Episode 310

Summary

Sword and Scale: Episode 310 Summary

Release Date: August 7, 2025

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Introduction

In Episode 310 of Sword and Scale, listeners delve into a harrowing true-crime story that intertwines teenage rebellion, manipulation, and brutal violence. This episode meticulously unpacks the tragic events leading to the murder of James Stewart, a disabled man, orchestrated by a 15-year-old girl, Morgan Leppert, and her 22-year-old boyfriend, Toby Lawry.

Background: Putnam County, Florida

The story unfolds in Putnam County, Florida, a region characterized by its rural tranquility and tight-knit communities. Attorney Bradley Waldrop, a lifelong resident and former prosecutor, provides insight into the area's dynamics:

Bradley Waldrop [04:03]: "Jerry Melrose is a beautiful community... very tight-knit."

Morgan Leppert resides in the modest town of Melrose with her mother, Jerry, and her older brother. Jerry, aware of the challenges of raising a rebellious teenager, employs an open-door policy to monitor Morgan’s social interactions.

Morgan and Toby's Relationship

Morgan's quest for independence leads her to Toby Lawry, a charismatic but troubled young man with a criminal record. Their relationship quickly escalates, culminating in Toby moving into Morgan's home:

Morgan Leppert [06:56]: "He moved in with us. Yeah, he lived in three months."

Toby's presence becomes a point of contention. At just 15, Morgan is significantly younger than Toby, whose age and past go unnoticed initially. The relationship intensifies, leading Morgan to leave home despite her mother's reservations:

Mike Boudet [09:54]: "Don't you think that's kind of a big age gap?"

The Disappearance: April 22, 2008

On April 22, 2008, following her mother's discovery of Toby's true age and criminal history, Morgan defies Jerry and absconds with Toby. Their departure marks the beginning of a dark journey, taking them away from the safety of their hometown:

Narrator [13:36]: "They simply disappeared in a silver truck. No one knew where they were going or what they'd already done."

Morgan and Toby embark on a road trip, stealing a silver Toyota Tacoma—a vehicle central to their ensuing crimes.

Murder of James Stewart

Their violent spree culminates in the murder of James Stewart, a 66-year-old disabled man living alone in Melrose. Stewart, known for his resilience despite his disabilities, becomes an unintended victim of Toby and Morgan's escalating desperation:

Toby Lawry [46:17]: "And I'm like, God damn it, dude. You fucking made me, dude."

Toby recounts the brutal assault, detailing how he and Morgan forcibly took Stewart's truck. Their interrogation reveals the sheer brutality of the act:

Toby Lawry [07:33]: "Let me ask you a personal question. Are y'all having sex?"

Interrogations and Confessions

During interrogations, both Morgan and Toby provide conflicting narratives. Morgan insists she acted out of love and was manipulated:

Morgan Leppert [25:13]: "I've never seen him. That guy before."

Conversely, Toby offers a graphic and remorseful account of the murder, highlighting his own volatility:

Toby Lawry [37:02]: "I can't do it. No, I ain't got the heart to do that."

Despite Toby's detailed confession, the interplay between their testimonies complicates the legal proceedings.

Trial and Sentencing

In 2010, both individuals face trial for the murder. The prosecution paints a picture of premeditation and cold-blooded violence orchestrated by Toby, with Morgan portrayed as a naive teenager under his influence:

Bradley Waldrop [50:51]: "This is the worst case that I've encountered as far as brutality."

Toby pleads guilty to first-degree murder and is sentenced to life without parole. Morgan, initially receiving a mandatory life sentence, sees her sentence reduced to 40 years in 2020 following a Supreme Court ruling that deemed mandatory life sentences for juveniles unconstitutional.

Aftermath and Victim’s Legacy

James Stewart's family mourns the loss of a man whose life was characterized by resilience and achievement despite his physical limitations. His nephew offers a heartfelt tribute:

James’s Nephew [50:51]: "He taught me that the word can't is for cowards, losers..."

Conclusion: The Dark Side of Obsessive Love

Episode 310 concludes by reflecting on the twisted concepts of love and manipulation that drove Morgan and Toby to commit such heinous acts. The episode underscores the tragic consequences of unchecked obsession and the vulnerability of youth manipulated by predatory figures.

Narrator [65:34]: "Morgan had an obsessive, all-consuming type of quote unquote love for Toby... but love doesn't ask for everything you have."

This episode serves as a chilling reminder of the depths to which individuals can descend when driven by distorted emotions and the catastrophic impact of abusive relationships.

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For premium content and additional episodes, visit swordandscale.com.

Transcript

[Mike Boudet]

Sword and Scale contains adult themes and violence and is not intended for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised.

[Toby Lawry]

You kidding me? Oh, my God. Damn it. Fucking charge, you son of a bitch. Fucking. I just fucking lay into his fucking windpipe with my shoe.

[Narrator]

This is episode 310 of Sword and Scale. You know that already, but I'm not gonna waste your time with that. Before you go ahead and hit skip to the meat of the show, let me tell you, if you're not Gonna Watch Episode 17 of Sword and Scale Television, you are truly missing one hell of a nightmare. Let's. I mean, I'm not even kidding. I couldn't sleep for three days after finalizing that episode. And if you're gonna only watch one episode of Sword Scale Television, that one should be it. Not that you have to stop at one. I mean, if you sign up for the super supporter tier, you can get access to all 17 episodes and ongoing episodes monthly. We're working on getting you some more content. On top of it's labor of love, people. This is what the dipshits on Reddit call begging, which is actually just marketing. Yeah, we created a product. We want you to consume it.

[Toby Lawry]

Duh.

[Narrator]

Anyway, go check it out. If you like true crime and if you want to support Sword and Scale. Love takes sacrifice. That's what I've heard, and I've also found it to be true in my own life. There's a lot you give up when you're truly in love. Sometimes you give up your time or your money or your freedom to go to a diddy party, for example. A lot of things, but your humanity shouldn't be one of them. Putnam County, Florida, is a stretch of land between Gainesville and St. Augustine where dirt roads wind through the pine forests and the air is as humid as well. It's like walking through the bottom of a pool. It's a place of small towns and long stretches of country. In between, the poverty rate is higher than the rest of the state because of the remoteness. Inside Putnam county is Melrose, a small, quiet community that barely makes a blip on the map. This is the kind of place where people still leave their doors unlocked, believe it or not, and where Friday night football and Sunday morning church have become just a thing on the calendar that doesn't change. This is attorney Bradley Waldrop, a native of the area.

[Bradley Waldrop]

I am a former prosecutor. I worked in Putnam county and St. Johns county from about 2006 to 2010. I'm currently in private practice in St. Augustine, Florida. I do criminal defense and do Family law as well. But I'm a lifelong resident of St. Augustine, Florida, so very familiar with the area and really cut my teeth as a prosecutor in Putnam county, which is where this occurred.

[Narrator]

Down a dead end road in Melrose sat a modest home built in 1985. It was now more than two decades old. A single story house with a yard that stretched into the woods. It wasn't much, but it was home to 15 year old Morgan Leppert, her older brother and her 48 year old mother.

