Disclaimer: The article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.
In July 2016, authorities discovered the lifeless body of former US marine Nick Morelos at his residence in Tucson, Arizona. Reports indicate that Morelos’ fiancée initially found the body and called 911. As authorities arrived at the scene, they found several clues in and out of the house. After extensive investigations, police arrested James Lapan. for the slaying and took him to trial on the first-degree murder charge. The murder trial ended with the jury finding Lapan guilty of the slaying, and he was sentenced to life in prison. Dateline NBC will explore Nick Morelos’ murder case in its latest episode on Friday, August 23, at 10 p.m. ET.
Oxygen stated that authorities found Nick Morelos’ naked body inside his bedroom. The culprit reportedly shot the victim eight times. Moreover, one of the bullets went straight into his forehead. After police began investigating the crime scene, they found blood inside and outside the house, including his closet. Meanwhile, a large portion of Morelos’ rug was found to be missing. As the investigation progressed, police received a tip about a man named James Lapan, who didn’t have a good relationship with Morelos. In one instance, Lapan told HR to handle Morelos’ attitude or else he would. Subsequently, authorities interrogated Lapan in Morelos’ murder case.
During the questioning, Lapan told them that he was home when the murder took place. His wife confirmed his presence in the house. However, after police received a tip from one of Lapan’s friends, they searched Lapan’s house. Oxygen reported that authorities found several boxes of .45 caliber bullets, along with two shell casings similar to the casing found at the crime scene, during the search. They then took Lapan into custody and charged him with first-degree murder.
The case went to trial, and the jury found James Lapan guilty of the murder of Nick Morelos. Currently, Lapan is serving his life sentence at ASP Red Rock Correctional Center in Eloy, Arizona.
Where is Nick Morelos’ killer James Lapan now?
Apart from finding bullets and shell casings, police also discovered pants that allegedly had blood stains on them. Soon after, Lapan’s wife contacted the authorities and told them that she lied to the investigators. Oxygen stated that she initially told the police that her husband was in the house when the crime took place. However, she told the prosecutors that her husband left the house and spent the night outside. Moreover, she stated that her husband returned the next morning while she was in the shower.
Lapan’s wife also shared that his hands were covered in blood. According to Oxygen, she stated, “When he had come in, his arm was bloody and he just looked at me and said, ‘I was home all night and we worked out this morning.” She noted that she lied to the police because of Lapan’s controlling and abusive behavior.
Afterward, the forensics team found the blood inside Nick Moleros’ bedroom was of James Lapan. During the trial, prosecutors claimed that Lapan planned everything and killed Morelos. Citing the prosecution’s statement, KVOA News noted, “James Lapan snuck into Nick’s backyard, he climbed up onto the roof of Nick’s porch. He ambushed Nick in his bedroom. This is planning folks, planning to go over and kill Nick.”
After hearing the arguments, the jury went into deliberations and came out with a guilty verdict, per KGUN 9. As a result, the court sentenced James Lapan to life in prison. According to official records, he is currently held at ASP Red Rock Correctional Center in Eloy, Arizona.
