Mobile County Circuit Judge Jay York announced Thursday that the jury in the high‑profile rape case against Morris Linson Jr. remains deadlocked on every count. After less than two hours of deliberation, jurors returned to the bench and told the judge they could not reach a verdict on first‑degree rape, second‑degree kidnapping and breaking and entering a vehicle.
Judge issues “dynamite charge”
In response, Judge York delivered what is known locally as a “dynamite charge,” a set of instructions intended to help jurors break a stalemate. The jurors reconvened only 24 minutes later and reaffirmed their inability to agree, so York set a new hearing for 9 a.m. Friday to continue deliberations.
Prosecution and defense arguments
Assistant District Attorney Jessica Catlin, representing the state, argued that Linson’s story does not hold up. She highlighted surveillance video that, according to her, shows Linson lying to police and questions the plausibility of the alleged victim requesting transport to the University of South Alabama—a campus she does not attend.
Catlin emphasized that the woman was “too drunk to consent to sex,” describing the defendant’s actions as an opportunistic assault on a vulnerable young woman.
Defense attorney Megan Allgood, speaking outside the courtroom, expressed optimism that the jurors were taking the case seriously. She noted that the victim has no recollection beyond leaving a bar in west Mobile and that there is no direct eyewitness testimony or conclusive forensic evidence.
Allgood argued that reasonable doubt exists because of the victim’s memory gaps, the limited video evidence presented, and the lack of a DNA match from samples taken inside the victim’s underwear. She also criticized the investigation, suggesting police failed to collect all available surveillance footage from the University of South Alabama and the Troubadours Country Saloon.
Key evidence and disputed facts
The prosecution pointed to surveillance video showing Linson placing the woman in the back of a pickup truck on the university parking lot, after which she fell out and stumbled away. Catlin described the defendant as “hunting” in her closing remarks.
Both sides disputed the significance of DNA evidence. The defense cited an expert who testified that DNA could not be identified from the samples found inside the victim, while the prosecution highlighted a DNA match on a sample taken from the victim’s underwear.
The jury also sought clarification on the legal definition of breaking and entering, prompting Judge York to reread that portion of the jury instructions.
Background of the case
The case began with a missing‑person report in September 2021 after an 18‑year‑old woman was reported missing following a night at a west Mobile bar. She later turned up at the University of South Alabama with no memory of the night, leading investigators to conclude she had been raped.
Linson, a pharmaceutical sales representative from Pensacola, testified that he met friends at Troubadours Country Saloon but never entered the venue when he realized they were not arriving. He claimed the victim asked for help getting home, that he lifted her from a Mazda 3, placed her in his Chevrolet Equinox, and drove her to the university. He further asserted that the woman fondled him and that they had sexual contact, but denied intercourse.
Next steps
Judge York’s Friday session will determine whether the jurors can reach a consensus or if a mistrial will be declared. The community remains attentive to the proceedings, given the serious nature of the charges and the broader concerns about safety and justice in Mobile.
Original reporting: FOX10 WALA Mobile (news) — read the source article.
