Christine Morris, a 33-year-old mother remembered for her devotion to her daughter and quiet strength in the face of escalating domestic abuse, was found brutally stabbed to death inside her own home last week.
Her two-year-old child was discovered unharmed, alone in the same house, wrapped in a blanket on the couch.
Now, the man she feared most—Joseph Davis, the child’s father—is charged with second-degree murder in what authorities are calling a horrific act of domestic violence that Morris had warned her loved ones might one day happen.
A Brutal Killing, a Chilling Confession
Morris’s body was found in a bedroom of her home, covered with a blanket.
According to an autopsy, she suffered multiple stab wounds to her head, neck, chest, back, and arms. The attack also damaged several of her internal organs, including her lung, kidney, and spleen. The brutality of the crime shook even seasoned investigators.
Davis, 34, reportedly called a family member after the murder, confessing to the killing and informing them that the toddler was still in the home. That call led to a police welfare check, where officers found the child unharmed and later discovered Morris’s body.
She Tried to Protect Herself—and Others
Friends told police that Morris had expressed fear for her life, even sending one a text message months earlier warning that Davis should be held responsible “if anything ever happens to me or my daughter.”
He had a known history of abuse against her, and as recently as June 2024, a no-contact order had been issued against him.
Another woman who shares children with Davis told investigators he had also confessed the killing to her the same morning and asked to see their kids before surrendering. She too had a protection order against him.
Fugitive Found Through Dating App Connection
After the murder, Davis went on the run. A SWAT team located and arrested him in Minneapolis, hiding in the apartment of a woman he had met on a dating app.
He reportedly told her only that he was in trouble with police but offered no details.
During questioning, Davis admitted to the murder, claiming the fatal stabbing occurred during an argument over an alleged affair. He said he “blacked out” and later couldn’t bear to look at Morris’s body.
“She suffered, bro, she definitely suffered,” he told investigators.
A Life of Love, Lost Too Soon
Christine Morris’s loved ones are now grieving a life lost too soon—a woman who loved fiercely, protected her child with everything she had, and still found the courage to warn others, even as she faced ongoing abuse.
Her tragic death has reignited calls for stronger enforcement of domestic violence protection orders and better support systems for women attempting to leave dangerous relationships.
