Arthur Morgan III from Ocean Township, New Jersey, was arrested in San Diego, California, on suspicion of murdering his two-year-old daughter by tossing her into a creek still strapped into her car seat.
Arthur Morgan III was captured a week after he allegedly murdered Tierra Morgan-Glover in a New Jersey park while on a court-approved visit.
New Jersey prosecutors today said they will move quickly to extradite Arthur Morgan, who had sparked a nationwide manhunt after fleeing the state.
The father was being held early today in California, but it was not clear when an extradition hearing would be scheduled.
Arthur Morgan’s arrest came just hours after his daughter’s funeral at the Cathedral International in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
The man had been due to take his daughter to see the animated film Happy Feet Two on Monday, November 21.
Arthur Morgan was legally-obliged to return Tierra by 9:00 p.m., but when he did not come back her mother, Imani Benton, called the police.
Imani Benton learned of his arrest when she arrived at a friend’s home yesterday evening and heard people cheering.
Tierra Morgan-Glover was found face down in a stream, still strapped in her car seat, at Shark River in Wall, New Jersey.
An autopsy revealed the little girl was alive when she was tossed into the water.
On Tuesday, three people carried Tierra Morgan-Glover’s tiny coffin into the cathedral while a minister followed with a large stuffed teddy bear.
During a videotaped eulogy, Bishop Donald Hilliard Jr. tried to comfort mourners.
“As she was placed into that creek, an angel caught her,” Bishop Donald Hilliard Jr. said.
“She did not suffer at all.”
The mother was helped into the church, supported on either side by relatives.
Imani Benton clutched a bouquet of purple and white roses, which were later placed on the child’s three-foot-long white casket.
Tierra Morgan-Glover was wearing a white dress and had several gold bracelets on her wrist.
Arthur Morgan, who has since been charged with his daughter murder, met Imani Benton, 24, at a supermarket to take the girl out for the rest of the day, it was reported.
A 15-year-old boy was one of three teenagers who saw Tierra Morgan-Glover’s hand sticking out of the creek and realized it was that of a child. Park rangers then called police.
The creek, about 20 miles north of where Tierra Morgan-Glover lived, is up to 7 feet deep in the area where the body was found, near an overpass 15 feet above the creek.
Around 100 neighbours and friends gathered outside Tierra Morgan-Glover’s home last Wednesday for a candlelight vigil in memory of the little girl.
A visibly distressed Imani Benton cried out repeatedly: “She was my baby girl.”
Speaking through tears, Tierra Morgan-Glover’s grandmother, Michelle Simmons, told mourners last week: “I appreciate all the neighbours,” it was reported on patch.com.
Michelle Simmons added: “I hope that he is caught and justice is served.”
[youtube iJBHBDE5Bos]
[youtube S1RMqB6bvGA]
