Couple Indicted for Murder, Child and Adult Endangerment, Lewd Acts at Facility
Photo: partners….in crime
LA CRESTA – An unincorporated area near Murrietta became the center of an investigation triggered by the April 6, 2019 death of 17-year-old Diane “Princess” Ramirez, who was living at a 24-hour care home. A joint investigation into her death, commenced by several agencies, included Community Care Licensing, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, and Riverside County District Attorneys Office.
That investigation uncovered several years of alleged horrific goings-on of neglect and abuse. The facility was the alleged scene of neglect and physical abuse of both dependent children and adults – along with sexual abuse of three dependant adults who’d been placed there.
Due to many of the victims being non-ambulatory and unable to speak – this required 24-hour staffed care, which the facility did not provide. To make matters worse, some adult dependent residents without mental capacity to give consent were encouraged and facilitated by the owner/operators to engage in sexual activities.
The investigation’s evidence also included previous abuse and neglect to numerous other residents. Sadly, medical records weren’t properly maintained.
All signs pointed to the arrest of the owner/operators of the Morris Small Family Home in the La Cresta area – Michelle Louise Morris Kerin (DOB: 7-21-41) and her husband, Edward Lawrence “Larry” Kerin (DOB: 3-28-42.)
As a result, evidence presented to a criminal grand jury showed that Michelle Morris Kerin had refused to seek help for Diane even though she’d vomited blood several times, had inconsistent vital signs, and had been in pain for an estimated eight or nine hours. Edward Kerin had also neglected Diane prior to her death.
On August 9, 2021, a criminal grand jury returned an indictment charging murder against Michelle Morris Kerin based on evidence that she refused to seek help for Diane, and charged Edward Kerin with the child-neglect of Diane prior to her death.
District Attorney (DA) Mike Hestrin immediately announced that a Riverside County criminal grand jury has returned a 14-count indictment against the owner/operators on a variety of charges involving several victims. The charges included murder, child endangerment likely to cause great bodily injury or death, dependent adult endangerment likely to cause great bodily injury or death, and lewd acts on a dependent adult.
Only Michelle Morris Kerin was charged with murder in the grand jury indictment unsealed at her arraignment at the Southwest Justice enter in Murrieta. A continuation date is set for 08/12/2021 in Department S201.
Her husband posted bail on 08/08/2021. Edward Kerin has an arraignment date of December 17th. So far, in lieu of $1 million bail, Michelle Morris Kerin remains in custody. Prosecutors are Deputy DAs Maureen DuMouchel of the DA’s Elder Abuse Unit and Jason Stone of the DA’s Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit.
