Kelly was moving around  between British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan on a regular basis. This made it hard for her to attend school, be with her friends, or family. Morley started his abuse of Kelly almost immediately. Kelly would disappear for weeks at a time then show up out of nowhere. Not once did Kelly talk of her being abused.

In May of 1992; we received a phone call from the police & social worker in Vancouver; saying that Kelly had been abused. Kelly was sent home to us in Calgary the next day (Lyn and I paid for her return). Kelly was with us for a couple of months, but Morley was back in her life; then she was gone again. This went on for four years.

It was amazing how little we knew of the domestic violence she was under. Morley used fear tactics, and segregation from people she knew as his weapons. Kelly was in and out of the Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter; plus attended their outreach program. A Program meant for other women suffering from the same kind of abuse and torment. Morley was in and out of Kelly's life for four years until two weeks before her death; when she finally enough. Kelly wrote Morley a beautiful love letter; but stated that she had to make a better life for her and her 1 1/2 year old son. 

Morley was extremely upset that Kelly did this to him. Two weeks later Kelly was chased through her apartment at 6:00 A.M. in the morning of September 19, 1995. First he tried to slice her throat with a dull steak knife; this woke Kelly up; she jumped up screaming for help. Kelly ran to the balcony (17 floors up). (736 McDougall Court N.E.), Near the old General Hospital, off Memorial Drive. This guy spent at least 2 to 4 hours in the building before going after Kelly. He wrote letters (initials) on Kelly's apartment door. This was also written on other doors, plus up one floor in the laundry room. When Kelly was attacked; she ran out onto the balcony, and jumped over to her neighbor's balcony. As Kelly was screaming for help and pounding on the neighbor's balcony door; Morley was thrusting a 9" butcher knife into Kelly. A couple of wounds almost penetrated her whole body. After this senseless attack; Morley stabbed himself in the chest. He survived; Kelly didn't. The trial took place exactly one year later. 

Morley spent 30 days in the Peter Loughead Hospital cyc ward; where he was described as a psychopath. Morley was sentenced to 25 years for first degree murder. Since Kelly's murder I had a cut-a-thon in the spring of 1996 at Hair Haven Styling Salon (my sister-in-law's shop); on a Sunday to raise money for the Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter. We raised and donated $1350.00 to the shelter, for helping Kelly so often. This same year I started the Kelly Howe Star of Hope Campaign; to help other people like Kelly to get help. This is where I got Dave Elliot of the City Parks and Recreation involved. Dave found a location for our 50 foot tree and Mel Olson of Enmax had his crew install a telephone post in back of the tree to run power to the tree for the 2000 lights. 

Each year I turn the lights on in the middle of November, and it goes until January first of the new year. The tree itself represents the shelters; the lights are the abused people of Calgary; and the star on top is Kelly looking down on them - to help. Since the cut-a-thon to now; we have donated to the five shelters $55 000.00. We are already over $12 000.00 for the year 2000. We'll do another $20 000.00 for the year. I have already spoken to over 10 000 students about Kelly's death and abuse. I take approximately one hour in each class room, or a large assembly. Each year I have held auctions in the spring to raise money for the Kelly Howe Star of Hope. The biggest thing is the awareness factor. Hopefully talking with schools; I can help break the cycle of abuse that a student is going through. I have helped several people already. I also deal a lot with M.L.A.'s, M.P.'s, Police and the shelters. The more I am talked about; the more people are helped. My goal is to get the victim of abuse to talk to someone. Kelly didn't talk to us, for fear of us being harmed. She is dead today, due to her silence. Also, I push for more furniture, clothes, toiletries, etc. for the shelters. One thing I have noticed through all of the killers, are cowards. They don't like to be out on their own without taking someone, or a group with them. They never blame themselves for anything; and the more pain they can inflict; the stronger they feel; and what can I say about the law. The Justice system is set up for the criminal, not the victim or their families. The law has to get together on criminals. Hard Time is exactly what it says - Hard Time. Not cushy jails, golfing, partying. I have for 2001 come up with a new fund raiser idea. We have developed a beautiful lapel pin in the shape of a tree. This pin will sell for $5.00, each with the proceeds going to the Kelly Star of Hope Campaign. The Calgary Women's Emergency Shelters will be the beneficiary's of the funds raised. See Pins.