[Bradley Waldrop]

Jerry Melrose is a beautiful community. Like I said, it's very laid back, rural. It's one of those towns that you pass through on the way to Gainesville. Just a lot of beautiful scenery there. It's kind of like one of those one red light towns where you stop at the red light and there's everything, a general store, a restaurant, a gas station. But it's a very laid back town, very tight knit community.

[Narrator]

Jerry Leppert was the kind of mother who had lived enough to see trouble. If you don't know what that means, you will. Just give it time. She tried to steer Morgan in the right direction, tried to set rules and tried to keep her daughter close. She even picked her battles with Morgan, letting her see boys at an early age in order to keep an eye on things. She she had an open door policy, preferring that Morgan socialize where her mom could see her. An interesting parenting style, which some people employ to their detriment. But just like typical teens, arguments took place over space, choices and the kind of people Morgan was bringing into her life. Her mother saw the warning signs. She knew what was coming. It was obvious that Jerry cared about and loved her daughter. But Morgan didn't see that. She saw a cage instead, built to stifle her cravings for independence. I've said it a couple times on this program, but I'll say it one more time. Kids are dumb. They really, really are. So if you're an old person and you see a bunch of kids at a protest, maybe think twice before joining in because he might be supporting really bad shit. Anyway, Morgan was desperate for her independence, as most teenagers are. And one day she found it in the form of a man named Toby Lawry. She fell in love with him. And love meant freedom.

[Morgan Leppert]

He moved in with us. Yeah, he lived in three months.

[Mike Boudet]

Okay.

[Morgan Leppert]

Yeah, pretty much like a month, something like that.

[Mike Boudet]

Did you sleep on the couch at the house or.

[Morgan Leppert]

He slept in my room.

[Mike Boudet]

Your mama know that.

[Narrator]

So Toby moved in right away. You know, parenting isn't easy and Toby Needed a place to stay. Jerry was picking her battles with Morgan and was already prepared for the day when Morgan became interested in boys. Well, that day came early, and her mom had already brought in reinforcements, as in contraception.

[Mike Boudet]

Let me ask you a personal question. Are y' all having sex?

[Toby Lawry]

Yep.

[Mike Boudet]

Yeah.

[Morgan Leppert]

Ain't gonna lie to you.

[Mike Boudet]

No, I appreciate it.

[Toby Lawry]

It's all.

[Mike Boudet]

It's all with your will. He's not forced himself on you or anything?

[Toby Lawry]

No.

[Morgan Leppert]

Never, ever.

[Mike Boudet]

Well, okay. How many times do you think you may have had sex since y' all dated? From the very beginning till now? Just guess. I know it's embarrassing, but guess.

[Morgan Leppert]

Oh, boy, oh, boy, oh, boy.

[Mike Boudet]

10?

[Morgan Leppert]

No.

[Toby Lawry]

20?

[Morgan Leppert]

No.

[Mike Boudet]

Am I going too high or too low?

[Morgan Leppert]

Too close.

[Toby Lawry]

60?

[Morgan Leppert]

Probably.

[Mike Boudet]

Probably. Are y' all using protection?

[Morgan Leppert]

I was a birth control.

[Mike Boudet]

You were? Who got that for you?

[Morgan Leppert]

I know. I got on birth control on my 14th birthday in January. I think it was 14.

[Mike Boudet]

That's too early, girl.

[Morgan Leppert]

Oh, my mom, she done. My sister got on birth control at 14, too, and we went to Dan.

[Narrator]

Is he using protection?

[Mike Boudet]

You're not present.

[Morgan Leppert]

Mm.

[Mike Boudet]

Okay. Does your mom know that y' all having sex?

[Morgan Leppert]

Yeah.

[Mike Boudet]

And she's fine with it?

[Morgan Leppert]

He was. Whenever he was living with it. I had no idea.

[Narrator]

Now, at first, Morgan's mom didn't ask too many questions. Teenagers push boundaries, and that's just part of raising one. If giving Morgan a little space kept the peace, maybe it was worth it. But Toby wasn't just some boyfriend. He was 22, unemployed, and guess what? He had a criminal record. Young girls love bad boys, you know? So naturally, he was the perfect guy to move in with a 15 year old. That was sarcasm. Some of you don't understand sarcasm. So guess I got to point it out. Jerry would soon find out exactly who she let into her home.

[Mike Boudet]

Well, at least y' all using protection. And. And you're not pregnant. That's the big thing. You don't need no kids right now because, heck, you're still in school. How old is he?

[Morgan Leppert]

22.

[Toby Lawry]

And you're.

[Mike Boudet]

You want me to tell you how old you are?

[Morgan Leppert]

15?

[Mike Boudet]

Yes, ma'. Am. Don't you think that's kind of a big age gap?

[Toby Lawry]

Nope.

[Mike Boudet]

You're fine with it.

[Morgan Leppert]

Could age date nothing but a number?

[Mike Boudet]

Yeah, but still, you're still in school, and he's out and got a job.

[Narrator]

And Toby was out of school and unemployed when he wasn't behind bars. That is charismatic and conventionally good looking. He'd fallen through the cracks, fallen out with his parents and Started breaking the law. And Morgan wasn't just rebelling. She was running toward a person who made her feel like an adult, Even if he was the worst possible choice. If you only heard of this conversation, you'd think this was a dad having the talk with his giggly teenage daughter. A patient experienced voice trying to steer her back onto the right path. But this was not her father. This was a detective sitting across from Morgan in a concrete interrogation room hours after she and Toby were found in Texas, a thousand miles away from home, burning through stolen gas and borrowed time. And all of it started when Jerry Leppert learned the truth. She had no idea that Toby had a criminal record with burglary, theft and drugs under his belt. She certainly had no idea that he was an adult male, almost eight years older than her daughter. But once she found out, she did what any sane mother would do. And she kicked him out. She told him he was done, gone. No more playing house with a 15 year old child. For a minute that might have seemed like the end of it. But Morgan wasn't letting go that easily. Just a few days later, on April 22, 2008, she was gone too. Her mother searched, she filed reports. She even broke into Toby's trailer hoping to find some kind of sign, some trace of her daughter. But Morgan wasn't there. This is Morgan talking about the early days with Toby leading up to her disappearance?

[Morgan Leppert]

Yes, I do.

[Mike Boudet]

All right. Are you willing to speak to me about the incident? About you deciding to run away? So you got a boyfriend and your mom found out he'd been in some trouble with the law and some things come up missing in the neighborhood and he's the new kid on the block, so he got blamed. And you said that was back in January of this year?

[Morgan Leppert]

Yeah, January 11th. He got the day before my birthday and he came back two months later and we got that.

[Toby Lawry]

Yeah.

[Mike Boudet]

So he came back in March and y' all got back together in March, is that what you're saying?

[Morgan Leppert]

Yeah, March 11th he started dating me.

[Narrator]

In the reason Toby was basically homeless was because he had been living in a camper and then went to prison while he was living in the camper. He proved his devotion to Morgan before moving into her bedroom and he to.

[Morgan Leppert]

Come down my street. He used to walk all the way from Polacca to the other side of the bridal way to sanitary.

[Mike Boudet]

Are you serious?

