Outbursts pepper hearing for accused killers
Aug 11, 2009 | 3872 views | 24 
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Domestic partners Robert Plunkett-Morgan, 39, and Jorge Morgan, 24, appeared in court in a short but volatile hearing today on charges that they stabbed to death a 58-year-old Tracy woman.
The two stand accused of murder with special circumstances of burglary, murder by lying in wait, personal use of a non-firearm and charges for parole violations. The two men could face the death penalty, a prosecutor said.
The suspects smirked at the family of the slain Cynthia Ramos and shook their heads as the judge read the charges against them.
The Tracy couple entered no pleas today. San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Franklin Stephenson assigned them public defenders because the men can’t afford to hire attorneys. Neither of the suspects held down a job before their arrest and neither of them have any assets, they told the judge.
About 30 family members and friends of Ramos showed up to court today for the hearing, many of them wearing T-shirts emblazoned with a photo of the victim, who was found dead by her roommate in her Tracy trailer home Thursday afternoon.
Ramos’ eldest daughter, Christina Barnes, held up a framed photo of her slain mother during today’s proceeding.
When the suspects walked into the courtroom — clad in orange jail clothes, their hands and ankles shackled — some grandchildren and children of Ramos turned their heads away. Some clenched their fists, and others tearfully comforted each other.
Emotions ran high at the brief proceeding, which ended when a couple of Ramos’ six children shouted expletives at Morgan and Plunkett-Morgan. The family attorney rushed them out to the hallway to calm them.
Plunkett-Morgan and Morgan, who were arrested hours after Ramos was killed, have a history of theft.
The two — who filed for domestic partnership in San Joaquin County in November — were both released from Deuel Vocational Institution last fall, Morgan-Plunkett in September and Morgan on Nov. 1. Morgan was sentenced to 16 months in 2008 for possession of stolen property, and his partner was sentenced a couple years earlier to four years in state prison for stealing a car. Both have prior serious felony convictions.
Morgan and his older partner were ordered back in court for further arraignment at 9 a.m. on Aug. 20 in Department 22 under Judge Terrence Van Oss.
The victim’s family has yet to arrange memorial services for Ramos, but has held three candlelight vigils since Saturday night. Well over 100 people attended each one, including dozens of the woman’s family members.
Ramos is survived by two daughters, four sons and 11 grandchildren. She was about to become a great-grandmother. Her death is the second murder in Tracy this year. Sandra Cantu, 8, was killed in late March.
•Contact Tracy Press reporter Jennifer Wadsworth at 830-4225 or jwadsworth@tracypress.com.
The two stand accused of murder with special circumstances of burglary, murder by lying in wait, personal use of a non-firearm and charges for parole violations. The two men could face the death penalty, a prosecutor said.
The suspects smirked at the family of the slain Cynthia Ramos and shook their heads as the judge read the charges against them.
The Tracy couple entered no pleas today. San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Franklin Stephenson assigned them public defenders because the men can’t afford to hire attorneys. Neither of the suspects held down a job before their arrest and neither of them have any assets, they told the judge.
About 30 family members and friends of Ramos showed up to court today for the hearing, many of them wearing T-shirts emblazoned with a photo of the victim, who was found dead by her roommate in her Tracy trailer home Thursday afternoon.
Ramos’ eldest daughter, Christina Barnes, held up a framed photo of her slain mother during today’s proceeding.
When the suspects walked into the courtroom — clad in orange jail clothes, their hands and ankles shackled — some grandchildren and children of Ramos turned their heads away. Some clenched their fists, and others tearfully comforted each other.
Emotions ran high at the brief proceeding, which ended when a couple of Ramos’ six children shouted expletives at Morgan and Plunkett-Morgan. The family attorney rushed them out to the hallway to calm them.
Plunkett-Morgan and Morgan, who were arrested hours after Ramos was killed, have a history of theft.
The two — who filed for domestic partnership in San Joaquin County in November — were both released from Deuel Vocational Institution last fall, Morgan-Plunkett in September and Morgan on Nov. 1. Morgan was sentenced to 16 months in 2008 for possession of stolen property, and his partner was sentenced a couple years earlier to four years in state prison for stealing a car. Both have prior serious felony convictions.
Morgan and his older partner were ordered back in court for further arraignment at 9 a.m. on Aug. 20 in Department 22 under Judge Terrence Van Oss.
The victim’s family has yet to arrange memorial services for Ramos, but has held three candlelight vigils since Saturday night. Well over 100 people attended each one, including dozens of the woman’s family members.
Ramos is survived by two daughters, four sons and 11 grandchildren. She was about to become a great-grandmother. Her death is the second murder in Tracy this year. Sandra Cantu, 8, was killed in late March.
•Contact Tracy Press reporter Jennifer Wadsworth at 830-4225 or jwadsworth@tracypress.com.
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Slowly flatten them with a road roller from the feet up?
Too bad their "taunting" was not caught on pix.
"The suspects smirked at the family of the slain Cynthia Ramos and shook their heads as the judge read the charges against them."
Would they be smirking if the "punishment" extends to their families?? After all, eye for eye? Lucky for them, that changed. Better realize that, too!!
Incensed that the family was robbed of their Mom, Grandmother, and the role of "Great Grandma" snatched away from her and her unborn great granchild.... SAD.
My heart and prayer for comfort and strength goes the family during their painful times.
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Yes "tinfoil" it means what you think it does! But why is that so important to the press that they have to bring it to the public's attention. Nobody cares about their sexual preference, at least I don't!
These disgusting animals deserve nothing less than the death penalty and this poor family should be there to watch when it happens. Better yet, the police ought to release them to Cindy's family and let them decide their fate.
Anyone who knew Cindy knew that her love was the true definition of unconditional. This great lady is going to missed by so many people. It's hard to imagine how any of us will ever be able to accept what has happened, but if we hold on real hard to our memories such as those of Thanksgiving meals at Cindy's....rest assured, you will have something to laugh about!
May our dear Cindy rest in eternal peace and may the family somehow find the strength to get through this. Trust in God as the vengence truly is His and not ours. Justice will be served.
We need to find a better way to deal with this scum.
I'm so sorry about your friend!