By WILLIAM F. WEST

The [Henderson] Daily Dispatch

OXFORD -- Custody of the 6-year-old daughter of Kelly Currin Morris and Scott Morris temporarily remains with Pat and Juanita Currin after Chief District Judge Daniel Finch issued an order after a brief hearing on Friday afternoon at the Granville County Courthouse.

The judge set another hearing for 9:30 a.m. Jan. 7 so alleged killer Scott Morris will have time to retain an attorney in the civil matter.

Scott Morris, 35, of 113 W. Church St., Creedmoor, remains jailed without bond on a charge of first-degree murder of Kelly Currin Morris and the burning of a dwelling house. He faces a Dec. 2 court date in the criminal matter.

Pat Currin is the father of Kelly Currin Morris and Juanita Currin is her stepmother. The couple has had custody of the child, Haley, since Finch issued an emergency order in response to a complaint by the couple hours before the arrest of Scott Morris this week.

At the custody hearing Friday afternoon, Scott Morris appeared in an orange jail jumpsuit and in shackles and was seated at the table to Finch's left. Seated at the table to Finch's right were Pat and Juanita Currin, represented by their attorney, Tom Currin.

Finch told Scott Morris, who did not have legal counsel, that he has 30 days to file an answer to the civil complaint.

Under questioning by Finch, Scott Morris said that, being in the position he is in, he did not see what he can do.

Scott Morris, when asked by Finch whether he had any objection to Pat and Juanita Currin continuing to have custody of Haley, replied, "No sir."

Scott Morris said he would like to make sure his parents see Haley.

Scott Morris, prior to being booked by the Sheriff's Department, had been living with his parents.

Kelly Currin Morris had been missing since Sept. 3, 2008.

Authorities on Monday received information leading to skeletal remains being discovered in a wooded area off Sam Moss Hayes Road in the southern part of the county.

The N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner identified the remains through the dental records of Kelly Currin Morris.

Scott Morris was arrested on Tuesday evening.

The judge, in signing the emergency custody order prior to the arrest, said the findings of fact included that false statements by Scott Morris to investigators "were made with the intent to deceive them."

And the findings of fact included that there is a "high probability" that Scott Morris' father, Jimmy Morris, "was also involved in the cover-up" of the homicide. Jimmy Morris is not charged with any wrongdoing.

The orders signed by Finch and the complaint filed by Pat and Juanita Currin are public record.

The complaint said that Scott Morris "is mentally and emotionally unstable" and that Haley "should not be subjected to the risks inherent in being in his custody."

Kelly Currin Morris additionally was the mother of a daughter who has a different father than Scott Morris.

The complaint said Pat and Juanita Currin have a close relationship with the father of the other daughter and had, since the disappearance of Kelly Currin Morris, arranged for the two girls to spend time together.

And the complaint said that the continued separation of the two girls was causing Haley "substantial emotional distress."

The complaint said that Pat and Juanita Currin had arranged for the two girls to receive professional counseling in dealing with the loss of their mother, but that Scott Morris had not cooperated in Haley's participation.

The complaint said that, on information and belief, Scott Morris had sold or otherwise disposed of many of the assets he owned at the time of his wife's disappearance, was not gainfully employed and had not established a new home for Haley.

And the complaint said that Haley was "exposed to a substantial risk of harm and bodily injury" when in the care of Scott Morris.

Shortly before 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 4, 2008, a caller to Emergency 911 reported a fire at Kelly Currin Morris' residence off Tump Wilkins Road southeast of Stem.

Sometime between 4:30 and 5 p.m., the then-28-year-old Kelly Currin Morris' 2005 Honda Accord was found abandoned approximately a mile away at a future subdivision, with her cell phone, pocketbook and other personal belongings still inside the car.

On Sept. 12, the State Bureau of Investigation concluded the house fire had been set deliberately. Then-Sheriff David Smith next declared Scott Morris a person of interest in the disappearance of Kelly Currin Morris and in connection with the arson.

By Sept. 25, the first SBI documents were made public and they showed statements by Scott Morris about the vanishing of Kelly Currin Morris were inconsistent.

The SBI in documents additionally said that Scott Morris and Kelly Currin Morris had marital problems and that sources specifically said the couple had separated before and had discussed divorcing.

Pat and Juanita Currin, in their complaint on Tuesday, said that, in the months prior to the disappearance of Kelly Currin Morris, Scott Morris "engaged in a pattern of emotional abuse directed toward Kelly and both of her children."

And the complaint cited SBI documents saying that, "In the past, Scott punched holes in the wall during arguments and once threw a computer out of a window."