[Morgan Leppert]

Every day?

[Mike Boudet]

That's a good 10 miles.

[Morgan Leppert]

You have to walk every day.

[Mike Boudet]

And you know the bridge is steep.

[Narrator]

Fast forward. Toby moves in and stays for A few months, but things come up missing. Morgan's mom finds out about his age and background, and she kicks him out. And in April, Morgan disappears with Toby, leaving her mom to contact the police.

[Morgan Leppert]

Pretty much. I just left. He didn't mind the fact that I was with him, and I said I was gonna be with him no matter what, and I think I ended up leaving.

[Mike Boudet]

Did you go to school at all on the day you left, or you just left the house? What day was it you left the house?

[Morgan Leppert]

The 22nd.

[Mike Boudet]

Where'd you go when you left the house? Over there. At the condominium?

[Toby Lawry]

Yeah.

[Mike Boudet]

How many days did you stay over there?

[Morgan Leppert]

None. We left that night.

[Toby Lawry]

You did? Mm.

[Mike Boudet]

And you started. Where'd y' all go when you left? Did you. Did you go back to your house, or is that when y' all started driving?

[Morgan Leppert]

We started driving.

[Mike Boudet]

Well, what car? How did you get out here?

[Morgan Leppert]

Yeah, that truck.

[Mike Boudet]

What truck?

[Morgan Leppert]

That silver. The Dakota.

[Toby Lawry]

Or.

[Morgan Leppert]

Not Dakota, that Toyota Tacoma or whatever.

[Mike Boudet]

Oh, did he buy him a truck from workin'?

[Morgan Leppert]

I have no idea. He showed up in the truck. I don't know where he got it from. Yeah, that's what. I have no idea. Where it didn't come from.

[Mike Boudet]

Not at all. So when you got there, the truck was already there, and then y' all just hopped in it and took off, huh? Did you take any, Bring any clothes with you?

[Morgan Leppert]

Oh, my clothes? Well, we had. We bought clothes, like do traveling and stuff, but I don't know if they're going to give me my clothes back. They're all in the truck with my wallet and everything, maybe.

[Narrator]

Toby rode in like a knight in shining armor. Literally. The truck was silver, new and gleaming, ready to whisk Morgan away to freedom, to adulthood, to adventure. And to Morgan, barely 15 and desperate for something bigger than the life she knew. It might have felt like a rescue. But to Toby, it was never about saving her. He was merely pulling her deeper into his world, where love was just another tool of manipulation. And that shiny new truck. It carried Toby and Morgan away on an adventure while it left its owner behind, broken and bleeding. It was April 2008, in San Mateo, Florida. Florida. Jerry Leppert lived in a three bedroom home on the end of a rural street with her son and her daughter. Morgan, the kid's father, was no longer in the picture, and her oldest daughter had moved out. Morgan was a good kid, but Jerry always knew she needed to keep an eye on her. Morgan was feisty, somewhat immature, and crazy about boys. One boy in particular, whose name was Toby. Toby had been living in a camper. So when Morgan begged her mom to let him move in with them, she reluctantly conceded, sensing they were already sexually active. Jerry would rather have them fooling around under her own roof than in a camper somewhere remotely. I guess the sentiment sort of makes sense, but I dunno, try parenting instead. It works better. You can't actually say no to your children every now and then. But instead of doing this, Jerry put Morgan on birth control at age 14 to ensure that there would be no accidental pregnancies. She didn't realize that Toby was an adult male with a criminal history and his sights set on Morgan. So when she kicked him out of her home and her daughter. Daughter's life, Morgan had already fallen for him. It was too late. Way too late. They were about to take off and make a life of their own. At least that's what Morgan thought. They simply disappeared in a silver truck. No one knew where they were going or what they'd already done. But what started as an escape, as chance at the big road trip and a new life together, would soon unravel into something far more horrible. Because the truck they were driving didn't just belong to anyone. It belonged to a dead man. After they were picked up in El Paso, Texas, Morgan was interviewed. She wasn't interested in talking about the truck, though. Truck? What truck? All she could think about or talk about was. Was how great Toby was and how he'd do anything for her. She talked about leaving Florida, about sleeping in the woods, showering at gas stations, and about what it felt like to be free. If that sounds a little immature, it's because it is. It is. But you know how detectives are. They don't just ask you a question and take your first answer at face value. No, they ease in slowly, like a fisherman letting out a line, waiting for the right moment to reel you back in.

[Mike Boudet]

And that was on the 22nd, the day y' all left. Did he tell his parents where he was going? No, Just said he was gonna leave town for a little bit.

[Toby Lawry]

And.

[Mike Boudet]

Is that his friend's truck that he did the trailer in?

[Morgan Leppert]

I really have no idea.

[Mike Boudet]

You ever seen him in it before? You didn't ask him who it was?

[Morgan Leppert]

I really didn't care at the moment. I was glad to get out of here, so.

[Mike Boudet]

Well, he didn't say, hey, this is my buddy Jim's truck, or this is.

[Morgan Leppert]

You know, he didn't even worry that I just jumped in and took off. I was just so happy as to get out of there.

[Mike Boudet]

Yeah. Okay. How did y' all eat? Did y' all just buy food?

[Morgan Leppert]

Yeah, we had food.

[Mike Boudet]

Did you know that the whole country was looking for your sweet little self? No. You didn't know that?

[Morgan Leppert]

I know. I heard about it. I figured, like, because I was walking into every Walmart we went to, traveling the whole time. Now, look, on the missing old people thing, I didn't even see myself on this. I said, whatever, you know. You know that Florida does go.

[Toby Lawry]

Yeah.

[Mike Boudet]

You know what an Ambrolite is nationwide?

[Morgan Leppert]

Yeah, I just found that out.

[Toby Lawry]

Yeah.

[Morgan Leppert]

Cause that's how they fired me.

[Toby Lawry]

Yeah.

[Mike Boudet]

And eat. What they did is because your mom was so worried about you. Because she ain't seen him so long as they sent a Vanville alert out.

[Morgan Leppert]

I haven't talked to her since the day I lived. Almost two weeks.

[Narrator]

But Jerry wasn't the only one wondering where their loved one was. James Stewart lived alone, but his cousin had spoken to him on the morning of April 25, 2008. After that, the calls went unanswered. A neighbor also noticed that James hadn't left his house in a while. His beloved tomato plants weren't thriving anymore, and they wondered if he was away on vacation. But his truck was still there. James's family wasn't alarmed. For the first few days, it was just a missed call. Maybe just bad timing. But when the days started to add up, so did the missed calls. By May 1, another cousin couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. So he called the police deputies, went to the house for a welfare check. And when they opened the door, the truth hit him in the face. A wall of decay and death. James Stewart wasn't missing. He was lying on the floor, rotting. He'd been dead for nearly 10 days. Murdered and left to bloat, stiffen and seep into the floorboards of his own home. Morgan claimed that Toby picked her up in a silver truck, and she had no idea who the owner was. Maybe she was right. That Toby would do anything to be with her. Maybe she was right, indeed.

[Mike Boudet]

Who do you think that truck belonged to?

[Morgan Leppert]

He didn't tell me who the truck belonged to.

