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LISBON --A preliminary hearing for a Liverpool Township man charged with murder was rescheduled for Jan. 4.
Christopher M. Morrison Sr., 34, Shadyside Road, who is accused of fatally shooting his wife, appeared via video on Thursday afternoon, told Columbiana County Municipal Court Judge Katelyn Dickey he needed more time to find an attorney to defend him against the charges.
Morrison allegedly shot his wife to death and left her body in an outdoor shed. He was arraigned on Friday where the charge was amended from a first-degree felony to an unclassified felony at the request of the prosecution.
Morrison is accused of killing his wife Tiffany Morrison, 34, at their home at 1655 Shadyside Road last week and could face 15 years to life in prison for the murder charge if convicted.
According to an affidavit filed by Sgt. Detective Robert Ramsey of the Liverpool Township Police Department, Morrison allegedly admitted to a close friend that he shot his wife and then her body was moved to a shed.
Ramsey wrote that through the investigation, he learned "that although they were experiencing difficulties in their marital relationship," Christopher and Tiffany Morrison resided together at that residence. Further investigation revealed that Tiffany Morrison had last been seen on Monday.
According to a press release issued by county Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino and Liverpool Township Police Chief Jared Kinemond at the time of the arrest, Liverpool Township police officers and members of the Columbiana County Major Crimes Task Force responded to the home at approximately 7 p.m. Dec. 20 in response to a possible homicide report.
The affidavit said that during a search, "investigators discovered evidence of a shooting inside the residence and the remains of Tiffany Morrison were discovered in an outside shed located on the property."
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) was called to the residence to process the crime scene and the county Prosecutor's Office was also called to the scene and assisted officers as needed.
An autopsy conducted by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office Jan. 21 determined the cause of death was due to a single gunshot wound.
Dickey continued Morrison's $1.5 million cash or surety -- a high amount set at the request of County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Ryan Weikart who said "the state believes there are public safety concerns." He also said the defendant took steps to cover up the crime and made threats to harm another person prior to the murder. He mentioned the defendant has ties and family out of state, making him a flight risk.