Poker Player Susie Zhao Murder Trial Gets Pushed To September 26

Updated On Feb 18, 2022 by Natalie Whitehead

Susie ZhaoSummary

  • Accused killer Jeffrey Morris will face trial on a new date upon request of his lawyer
  • Poker player Zhao suffered a brutal death according to autopsy results
  • Morris faces life imprisonment as the death penalty is banned in Michigan

The trial of a man accused of killing a former poker pro has again been rescheduled. Jeffrey Morris, who is charged with the death of Susie “Susie Q” Zhao, has had his trial moved to September 26 following a court hearing this week.

Oakland County Circuit Judge Martha Anderson agreed to set a new trial date for the accused killer at the request of his lawyer Michael McCarthy.

McCarthy was appointed by the court to represent Morris just two months ago after his previous court-appointed lawyer Pamela Johnson was dismissed as she went into private practice. Johnson handled Morris’ case for more than a year.

In his request for a new trial date to be set, McCarthy cited the need to give him more time to prepare as Morris raised some investigative issues that weren’t there before. The new date was approved by the judge and assistant prosecutor Marc Keast.

 

Brutal Death

Susie Zhao’s remains were found badly burned and damaged in a DNR parking area near Maceday Lake and Cross roads in White Lake Township on July 13, 2020. Morris, 61, was initially charged with first-degree premeditated murder upon his arrest in 2020, but a felony murder charge was later added.

Based on autopsy results, Zhao suffered a horrific death. She had been sexually assaulted before being burned alive. Deputy medical examiner for Oakland County Andrew Hanosh also discovered extensive damage to Zhao’s genital area, with at least 90 percent of her body badly burned.

Accused Killer Faces Life Imprisonment

Morris has an extensive criminal record, which includes a rape conviction in 1989. Zhao was last spotted with Morris at Sherwood Motel in Waterford.

The poker pro was popular in poker for scoring a few deep runs at the World Series of Poker Main Event. She also appeared on the live-streamed cash game Live at the Bike. According to her Hendon Mob profile, Zhao had $224,671 in total live earnings.

The 33-year-old, who originally hailed from Beijing, China, spent several years in Los Angeles as a regular cash player. According to reports, she had moved back in with her family in Oakland County before her death.

With death penalty banned in Michigan, Morris faces the maximum sentence of life imprisonment without parole if he is convicted of the crime. He is currently being held in Oakland County Jail and was denied bond.

If there is one topic that really gets Natalie excited it has to be the mathematics of gambling, having worked for a major gaming company in the audit department she loves nothing more than revealing all manner of facts and figures. Many of her news stories relate to both online and bricks and mortar gaming and are always worth...

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