Morgan Marie Wicksson, later known as Morgan Mengel, was born on September 25, 1975, in Pennsylvania, USA. Little is documented about her childhood and early life, though it’s known that she experienced a turbulent relationship with her family. As she entered her teenage years, Morgan Mengel developed a rebellious streak, which clashed with her parents’ hopes for a stable and grounded future for her. Despite these challenges, the Wickssons remained hopeful that she would eventually find her way.
In 1997, Morgan met Kevin Mengel Jr., a young man from Pennsylvania who was just a year younger than her. Kevin, born on July 2, 1976, in Springfield, Pennsylvania, was the oldest of three children of Kevin Mengel Sr. and Kathleen. Kevin’s father, affectionately called “Kevin Sr.,” was a well-regarded businessman, and Kevin grew up in a tightly-knit family with his siblings, Christopher and Michele. However, by the time he completed high school in 1995, his parents had amicably separated and pursued new relationships. Kevin Sr. moved to Downingtown with his second wife, while Kathleen married Dr. Richard Barton and adopted his last name, settling in West Chester.
Though Kevin had experienced family distance, he was known to be ambitious and resilient, and his dream was to build a close-knit family of his own. When he met Morgan Mengel, he felt she was the ideal person to share this dream. Initially, their relationship was marked by affection and a seemingly perfect partnership.
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Red Flags and Marriage
About a year into their relationship, an incident raised concerns among Kevin’s family. During a family gathering, someone noticed that Morgan Mengel appeared to have a visible belly. When asked if she was pregnant, Morgan brushed it off, saying she was just bloated. However, the very next day, she delivered a baby girl named Mercedes. Despite her denial, Morgan claimed she hadn’t known she was pregnant, which left the family puzzled. While Morgan’s reaction lacked the usual excitement, Kevin was thrilled to be a father. They decided to marry soon after Mercedes was born, marking the beginning of their journey as a family.
Following their wedding, Kevin started a landscaping business, with Morgan Mengel assisting in its operations. Over time, their family grew to include two more children, Kevin Jr. and Billy. Kevin, devoted to his family, even named the business after his children’s initials, reflecting his commitment to them. However, underlying tensions soon surfaced, and rumors began to circulate about Morgan’s infidelity, including relationships with some of Kevin’s friends. Though heartbroken, Kevin chose to stay, prioritizing a stable home for his children despite the strain it placed on him.
In 2009, Morgan Mengel left their home multiple times, staying with her mother but always returning. Friends noted an increasingly volatile relationship between her and Kevin. That same year, Kevin reconnected with his father, mending old bonds, and their relationship grew stronger. Though his marriage was troubled, Kevin clung to hope, believing in the possibility of unity for his children’s sake.
A New Employee and a Father’s Day Mystery
In the spring of 2010, a young man named Stephen Chapelle, or “Steve,” joined Kevin’s landscaping business. Kevin quickly came to trust Steve, unaware that this relationship would soon take a dark turn.
On June 20, Father’s Day, Kevin had planned a family picnic, eagerly looking forward to reuniting with his father. However, as the hours passed, he didn’t show up, causing concern among his family. Kathleen received a message from Morgan Mengel, explaining that they wouldn’t attend due to “unforeseen circumstances.” This seemed out of character, especially given how much Kevin had looked forward to the reunion.
As the day turned to evening, Kevin’s family began calling and messaging him, but there was no response. Realizing they hadn’t seen or heard from him in days, the family became deeply concerned. Kevin’s mother, especially, was alarmed by his silence; she knew he would never go this long without reaching out. Increasingly certain that something was wrong, Kathleen eventually contacted the police and officially reported Kevin as missing.
Police Investigation Begins
The following Monday, officers visited Kevin and Morgan’s apartment, where they encountered a surprisingly calm and composed Morgan Mengel. Despite the family’s rising fears, Morgan appeared unperturbed, leaving authorities and loved ones baffled by her demeanor in the face of Kevin’s unexplained absence.
When officers questioned Morgan about Kevin’s sudden absence, she presented text messages supposedly from Kevin, explaining that he needed a break from the pressures of work. According to Morgan Mengel, Kevin had asked her to take over the landscaping business temporarily, assuring her he was safe but needed some time alone. The officers, seeing the messages from Kevin’s phone, initially believed he was taking a personal hiatus and decided not to pursue an investigation further.
Kevin’s family, however, struggled to believe that he would vanish without any contact, especially without informing his children. Repeated attempts to reach him were met only with curt, text-only replies urging them to leave him alone and trust Morgan Mengel. These texts, filled with abbreviations and uncharacteristically short phrases, didn’t match Kevin’s usual writing style, raising even more alarm among his family members. They pressed the police to reconsider, prompting authorities to initiate a formal missing persons investigation.
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Discoveries Unveiled
As detectives delved into the case, they learned that Kevin had reportedly left home on June 15 following an argument with Morgan Mengel. A week later, the family uncovered a startling revelation: Morgan was involved with another man, Steve Chapelle, a 21-year-old employee who had recently joined Kevin’s landscaping business. Steve, 13 years younger than Morgan, was someone Kevin had trusted and even considered as a close companion.
When questioned about Steve’s role, Morgan Mengel claimed Kevin had valued Steve’s friendship and trusted him to help care for the children. She had introduced him to her children as “Uncle Steve,” but Kevin’s family and friends became increasingly suspicious as they observed Morgan and Steve openly displaying affection and spending time together in public. Steve was often seen driving Morgan’s truck, a development that left Kevin’s loved ones in shock.
