Two Morris County Prosecutor's Office Employees Commended for Assisting in a Kansas Murder Investigation

Published on December 19, 2018

On December 19, 2018, Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp and Chief of Investigations Stephen F. Wilson, Jr. presented commendations to Assistant Prosecutor Erin Callahan and Detective Daniel Gallagher.

AP Callahan and Detective Gallagher assisted the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office and the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office in organizing and executing search warrants to access cell phones containing evidence of a murder in Sedgwick County, Kansas. The Morris County Prosecutor's Office assisted in the execution of these warrants because the company utilized to access the cell phone data is located in Morris County.

The evidence found on these phones ultimately aided in the convictions and sentencing of five individuals charged with torturing and murdering 33-year-old Scottie Goodpaster. For their involvement in the crime, Jeff and Heidi Hillard were sentenced to life in prison, Willie Morris was sentenced to at least 73 years in prison, and Brian Bussart and Alexandria Scott are still waiting to be sentenced. Following the convictions, the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office expressed their enormous gratitude to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office for their successful assistance.

Prosecutor Knapp said, AP Callahan and Detective Gallagher's assistance in this investigation was helpful in putting these criminals in jail for the rest of their lives. We are all proud of their exemplary efforts. The Morris County Prosecutor's Office will always look to help our partners in law enforcement any way we can.

From left: Captain Harrison Dillard, Detective Dan Gallagher, AP Erin Callahan, Prosecutor Fredric Knapp, Chief Stephen Wilson Jr., and First Assistant Prosecutor Tom Zelante.

Inquiries concerning this press release should be directed to Public Information Officer Peter DiGennaro at pressinquiry@co.morris.nj.us or 973-829-8159.