[Mike Boudet]

Yeah, he just. He didn't worry about who that was at the moment. You know he didn't make enough money to buy that truck, right?

[Morgan Leppert]

What do you mean?

[Mike Boudet]

Like. Like Toby? Do you think he made enough money washing cars to buy that truck? I don't think.

[Morgan Leppert]

Honestly, no.

[Mike Boudet]

Yeah. So how do you think he got it? Barred it or stole it or.

[Morgan Leppert]

I have no idea.

[Mike Boudet]

If he had to guess, What?

[Toby Lawry]

Why?

[Morgan Leppert]

Are you getting to.

[Mike Boudet]

No, I'm just saying, if he had to guess, how did he come about this truck? Cause it's not registered to him. We don't know who the guy is it's registered to.

[Morgan Leppert]

I have no idea.

[Mike Boudet]

No? Would you tell me if he did? You promised.

[Morgan Leppert]

Yeah. Why?

[Mike Boudet]

I'm just making sure. We're trying to find out whose truck it is. If not totally. I don't know.

[Morgan Leppert]

He picked me up in it and we just went on somewhere. I didn't care at the moment who, where or what was going on around here or anything.

[Mike Boudet]

Okay.

[Narrator]

She didn't care who it was or what was going on because she was in love.

[Morgan Leppert]

Do everybody came to be with me, most likely.

[Mike Boudet]

Yeah.

[Toby Lawry]

But you know what?

[Morgan Leppert]

Told me he was gonna do whatever he had to just to be with me. But I didn't know he was gonna take it that far and did something stupid like he did.

[Mike Boudet]

Like what?

[Morgan Leppert]

He said that truck was gone.

[Toby Lawry]

Yeah, it was.

[Morgan Leppert]

And the whole. We talked about rider delay, but I didn't know that he was that serious about it. And then we actually did it and.

[Mike Boudet]

Kind of scared you a little bit.

[Morgan Leppert]

I didn't know he was like. I thought, you know, he was joking around and going along with what I was staying.

[Mike Boudet]

Well, he didn't force you to run away, did he?

[Morgan Leppert]

No, I wouldn't.

[Toby Lawry]

Wouldn't?

[Morgan Leppert]

Believe me, I wouldn't willingly.

[Narrator]

Morgan had no problem talking about running away. And she certainly had no problem talking about Toby, the man who would do anything to be with her. But detectives weren't here to talk about young love. They were here for murder, just like you. They just hadn't revealed that secret to Morgan just yet. The tone in the room shifted. The detective stepped out for a moment and came back with a picture.

[Mike Boudet]

Do you recognize this guy, Morgan? You ever seen him before?

[Morgan Leppert]

From where? Yeah, I have no idea.

[Mike Boudet]

Never seen him before. Has Toby ever talked about yet an older friend of Melrose?

[Morgan Leppert]

I have never seen Dobie hang out with an older guy. Like, the only guy that he hangs out with is Scott. And every time I went to the trail park, I thought he was with, you know.

[Mike Boudet]

Well, I talked to him and he said that he had mentioned this guy to you. Do you remember him mentioning to him at T at all? Not at all. Recognize him at all. He never said, hey, I got this guy that's a friend of mine that's older, or nothing like that.

[Morgan Leppert]

I've never seen him. That guy before.

[Narrator]

Morgan wasn't budging either. She was telling the Truth. And her innocence was just that. An innocent young girl in love taken advantage of by an older boy. Well, an older man. Or there were many more layers to Morgan.

[Mike Boudet]

Well, I'm giving you a clean slate here. If you knew what was going on in that truck to tell me, and you won't get in any trouble.

[Morgan Leppert]

Yeah.

[Mike Boudet]

You sure? How was that? Positive.

[Toby Lawry]

Yeah.

[Morgan Leppert]

I just know it's cold here. Trying to change the subject, but I'm cool.

[Mike Boudet]

You want to put that jacket on?

[Morgan Leppert]

I don't want to look like a banana.

[Mike Boudet]

So you pick on us because we wear this kind of jacket when we work? You calling us banana?

[Morgan Leppert]

I got a question.

[Mike Boudet]

Yes, ma'.

[Toby Lawry]

Am.

[Morgan Leppert]

Where is Toby?

[Mike Boudet]

Toby is in a holding cell waiting to be processed in the jail.

[Morgan Leppert]

Would he come back for aim?

[Mike Boudet]

Yes, ma'.

[Toby Lawry]

Am.

[Morgan Leppert]

Do you know what jail he was going to?

[Mike Boudet]

Putnam County. Why you worry about seeing him? Well, you'll be able to see him in Putnam County Jail.

[Morgan Leppert]

The marriage go to Putnam county show.

[Mike Boudet]

Is your mom gonna let you?

[Morgan Leppert]

That's what I'm get told of.

[Mike Boudet]

I can be honest with you. If you were my daughter, I wouldn't let you go. No place for you.

[Narrator]

It was early in the morning, and the interview was winding down. As it was looking like Morgan wasn't going to give in, the detective gave it one last shot.

[Mike Boudet]

Well, I'm gonna be honest with you. Okay. Because you've been honest with me the whole time, so I'm gonna be honest with you. If the truck comes back not belonging to Toby and it's stolen, he's gonna be in a little bit of trouble. Okay?

[Morgan Leppert]

Okay.

[Mike Boudet]

I know he's your boyfriend. I wanted to tell you that, just so you know. Another thing is that if Toby tells us that you knew the truck was stolen or you knew that there wasn't his, then you might be in a little bit of trouble, too. You see what I'm saying?

[Morgan Leppert]

If we're in trouble.

[Mike Boudet]

Well, I mean, you could, you know, it's theft. You know what I mean? So, I mean, I'm just saying, if he honestly didn't tell you, that's fine, and I completely believe you. But if he did, tell me now, and we can bypass the issue of you getting in trouble or anything.

[Morgan Leppert]

Not that I know of. I mean, we've been traveling this whole time in that truck.

[Mike Boudet]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

The detective tried the soft approach by giving Morgan an out, a clean slate. But when she stuck to her story, he switched gears. This wasn't just about a stolen truck anymore. He reminded her of how dangerous this all was a teenage girl running away from home, sleeping in cars, hitchhiking across state lines, sleeping in the woods with rattlesnakes, and only Toby to protect her. She could have been kidnapped, assaulted, or left for dead in the middle of nowhere. But somehow she was still here.

[Mike Boudet]

They're far. I mean, y' all could have easily got in a car accident. And you could have been hurt and no one would know where you're at, you know?

[Morgan Leppert]

Mm. I heard my mom thought I was dead.

[Mike Boudet]

Really? Why did you. Is that the friend you called that told you that? Why did she think you were dead?

[Morgan Leppert]

I don't know.

[Narrator]

She.

[Morgan Leppert]

Because I guess my mom kept on calling him, seeing if he heard anything from me, and she said. Or she. I guess she told him that, oh, she thought I was dead.

[Mike Boudet]

A lot of people. Fuck. You were seriously hurt. Cause they ain't heard from you in a while.

[Morgan Leppert]

Yeah, I heard a lot of people been looking for me out there.