Police soon brought Steve in for questioning, where he admitted to an affair with Morgan. He recounted how Morgan Mengel had pursued him, showering him with praise until he reciprocated her affection. Steve described their intimate encounters but denied any knowledge of Kevin’s suspicions about the relationship. Detectives warned Steve that if anything had happened to Kevin, he could face serious consequences, leading him to become visibly emotional and refusing to answer further questions.
Shortly after, Kathleen received an unusual request from Morgan, asking her to watch the children for a few days. Concerned that Morgan Mengel might be planning to flee, Kevin’s brother Chris and a few friends began monitoring Morgan’s apartment. Early on June 24, they observed Steve leaving with a bag, followed closely by Morgan, who loaded additional bags into a truck before driving away. Notably, the children were left behind.
Chris quickly alerted detectives and began following them as they drove to the landscaping business, where a detective had been stationed in hopes of finding clues about Kevin’s whereabouts. When Morgan Mengel arrived, the back of her truck was packed with clothes. She rushed past the detective, who tried to speak to her, but Steve suddenly sped off in the truck. When questioned, Morgan suggested that Steve might have harmed Kevin, prompting the police to take her in for further questioning.
Morgan’s Admission
During her interrogation, Morgan admitted that Steve had expressed his love for her and his willingness to do anything to be with her. When detectives asked if she suspected Steve of harming Kevin, Morgan Mengel revealed a disturbing truth: Steve had struck Kevin with a shovel during an altercation. She was left alone in the interrogation room as police began tracking Steve’s phone, hoping to locate him.
Though they initially failed to find Steve, investigators uncovered incriminating text messages between him and Morgan Mengel. In these exchanges, Morgan and Steve discussed a plan to eliminate Kevin, take over the business, and raise her children together. This disturbing discovery exposed a premeditated scheme involving a deadly nicotine-based poison.
The messages revealed that, on June 16, 2010, Steve had prepared a toxic nicotine solution in his mother’s kitchen, following online research on its potency. Knowing just a few drops could be lethal, he mixed the solution and gave it to Morgan Mengel. The next morning, she discreetly placed the bottle in Kevin’s truck, hoping he would drink it throughout the day, thus putting their sinister plan into motion.
While Kevin worked, Steve observed him closely, watching for any signs that the tea, laced with poison, might take effect. When Kevin continued working unaffected, they moved to their backup plan. Steve messaged Morgan Mengel, indicating his readiness to act, shovel in hand, waiting for Kevin to bend down. At around 10:20 AM, as Kevin trimmed hedges, Steve seized the opportunity, striking him forcefully on the head with the shovel.
The impact was so intense that it shattered the shovel, leading Steve to grab another to continue the assault until Kevin lay motionless. Once the attack was complete, Steve texted Morgan with a chilling confirmation: “It’s done.” Morgan Mengel arrived shortly afterward, reportedly stepping over her husband’s lifeless body without any visible remorse, embracing Steve and immediately taking charge of the cleanup. Together, they wrapped Kevin’s body in a tarp, bound it, and stored it in an unused garage at the landscaping company.
After hiding Kevin’s body, they cleaned up the scene and left. Court records later revealed that the pair seemed almost celebratory, with Morgan Mengel even making a grim joke about endorsing the tea brand used in the failed poison attempt. Four days later, Steve moved Kevin’s body to a wooded area near his former high school, where he buried it in a shallow grave prepared in advance.
Meanwhile, Morgan Mengel used Kevin’s phone to send texts to family, friends, and even herself, trying to maintain the illusion that he was alive but needed time away. However, she failed to consider that the phone locations could reveal both her and Kevin’s devices were consistently in the same area, leaving a trail that would soon expose their scheme.
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The Investigation Breaks Through
While at the police station, Morgan was confronted with the incriminating messages and was placed under arrest. Tracking the phones’ locations soon led authorities to Kevin’s burial site. Just days later, Steve, who had fled to Colorado in Morgan’s truck, was located and apprehended. Initially resisting extradition, he eventually agreed to return to Pennsylvania, where he broke down and confessed to his involvement in the crime.
On July 18, a memorial service was held for Kevin, where his family requested that, instead of flowers, donations be made to a trust fund for his children. The children were placed in the care of their grandmother Kathleen and her husband, who, along with extended family, supported them as they coped with the loss of their father and the absence of their mother. As they mourned, the family took solace in knowing that those responsible were facing justice.
Shocking Twists and Trial
During Morgan’s trial, disturbing evidence came to light. From prison, she attempted to manipulate Steve, claiming she was pregnant with twins, hoping he would take full responsibility for the murder. She even sent fake birth certificates to back up her claim, but investigators quickly debunked her lies. Steve became a key witness for the prosecution, detailing how their relationship began, how Morgan Mengel persuaded him to help poison Kevin, and how they ultimately resorted to a physical attack when the poison failed. Steve described burying Kevin behind his high school and recounted their communications before, during, and after the crime.
On February 3, 2012, a twist emerged when a judge declared a mistrial due to a comment made by a police sergeant, who referenced an interaction with Morgan’s father, suggesting she was capable of extreme actions. This statement was ruled prejudicial, leading to a retrial. Despite the delay, Kevin’s family remained committed to seeing justice done.
Sentencing and Closure
The second trial began on February 5, 2013. Morgan, now 37, pled guilty to charges of first- and third-degree murder, conspiracy, and possession of a deadly weapon. She was sentenced to life in prison without parole and an additional 20 years on probation. Through a statement read by her attorney, Morgan expressed remorse, acknowledging the pain she caused Kevin’s family.
On February 11, Steve Chapelle, aged 24, pled guilty to third-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, receiving a sentence of 40 to 80 years in state prison. Unlike Morgan, Steve spoke directly to the court, expressing deep regret and stating he would never forgive himself.
