempted murder in the second degree.
At a hearing Thursday afternoon, a judge set Morris’ bail at $500,000 without conditions or $350,000 with conditions, including no contact with the victim or family, maintaining contact with his attorney, abstaining from alcohol use, and participating in pre-trial supervision probation.
The criminal complaint states that law enforcement was dispatched to East Lincoln Avenue, where a victim reported that he had been stabbed in the chest with a knife.
That victim, later determined to be a 13-year-old boy, was brought to the hospital to be treated for life-threatening injuries. He later died from his injuries at the hospital, according to the complaint.
RELATED: 13-year-old dead, mother injured following domestic incident in Olivia
Police then spoke to the second victim of the assault, the boy’s mother. Police noted that she had a laceration to her head and right finger, cut wounds on the palm of her hand and several deep purple bite marks on her arm.
She told police that Morris had stabbed her son. The woman was in a relationship with Morris and that they had been living together for the past two weeks.
The complaint states that the woman told police an argument between her and Morris began in the bedroom and that Morris began strangling her. He then hit her on the head with a pipe and a metal bed frame.
The complaint continues to say the woman tried to protect herself with a knife, but Morris took it from her. A struggle ensued, and the woman’s hand was injured.
The boy was standing behind his mother when Morris drove the knife toward her, the complaint states. The knife missed her and was driven into the boy’s chest.
Documents show that Morris has a previous conviction for domestic assault. The woman he attacked Thursday had filed an order for protection against him on March 1, saying that Morris “verbally, physically assaulted me on several occasions and told me he was going to kill me. If he can’t have me, the world won’t. He has threatened to cut my head off. He has made comments while angry about killing my son. He has threatened my kids and using them against me… he has tried to stab me, punched me in my head six times while I was holding my daughter.” She added that knives have been used or threatened to be used in the past.