[Mike Boudet]

Do you know you've been on national television? I've heard you've been on Nancy Grace.

[Morgan Leppert]

Nancy Grace?

[Mike Boudet]

She's the talk show host on cnn.

[Toby Lawry]

I have no idea who she is.

[Mike Boudet]

You know what CNN is? You know that TV channel? You've been you're famous, girl.

[Narrator]

By now, Morgan's face was on the news. What appeared to be a missing or runaway teen was turning out to be much more of a complicated story. Morgan was still holding on to her version of the story, insisting that she had no idea where this truck came from and that she'd gone with Toby willingly. But detectives weren't just getting one side of the story. Because just down the hall, in another room of the El Paso Police Department, they had already sat across from Toby Lawry and sent him back to Putnam County Jail. By then, they already knew where he and Morgan had been. On April 22, a friend of Morgan picked her up and took her to Toby's trailer at the Conomy Inn RV park. How romantic. That night, they showed up at Toby's parents house hoping for a place to stay. But his parents refused to take them in. Now they were on their own. Toby was a drifter, a thief and a predator. And like always, he was looking for someone to take along for the ride. It gets lonely out there predating by yourself. Is that a word? Anyway, together they broke into a concession stand, stealing candy, drinks, and whatever food they could find. They slept wherever they could in the woods, behind homes, even on old mattresses they found abandoned in the yard. It was like a modern day Bonnie and Clyde adventure. And along the way Toby started looking for something bigger, something like a getaway truck.

[Toby Lawry]

We're now on 24. Okay, what I want you to do, though, is I know you pace out some house. Houses over there in the Melrose area. And I want you to tell me what. What if anyone on he entered any houses. I need. I need you to tell me if he. You know, if he did. If he did not, then we'll go on. I would get up to that. Okay. Sorry. We want to start back off, huh? When we were laying in the woods where day we at 24 says the day does happen. Okay. He told me. She was like, maybe I want to get out of here by any means necessary.

[Narrator]

He immediately inculpated Morgan as the voice that drove him. But neither he nor the officer was ready for the climate shift about to hit them. He paused, shifted in his seat. He rubbed his arms and ran his hands through his blonde hair. The room went quiet. A chill settled into the space between them. And then finally, Toby leaned in, relaxed.

[Toby Lawry]

We're getting all tense now. You were relaxed before. I don't know. I'm kind of cold. But basically what I was saying to her is I look like babies. Well, go out there. Knock on your door. What time was this, Toby? Was it dark? No, it was daylight. Okay, so the assurance of 24. Yes. Okay.

[Narrator]

Even though Toby didn't know the occupant of the house, James Stewart, he knew a little about the house itself. He used to live directly behind it, and a friend of his lived in the house James was in.

[Bradley Waldrop]

Now, what they did is they decided to run away together, and they were basically casing different houses to look for appropriate victims. Ms. Leppert, earlier in the day, the day of the murder, knocked on Mr. Stewart's door around 1pm and asked to use his phone. He gave her access to use his phone, and she actually called her own cell phone and had an opportunity at that time to basically do some reconnaissance on his residence that he did live alone.

[Narrator]

So Toby sent Morgan directly to James's front door on this reconnaissance mission.

[Toby Lawry]

We went up and knocked on the door. I was like, go there and ask if you can use the phone. Okay. Call your cell phone. No one's gonna answer your cell phone.

[Narrator]

Toby waited in the woods close by, and he could see what was happening. After about 10 minutes, Morgan came back. This was getting real.

[Toby Lawry]

I'm kind of pushing it on my thoughts right now. As you can tell, I'm kind of psychotic in my mind. Well, you're thinking survival, bro. I'm thinking survival. I'm trying to get to where we ain't nowhere around this fucking place at all. Right. I'm trying to get the fuck out of there, you know? Sure. So she's telling me, motherfucker ain't got no fingers. He's. He looks like he's kind of handicapped kind of a little bit. Yeah. But he's. Is that because of some of the stuff that was in the house? Yeah. Okay. Weight equipment and like that. Yeah, it looks like. Like partially of his fingers, like, right here got cut off. Some weird. I don't know what it is, bro. And I was like, what the. And she was like, this hand over here, all the fingers were gone, and it was just a round hand. Okay. Right there, you know? I was like, kind of good. I was like, what the fuck? Sure. Freaky as shit. All right. I was like. Can you be honest when you tell me you never know this guy before? Yeah. I've never met and heard two guys. Okay. You just picked this place out of random that day? And I told her. I was like, dude, that's freaking me out. I was like, he didn't touch you or nothing, did he? Because usually people like that are crazy. Sure. And I'm like. Like, baby, he didn't touch you, did he? And she was like. She didn't answer me. I was like, baby, he didn't touch you, did he? And she was like, no, he didn't touch me. She finally answered you? I was like, okay.

[Narrator]

They'd opened the door to the home of a disabled man. James Stewart lived the queen, quiet life, tucked away in his modest house in Melrose, Florida. He wasn't a predator. Where did Toby get the idea that disabled people are predators? I have no idea. Here's Toby, someone who just entered adulthood with all his faculties and appendages ready to do the unthinkable to a disabled man. And he's calling the victim a predator. James wasn't wealthy, he wasn't famous, but he was independent. He took care of himself, tended to his tomato plants in his backyard, and kept his truck in pristine condition. What he didn't have, what he had never had, were fingers. He was born with a congenital defect that left him with hands that he could grasp with, but never fully. Clothes. The simplest tasks, like buttoning a shirt, tying a knot, holding a pen, had been lifelong challenges. But he'd learned to manage. He had adapted. It's amazing how humans can adapt to almost anything. He'd found ways to live in a world that wasn't built for him. But there are some things that no amount of adaptation could prepare him for. And all Toby was concerned about was whether James had touched his precious girlfriend with his stubby hands. In Toby's words, fingerless stumps. But there was some information Toby hadn't revealed yet that would lead this cold hearted thief and murderer feel just a little more protective of his girlfriend Morgan, than usual.

[Toby Lawry]

What you want to do? Like, I don't know, baby, like, like a million thoughts probably running through my head right now, baby. You're both thinking survival. Yeah. And she's like, baby, you know I'm pregnant. You know, when you got to get out of here, this is your ticket right here. I'm like, yeah. I'm like, well, he has a truck. What the. All right. I woke up a little bit, I'm thinking, I'm like, what the hell to do? What am I gonna do?

[Narrator]

All they could think about was how to get out of the state and start building a life together. Because after all, their baby was technically going to be the product of statutory rape according to the law.

[Toby Lawry]

She was like, honestly? I'm like, yeah, honestly. She's like, I say we go up in that fucking house while he's in there, fucking beat the shit out of him, do whatever we gotta do. Yeah, like maybe. I don't know about this shit. I don't think I got the heart for that. And I was like, well, fuck it.

