After over 20 years since the brutal murder of a great-grandfather at a remote highway rest stop in northern British Columbia, an American man has been brought to Canada to face justice. James Daniel Morgan, currently serving time in the U.S. for another killing, appeared in a B.C. courtroom and pleaded guilty to the first-degree murder charge of 74-year-old James Hamrick. Hamrick was fatally attacked with two hammers outside his camper during a road trip through Canada in 2001 after offering Morgan a ride while hitchhiking.
Having been extradited from a U.S. prison to northern B.C. by RCMP officers, Morgan, dressed in red prison attire and restrained in handcuffs, appeared in B.C. Supreme Court in Prince George. In a plea deal presented by his defense lawyer and the Crown, Morgan pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder but guilty to manslaughter, receiving credit for time served in the U.S. He was sentenced to one day in a Canadian prison for Hamrick’s murder before being returned to the U.S. to complete his 48-year sentence for a previous Colorado murder. Following the Canadian proceedings, Morgan will be eligible for parole in the U.S.
CBC News reviewed a multitude of court documents from both the U.S. and Canada, spanning back to 2001, including pathology reports, and transcripts of Morgan confessing to two murders during interviews with RCMP and FBI. The extradition documents involved the Canadian embassy and American Foreign Service, with one signed by former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Details of the investigation into Hamrick’s murder were shared in court, revealing a complex case intertwining two murders of older men in different countries almost a decade apart. Morgan’s confession to the murder of Hamrick and another unsolved homicide in Denver, Colorado, in 1992 were pivotal in the case. The investigation brought to light the tragic circumstances surrounding Hamrick’s last moments and the emotional impact on his surviving family members.
During the court session, Hamrick’s daughter, Candyce Tracy, emotionally shared the lasting trauma her family has endured since her father’s tragic death, expressing the profound impact on their lives and the prolonged wait for justice. Morgan, showing remorse, apologized in court, acknowledging the pain he caused. Justice Tindale acknowledged Morgan’s cooperation in bringing the case to court but emphasized the gravity of his crimes, foreseeing that Morgan may never complete his sentence due to his age.