Murdered Teen's Mom: 'There's A Hole Inside of Me'

The 16 years since her 17-year-old daughter Curtisha Morning was found murdered, stabbed over 90 times and left near Riverhead High School, have been filled with pain, Viola Morning said on Thursday.

Viola, who has since moved to North Carolina, is back in Riverhead this week for the re-trial of her daughter's alleged murder Kalila Taylor. 

"It's not easy," Morning said outside the Arthur M. Cromarty Court Complex in Riverside, where the trial is being presided over by Judge William Condon. "There's a hole inside of me."

Of reliving the agony of her daughter's murder in court, Morning said, "It's really rough."

Morning and her daughter Trina Morning have been attending the trial.

Taylor a homecoming queen who was reportedly killed in a jealous rage over a boy. Originally convicted in 1999 of second-degree murder, Taylor's case was later thrown out after a judge allegedly gave the jury incorrect instructions during the initial trial.

Close family friend Wendy Alexander said Morning's future was bright; she had excellent grades and was headed to college to study nursing. 

Inside the courthouse, Tyisha Brandon, Taylor's cousin, said her cousin had also been a victim. "I know my cousin and she is innocent," she said. "I feel bad for Ms. Morning but my cousin didn't do it."

Reflecting on the years her cousin has been imprisoned, Brandon said, "They took her life for something she did not do. She has two sons. They put the wrong person in jail." 

Her eyes filled with tears, Morning said rehashing the details of her daughter's murder has made the pain fresh, 16 years later. "I just want it to be over. I just want justice for Curtisha."

Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here.