[Narrator]

It was easy to think that Toby was the one lying and trying to pin this on Morgan, but for the fact that he was the one laying out the painstaking details while Morgan had sat in a chair across from another detective lying and giggling. On the other hand, Morgan claimed she went willingly. Maybe she believed that at the time, maybe she still does. But willingly or not, she was a 15 year old child who followed Toby all the way to murder. Next, Toby goes to the door of the house by himself. He knocks. James comes to the door and is met with Toby asking him if he'd seen a young blonde girl earlier. James tells him, yes, she just left and went down the street. Toby answers, really? At this point, Toby says that James gets snarky with him and asks if he's stupid because he just told him she left and went down the street. That response sat with Toby about as well as the thought that a man with fingerless hands would dare touch his woman. According to Toby, he gave him an evil look and walked away.

[Toby Lawry]

Relax while you're shaking on me. Sorry. She was just nervous. And he never gave a confession like this. Ever. Okay. Waited five minutes. And she was like, baby, you want me to kill this? I'm like. And I was like, man, no, I can't. I. I can't do that. No, I ain't got the heart to do that. I. I can't. I can't do it. And she was like, baby, I'm pregnant. There's nothing we can do else. You got the money? No, nothing. We ain't got no money, we ain't got no transportation. I'm pregnant. There's nothing we can do. Okay. And I asked her, I was like, is this what you really want? She's like, yeah, once we do this, we can fucking take the truck and get the fuck out of state. She's like, baby, I was like, we gotta do something. I can't lose you again. I'm like, well, you know, when you got married, you're losing me for a long time. Yeah. And she was like, we ain't gonna get caught.

[Narrator]

Here was a seasoned criminal looking to a 15 year old girl on what to do when she had never committed a crime before meeting him. This wasn't two kids who believed it was them against the world. It was an adult and a naive girl.

[Toby Lawry]

She's right next to me. She don't like to leave my side. I get you.

[Narrator]

So now the couple was heading back into the house. The doors were all unlocked. Remember, it's some little shit town in Florida. Nobody locks their doors. This time they had with them two copper pieces of pipe tucked into their backpacks. And they wouldn't be knocking on the door, they'd be sneaking in through the side door.

[Toby Lawry]

So I'm standing there, I'm like, babe, I don't want to do this. I don't want to do it. I'm freaking out here. Yeah. And I'm like, man, I don't want to do this. I don't want to do this. She's like, baby, we got there. We're already inside his house. If he comes out that room, he has to do something or he's gonna call the A on you. I'm like, how the is he gonna call the law? He ain't got no fingers.

[Narrator]

That's worth repeating. In case you didn't understand. Morgan says, you have to do something. Now we're in the house and he'll call the law on us. To which Toby replies, how's he gonna call the fucking law? He ain't got no fish fingers.

[Toby Lawry]

I looked in the room. You actually peeked around the corner? I peaked around the corner. Yep. I seen you sitting at the computer desk. Like, I started thinking like, baby, he just sitting there, turns towards us. She's like, baby, go in there, pull the knife on him. He ain't going to say to you, like, no scared of life, no parole. She was like, b, you've got to do this. You've got to do this. You have to do this. So you guys are kind of arguing back, not really arguing, but kind of discussing it and like, on your breath. I'm about to do it right now. I'm like, man, I took off. I took off my sweater, my shirt, and I put it in the chair and I. I didn't have no shirt on. All right. Why? I didn't want to get blood or nothing on it like that. So I was like, it, you know?

[Narrator]

It seemed like the adult in the pair was the only one thinking of consequences. Toby didn't want to get blood on his shirt, and he reminded Morgan of what could happen.

[Toby Lawry]

I don't want to do this. By this time, I'm almost in tears. Baby, we just don't know how long will go away for. She was like it. I'm like it, you'll never see me again. She was like, I swore in my mind I wouldn't. I wouldn't confess this shit to nobody. But she already did, apparently.

[Narrator]

So little did Toby know that Morgan, either because she had too much faith in her partnership, or because she was immature and naive, or maybe because she was smarter than he was, had not said one word and would not confess until the next day.

[Toby Lawry]

Ms. Hilo, at least she knows what's best for me. So how they fuck it and jump in the fucking room. I'm like, listen here. He turns around, he got his shocked ass look on his face. I'm like, where the key is your truck? I wasn't planning not doing to him. I was just like, get the keys, whatever money he had, and leave him, you know? What you saying to you? Like, I'm fixing. Get up and call wall. I was like, you meant, man, you don't want to do that, dude. I'm unstable.

[Narrator]

At that point, James was still sitting down. His back had been turned to Toby and Morgan. He hadn't noticed them yet, but when he heard them, he swiveled around and put his arms up. He was wearing a T shirt, underwear and socks in the comfort of his own living room, where he'd been playing a game on the computer. When he started to stand up, Toby grabbed a nearby knife and started threatening him. All he wanted was keys to The. The truck and cash. But for some reason, James kept repeating that he couldn't even afford the truck. And this made Toby angrier because that didn't make any sense to him, being an idiot, of course.

[Toby Lawry]

So I was like, give me the keys right now. We'll give him the keys. I'm going cut you wide open. Okay? You like, man, man, look here, look here. I can't afford that truck. I was like, I don't give a If you can afford the truck or not. Give me the goddamn keys and I'll be out of your motherfucking hair.

[Narrator]

James was getting closer.

[Toby Lawry]

Like, if he wanted to, he could grab that knife. How are you holding that? Something like, I'm holding the knife like this, Kind of, like down like this. Yeah. And I'm like, I'm trying to keep it away from him so he don't try to grab it or nothing.

[Narrator]

But then Toby looked at him and remembered.

[Toby Lawry]

But I'm looking at his hands. I'm like, man, this motherfucker can't grab this. Like, he's got a thumb on one hand. I'm like, what the fuck? God damn, He's a big guy. Give me the keys. I'm like, look here. Either you give me the fucking keys and we're out of your hair and whatever money you fucking got, or I'm just gonna take care of business right here.

[Narrator]

According to Toby, James fought back with everything he had. But Toby had already decided how this was going to end. Toby answered with a punch in the face, breaking James's glasses and puncturing his eye with a piece of the lens.

[Toby Lawry]

And I'm like, God damn it, dude. You fucking made me, dude. And Morgan's like, fame. Fucking get on top of him. Fucking kill him right now. Did he fall to the ground? Yeah.

[Narrator]

The two got into a physical brawl on the floor, and James defended himself fairly well despite his limitations, maybe a little too well.

[Toby Lawry]

I don't cut the. Clean to the bone. This right here? Yeah. Okay. Cut him clean the bone. Like, God damn it. Blood's going everywhere. Oh, my God. Damn. I can. I can see the bone in his arm because the bitch is, like, slayed over. Yeah. But now she was flowing. It was sick. It was like. But once I seen that bullet, I was like, it. I done did it now, you know? Like, God damn it. Now, like, God damn. I'm freaking out now. Okay. I'm like, baby, hit him or something. Where is she at? She's standing right beside me. She's still over and at that end door I'm like, hit him or something.

[Narrator]

Do you hear how excited this idiot is? He can't wait to tell his story. Even the copy. Like it's a promo for some stupid made for TV movie. Dumb people be dumbing. I'll bet my cybertruck. This retard watches a lot of wrestling.

