NorthwestMay 29, 2024

Lewiston woman, 83, is accused with her daughter of killing her ex-husband in 2022

Kaylee Brewster Lewiston Tribune
Kay Morrison
Kay Morrison

An 83-year-old woman charged with drugging and suffocating her ex-husband has a trial scheduled for January.

Kay M. Morrison, of Lewiston, had her first-degree murder trial scheduled for a 10-day period starting Jan. 21, 2025, with jury selection to begin Jan. 17.

Morrison had a status conference hearing May 22 before 2nd District Judge Mark Monson with her public defender Lawrence Moran and Nez Perce County Deputy Prosecutor Jazz Patzer, according to court documents.

Kay Morrison and her daughter, Kimberly M. Morrison, were arrested in August 2022 after a search warrant was conducted at their home on the 1100 block of Harvest Road in North Lewiston.

Both were charged for allegedly drugging and suffocating Kenneth Morrison — Kimberly Morrison’s father and Kay Morrison’s ex-husband — in January 2022, according to court documents.

Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM

Kay Morrison waived her right to speedy trial in April. Her case was on hold from December 2022 to August 2023 as she received treatment to be able to stand trial.

Moran expected the trial to take 10 days based on the number of witnesses from the state and the defense. Monson suggested a jury questionnaire to help the jury selection process, given that it’s a first-degree murder case.

The trial will also start on a Tuesday because Monday, Jan. 20, is a holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, according to court documents.

The maximum penalty for first-degree murder is life in prison as well as a $50,000 penalty.

Kimberly Morrison was sentenced to 6-18 years in prison in April after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter and destruction of evidence as part of a plea agreement. She testified against her mother in her preliminary hearing as part of the agreement.

Brewster may be contacted at kbrewster@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2297.

Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM