Missing toddler found dead in NJ park, father sought for questioning

A Lakehurst, New Jersey missing toddler was found dead, still strapped in her car seat, in a Monmouth County stream on Tuesday confirmed authorities.

The body was identified as Tierra Morgan who had been missing since Monday when her father, Arthur Morgan III, 27, picked her up for a court approved visitation. Morgan never returned the child to the mother.

Missing New Jersey Toddler Found

A group of teenagers found Tierra Morgan “partially submerged in a stream on or near the property of Shark River Park” in Wall, authorities said.

Imani Benton said authorities informed her of her daughter Tierra’s death around 6:45 p.m. Tuesday evening.

“She’s dead,” Tierra’s mother, Imani Benton told The Star-Ledger. “The detectives came to my door and told me she was dead in the woods. . .I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Benton said from the emergency room of a hospital in Toms River.

The child’s father, Arthur Morgan III of Ocean Township NJ, had picked her up Monday afternoon to go to a movie during a visitation, but the two never returned, the girl’s grandmother told the Asbury Park Press. It was the first visit he’d had with Tierra in a month, according to the report.

Authorities issued a warrant for Arthur Morgan III on charges of

• endangering the welfare of a child
• interfering with custody.

At a press conference today, they confirmed that they have upgraded his charges to murder.

Morgan is still at large. Investigators nationwide continue to search for him.

Ongoing Investigation

Anyone with information is asked to contact:

• Detective Brian Haggerty of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office at 732-814-3460
• Lakehurst Officer Jeffrey Emmons at 848-992-1420
• Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Michael Clancy at 732-577-8700
• Ocean Township Detective Michael Legg at 732-531-1800
• or Wall Detective Heath Bono at 732-449-4800.