[Toby Lawry]

And she hit him with the pipe in the face. But he, like, one time, he's like. He pretty much laying flat on the floor. Yeah, he's laying flat on the floor Now. I'm. The shoes. I had on. I had some Reebok soldiers. Soldiers on with the elastic strap that come across the top of him. Okay. And I got my foot in his neck like this. I'm trying to choke him. You're. I'm trying to break his windpipe. Yeah. Are you stomping on it? Yeah, I kept stomping on a windpipe. Yeah. He's still trying to fight me off of it. Okay. I'm like, man, quit moving, man. I'm freaking out, man, because I'm like, man, this is close to dying already, man. He's bleeding to death. I of his arm, you know? Is he still struggling? Yeah, I sliced him on his arm. And I know that vein right there is a straight leg. Key to your heart. Yeah. And he's gonna bleed like a. Okay. Bam. I'm kicking his face into the wall. You kick. You kicking the neck? Yeah, I'm kicking the neck. I'm trying to collapse his windpipes. All right. I can't do it. He's still moving. How many times? How many times you kick him? About 25 times. That's crazy. I'm. No, I kick people a lot. Just kept stomping my dick on me, and I just kept trying to stop it because I didn't know what the to do. I'm like, I'm freaking out by this time. I done drop the knife. Okay. I'm like, I ain't got in my hand now. Okay. Where is she at? She's standing right beside me still.

[Narrator]

Imagine bragging about getting the better of a man with no flag fingers. I mean, seriously. She was standing right beside him because they never left each other's sides, according to Morgan.

[Toby Lawry]

Did Toby stay with you the whole time, or did he go somewhere else and leave you there?

[Morgan Leppert]

He was with me the whole time.

[Toby Lawry]

He was.

[Morgan Leppert]

He won't leave my sight.

[Toby Lawry]

You sure.

[Morgan Leppert]

He wouldn't let me out of his sight. I wouldn't let him out of my sight. He was like, dead on.

[Toby Lawry]

You're like, baby, baby, fine. Get me killing. I'm like God damn it for a minute. Damn, damn, damn. I'm still kicking you, man. I'm like, God damn it. God. You son of a. I just land with a windpipe, with my shoe.

[Narrator]

It was like they were stamping out a bug or a deadly snake or like world of T shirts stomping on a fish. And there was Toby in his orange jumpsuit, reliving it all with disturbing enthusiasm. I don't know about you, but this is kind of nauseating to me hearing him so excited about telling the story. He was standing now, animated, his hands waving through the air as he reenacted every brutal strike for a few minutes. It wasn't a confession. It was a performance. Toby looked less like a man haunted by what he'd done and more like one who still felt the thrill of it.

[Bradley Waldrop]

This is the worst case that I've encountered as far as brutality. And the circumstances surrounding the passing and the killing of Mr. Stewart. I can't think of anything in my 18 years of practicing law that that's. That's been this brutal.

[Narrator]

Toby lifted his boot and brought it down hard on James Stewart's neck. Again and again. Die, son of a bitch. But James didn't die. He was fighting as hard as he could. This man who had endured a life of trying to adapt, was desperately trying to survive, fighting as hard as he could despite his physical disabilities. For all the blood, all the blows and all the ways his body had been broken, he was still alive. And there was still time for Toby and Morgan to leave with James soul still intact. But that wasn't part of the plan. What came next wasn't just brutal, it was absolutely merciless. In April of 2008, 15 year old Morgan Leppert and 22 year old Toby Laurie vanished from Melrose, Florida in a stolen silver Toyota Tacoma. Great truck by the way. It's one of our sponsors. Anyway. Days earlier, Morgan had been reported missing. And investigators soon discovered she wasn't just a runaway. She and Toby had been involved in a violent crime. And that's quite an understatement. Their trail led back to the home of 66 year old James Stewart, a disabled man who was found murdered in his own home. His pristine truck was missing and the suspects were nowhere to be found. As authorities pieced together this timeline, they realized this wasn't just a case of teenage rank rebellion. It was something a lot darker. Sitting in an interrogation room over a thousand miles away, Toby Laurie was recounting every last detail, each thought and each Action. Even detectives were mortified at the number of times Toby stomped on James's neck while he was on the floor. But what he had to say next was far worse than anyone expected.

[Toby Lawry]

I get down on the ground, grab the knife now, and I try to stab him in his chest. How many times? Well, the knife wasn't going at first. I tried to put the knife on his chest to push down on it, but he kept trying to force the knife up. He was still alive in the chest, like, right here. Okay. How many times you shot him there? Because I know I'm ready. I don't like it for. No, I tried stab him once. I know that. With my knife. I tried to stab him, and when I came to and I looked at his face, his whole face was purple. Yep. Bloody. Yeah. There was chunks of brain coming out of his nose, cartilage coming out of his nose. Not moving. He, he, he, he. He's still moving a little bit. It's like twitching or whatever. He's like, trying to breathe. Sure. I done broke his nose and. And probably did too. Yeah, he's trying to breathe. I still see his heart beating, his chest. He's done pissed on himself. He pissed blood out of dick there. Blood everywhere. Blowing the wall. And I'm like, God damn, goddamn, goddamn, goddamn. Freaking out, freaking out, freaking out. What's mar. And she's like. She's like, baby, move, baby, move, move. I'm like, why the you want me to move? I. I moved because I was out of breath. I couldn't breathe. The office, it was just. It was burning right here on you? Yeah, it was just burning. There was nothing I could do. It was just burning. And I walked in the other section of the house for a minute, and I hear flat, flat, flack, flack. I turn around, Morgan's fucking beat the shit out of me with this fucking pipe. I beat the shit out of where? In the face. Okay, she's hitting me in the face. Hard.

[Narrator]

Toby had stepped away from the scene for just a minute to use his inhaler, which is fucking hilarious. A killer with asthma. All that action had left him breathless, and he had plenty of life left. Unlike James, his victim. It was struggling with everything he had to stay in the fight, but he was losing. And then through the wheeze and the chaos, Toby saw something that he wasn't prepared for.

[Toby Lawry]

I'm like, baby, I gotta get in the shower. I can't have this fucking blood on me. I'm fucking freaked out. I'm about to fucking cry now. I Get in the shower. You take a shower there? Yeah. Which one? The one right there where he was laying. I took a shower right there. And as I'm taking a shower, I see Morgan. I'm not snitching on her. I'm not snitching on her. Don't understand. Don't get me wrong. I understand. Just. Just finish it out, though, because it's. It's. You're. It's over with. You're 99% there. I see Morgan stab him in the chest. Okay. How many times? Twice. Okay. There was three stab wounds in his chest. They were almost like, bam, bam, bam.

[Narrator]

There were three stab wounds because Toby had just finished stabbing him once. And then Morgan took over. When Toby got out of the shower, he realized that James was still alive.

