Michael Morrison and his girlfriend, Debbie Means, were brutally murdered on prom night in 1980.

Michael Morrison and his girlfriend, Debbie Means, were brutally murdered on prom night in 1980. After attending the dance, the couple was run off the road and forced at gunpoint to get into another car. Debbie was raped, strangled to death, and then Mike was shot execution-style.

After attending the dance, Mike and Debbie got dinner at the Carriage House Restaurant in Belleville, and then attended a small party at the abandoned Peabody strip pits. They left about 2:30 a.m. but never made it home.

It’s believed that Mike’s 1963 Plymouth Belvedere was run off the road before the couple was forced at gunpoint to get into someone else’s car. 

They were then driven three miles away to an isolated spot near Funk School Road and Jack’s Run Road where Mike was locked in the trunk while Debbie was bound, raped and strangled to death. Mike was then removed from the trunk and shot point-blank in the back of the head three times and left face-down in a ditch.

Investigators soon zeroed in on Marshall Stauffer as a suspect, and though he was charged with the murders, the charges were dropped due to lack of evidence. Stauffer went on to commit more crimes before his death.

Even though Stauffer was not convicted of Mike and Debbie's murders, their deaths impacted the community of Belleville, Illinois in a significant way. Mike's brother, Eddie Morrison, wrote a book about the case, which highlights the pain and grief caused by the loss of two young lives. The tragedy of this case lingers for those affected by it, and it serves as a reminder of the importance of justice and closure for the families of victims.

Mike and Debbie were buried next to each other, with a shared tombstone that reads: “Friends Together Always.”

But what about their families? What did they have to say about this tragic case?

I found out that Mike's brother, Eddie Morrison, was very vocal about the murders. He spoke out about his frustration with the way the case was handled, and he believed that the evidence against Marshall Stauffer was not enough to convict him. Eddie also wrote a book about the murders called "Bad Moon Rising: The Prom Night Murders Memoir."

In his book, Eddie describes his experiences with the investigation and the frustration he felt with the justice system. He felt that the police did not do enough to investigate the case and that the prosecutors did not have enough evidence to convict Stauffer.

He also talks about how the murders affected his family and friends. Eddie said that his mother, who was very close to Mike, never recovered from the loss. Eddie also described how he felt guilty for not being able to protect his brother. It's clear that the murders had a profound impact on Eddie and his family.

This story is a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating effects of violence and loss. 

While the story of Mike and Debbie may be over, their legacy lives on through those who knew them. Eddie Morrison, Mike's brother, has said that the memory of his brother and Debbie will never fade. "Even though the case is closed," he said, "it's important to remember what happened to them and to try to prevent anything like it from happening again."

Even though the case may be unsolved, it has taught us valuable lessons about the importance of justice, the power of memory, and the need for love and compassion.

In the wake of the tragic events that took place, the community of Belleville came together in a show of support and solidarity. Neighbors and friends of Mike and Debbie held vigils and fundraisers, and the town rallied around the families of the victims. One local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said, "It's a shame that something so terrible had to happen, but I'm proud of how our community has responded. We're stronger together."

In the end, the legacy of Mike and Debbie is one of resilience, unity, and compassion. Even though their lives were cut short, their story lives on.