Richard Morgan, 55, of Altoona, Pennsylvania, was found dead on May 26, 2023, in South Fork. His family reported him missing the day before after he failed to return from an excavation job. Morgan’s body was discovered in the garage of 22-year-old Austin Kline’s residence on Lake Street in South Fork.

Kline had hired Morgan for excavation work and later asked him to consider more projects in Blair and Cambria counties. Investigators say Kline shot Morgan multiple times with a .380 caliber handgun and struck him with a landscaping tamper, causing fatal injuries. Kline then allegedly disposed of Morgan’s vehicle along Route 219 near the Route 53 exit and was arrested and charged with criminal homicide, aggravated assault, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse. He was denied bail and remains in custody at the Cambria County Prison. The district attorney described the scene as very much a gruesome scene.

Officials have said this was a targeted act and that there is no ongoing threat to the public. The investigation is ongoing and a trial date had not been set as of December 2024. Does anyone have information about Morgan’s work in the region or his movements the day before he was reported missing?