[Toby Lawry]

He's still trying to gas for months. What's the place on Misery said leave your tr. Yeah, I wouldn't. Got a garbage bag. Where'd you get it? From the cabinet around. Yeah. Okay. I put it around his head and I twisted the side by coming by hand with a carbon bag. That's what I saw. Lever by your hand where you're handling that. Okay. And I just. I lost it again. I started beating the face down with my face. Okay. A bird. His nose. The nose was like. You think you're beating his. Are you holding that? Yeah. He's still trying to breathe. I can, like, see like a bubble coming up from where his mouth is. I can still see the heart. The heart beating. Right. And I'm like. I felt his nose break three times. His deposit b. On his head. Yes. Is face. I felt his nose break three times. When his nose broke three times, that's when he. That was it. That's when he passed. Cuz I think I. I pushed the phone up into his brain or something. Yeah. At least you remind me of suffering, though. Yeah, I. I put him out of his misery and listen, just relax, man. Just relax. Relax. All I can do is like, if you can justify, you can justify to yourself there was reasons why you did this. And I think you did it. You just. You did it for me. You justify that. You're in hard times, bro. You're trying to help out your wife or your wife can be, I should say. And your baby in that bill. And you know what, Kobe, unfortunately, you still have to provide that one, bro. You understand that, right? You still have to be there for him. You still have to be a caller. You still have to be a husband. Figure to her. Can I use the bathroom?

[Narrator]

Toby had Just described James's final moments in chilling detail, saying he had to put him out of his misery like a lame horse or an injured animal. But somewhere in his core, he was finally feeling remorse. And it was visible to detectives. It seems like sympathizing with a killer, this technique that detectives use to keep a suspect talking to stop them from shutting down. But in this moment, after the sheer horror of what Toby had just described, it felt grotesque. Because what had just happened wasn't about love. Wasn't about love at all. And no words, no justification could change that. At the murder scene, just before they left, this is what Morgan said.

[Toby Lawry]

After I did that, she told me she was like, baby, we just took a human life. I'm like, no, shit, I'm the one that fucking did it. I mean, you helped out, but you just don't know how that shit made me feel. Shit, it's just been easy. I wanted to come clean so bad, but I didn't want to get put in prison for the rest of my life.

[Narrator]

Was he really remorseful, or did he just fear the consequences of being in prison for life and being without the love of his life? Prison, of course, is exactly where he landed. In 2010, both Toby Laurie and Morgan Leppert stood trial for the murder of James Ste. Stewart. Prosecutors argued that this wasn't a spontaneous act of violence. It was calculated, cold, and relentless. Toby, the adult of the couple, pleaded guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced to life without parole. During the trial, Morgan's defense team painted her as a naive, manipulated teenager under the control of an older, violent man. Courts love it when women get off on the same crime that a man committed. Not exactly sure why. Maybe some of that old chivalry from the dark ages. They argued that Toby Laurie was the mastermind, that he orchestrated the attack, that Morgan was just following orders. Too young, too impressionable to understand the weight of her actions.

[Morgan Leppert]

Said, oh, he's gonna call the cops. And Toby said, no, the hell you wait. And boom. Punched him right in the face. Man. I just. I looked away. I was about to cry. I told Toby. I was about to tell Toby. I don't want to do this, but Toby just already hit him. And he's like, come on, baby, come on, hit him, hit him.

[Narrator]

But the prosecution had a different take on it.

[Bradley Waldrop]

I mean, as far as, like, who was the ringleader? I mean, the only people who know what happened in that house are Morgan, Toby, and Mr. Stewart. So what the jury found was that she was guilty of first degree murder because she participated in the. In the murder. Exactly what she did. Really. The only people alive who know are Toby and Morgan. But the jury did find that she intended to commit premeditated murder and in fact killed Mr. Stewart.

[Narrator]

Morgan, just 15 at the time, was convicted of first degree murder and armed robbery. Under Florida law, she received a mandatory life sentence without parole, a punishment usually reserved only for adults. But. And here we go. In 2012, the US Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life sentences for juveniles were unconstitutional, despite what monsters they could be. That decision Gave Morgan A second chance, at least in the courtroom. In 2020, she was re sentenced to 40 years in prison, a reduced sentence, but still long enough to make sure she won't walk free until she's well into her 50s. I'm sure 40 years in prison will rehabilitate her.

[Mike Boudet]

Oh.

[Narrator]

Morgan claimed that she was pregnant but miscarried in jail, so probably no kids in her future. James Stewart lived alone. He was disabled. He'd already proved to the world that he was stronger than his disabilities. In fact, he was so strong that Toby and Morgan could have walked away more than once while he was still alive. But they decided not to. James's family will miss him dearly. This is a statement from his nephew. My uncle was the type of man that anyone around him who was ready to take life head on should have had the opportunity to meet or speak with. Those who were lucky enough to spend time with my uncle soon learned that there was nothing that he could not do. The man was truly amazing. Things that I hear people young and old say that they can't do are things he called speed bumps or obstacles. Not having hands did not slow him down one bit. The thing is, he did things most people don't dream of accomplishing in their lifetime. He was a master carpenter, a professor. He skied, played tennis, bowled. He was a commercial fisherman. The list goes on and on. Most of the cars he owned were stick shifts with no power steering. My uncle taught me that the word can't is for cowards, losers, and people that see hard times or difficult tasks and give up. I was lucky enough to be able to spend time with this amazing man and have some of that greatness rub off on me. But my son and future children will only be able to hear stories of this great man that I have called Uncle. For centuries, philosophers have pondered what love is. They've done it for as long as there have been philosophers. But what do they know? People with nothing but the luxury to sit around thinking all day and ponder things. Those are usually the People that are most disconnected from reality. Hey, I'm describing myself. Alright, so let's give it a shot. Love is. Fuck. I don't know. But I'm sure Morgan doesn't know either.

[Toby Lawry]

Why did he just walk out for you?

[Morgan Leppert]

Because I never want to leave Toby.

[Toby Lawry]

So you killed somebody? I love him so much.

[Narrator]

Morgan had an obsessive, all consuming type of quote unquote love for Toby. The kind that rewired her dumb little brain and twisted whatever immature concept stood in for logic. This obsession with drowned out all reason and convinced her that nothing else mattered. It's a kind of thing you see in movies. Bad ones. Morgan was 15, reckless, desperate for freedom and convinced that Toby Laurie was the answer. He made her feel untouchable. Like the world belonged just to the two of them. A lot of people don't realize that Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy, not a romance. I, on the other hand, treat it like a comedy. Because if God gave you a brain, then you have the responsibility to use it every now and then. And for Toby, Morgan was also an obsession. She was something to possess, to run away with, to kill for. Because he was lonely and wanted a hole to put his dick in. That's it. That's what she was for. Toby, real love doesn't ask for everything you have. I don't know why anyone has to actually say that out loud. It doesn't demand a sacrifice in blood. It doesn't turn a teenage girl into a murderer or leave an innocent disabled man gasping for his final brain breath on the floor of his own living room. That I do know. Even dumb old me, James Stewart didn't know Morgan and Toby. He wasn't part of their stupid fantasy or their twisted rebellion. He gained nothing from being in the proximity of dumb. But unfortunately for him, he ended up being part of their sacrifice and quote, unquote, love. Anyway. Well, I'm not gonna beg you to watch SNS TV again. You're an adult. You go figure out what to do. At least I hope so. Otherwise, go find your parents. What the fuck are they doing? Shouldn't be listening to this. Swordscale.com Stay safe.

[Toby Lawry]

Sam.