Homeless woman found dead in Fountain Square 'would give anybody anything,' friend says

Andrew Clark | IndyStar

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Julie Morey was like family to the staff of Peppy Grill, Kenneth Burcham said.

She came to the Fountain Square restaurant multiple times a day, often getting biscuits and gravy topped with eggs over easy, he said. And she always liked her coffee.

"We just all took care of her as if she was one of our own," Burcham said.

Morey, who was homeless, had been coming to the restaurant ever since Burcham, 33, started working at the Fountain Square institution, he said. That was 19 years ago.

He was one of about 50 people who withstood freezing temperatures to gather outside St. Patrick Catholic Church to remember Morey. She was pronounced dead the morning of Nov. 3, after being found unresponsive on a couch in the church's Religious Education Center building.

The Marion County coroner's office said Morey, 58, was stabbed multiple times and strangled. Police have not released information about a suspect in her killing.

Those who gathered to remember Morey said she was always smiling, had a heart of gold and was giving, despite her circumstances.

"She was very kindhearted. She would give anybody anything, even if it meant that she was to do without. She would literally give you whatever she had," Burcham said.

Fr. Dennis Schafer told IndyStar on Thursday that Morey was not a member of the St. Patrick Catholic Church, but that she has been visiting since he joined the church about two years ago.

"She's a member of our community," Schafer said.

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Mary Stankovich, who said she is Morey's first cousin, said Morey would never ask for help but had family, including a son and a daughter, who were willing to help her.

"She was the type that if she was good, she would call and let you know about it," Stankovich said. "But she wouldn't call and tell you she was doing bad."

In fact, Stankovich said Morey would mostly call to see if Stankovich was doing well. Stankovich said she has been dealing with the side effects of cancer treatment.

"She was loved and had all kinds of family that could have helped her," Stankovich said.

Burcham said it's shocking that something like Morey's killing could happen in Fountain Square.

"It hits home, because I grew up here and I've got children who live here in Fountain Square," he said. "It seems that it's not safe to let your kids out or walk the streets anymore. It's scary. It's a scary thing."

Burcham said he hopes justice comes for whoever killed Morey.

"No one should have to go out in life like Julie did. She was too kind," Burcham said. "She didn't deserve what happened to her. No one does."

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Call IndyStar reporter Andrew Clark at 317-444-6484 or email him at andrew.clark@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @Clarky_Tweets.