1995-08-10

Slaying suspect released

By CYNTHIA PUCKETT

Aug 10 1995

A man who was arraigned in connection with the 1992 death of an Amarillo man has been released from police custody pending further investigation.

Jeff Scott Rusak, 27, was charged with the murder of Ronald Bob Morton, a 35-year-old drug and alcohol abuse counselor in Amarillo.

Amarillo firefighters found Morton's body sprawled on the floor of his apartment at 2400 S. Polk St. after the apartment had been set ablaze Nov. 6, 1992. An autopsy revealed that Morton suffered nine stab wounds to his face, five to his upper torso, two to his neck and eight to his hands. The fire had been set to cover up the crime, according to police records. Police recovered a weapon inside the apartment, records show.

Rusak was arrested in Galveston in March after allegedly telling someone that he killed a man in Amarillo, said Lt. Ed Smith, coordinator of the Potter-Randall Special Crimes Unit. Galveston police questioned Rusak in the case and then held him for Amarillo investigators. Rusak was transported to Potter County, where he was arraigned March 23 before 320th District Judge Don Emerson.

Rusak was held in jail in lieu of $75,000 bond until July 20 when the murder charge was dismissed.

Smith said Rusak was released because current evidence does not tie him to Morton's murder. A complaint was filed with the 47th District Clerk's office in the case, but Rusak never was indicted.

The investigation of Morton's homicide is continuing, and police are hoping someone will come forward with additional information, Smith said.

Investigators have learned that Morton had dinner at Italian Delights restaurant and left about 8 p.m. the night he was killed. They also have confirmed that Morton visited an adult bookstore at Amarillo Boulevard and South Grand Street that evening. His white Volkswagen Cabaret also was seen around Elwood Park about 1 a.m., Smith said.

Because of the special system of locks at Morton's apartment complex, investigators suspect that Morton may have allowed his killer into the home the night he was slain.