by the murder of one of its residents. the young woman was discovered dead when a friend responded to cries for help. police reporter jim mcnabb has that story. >> murders don't happen here, but early this afternoon, 31-year-old chris morton was found dead in her home's master bedroom. >> it was like a movie. the big yellow crime scene ribbons all around my house. cop cars everywhere. >> it was discovered by a neighbor. who saw the small child outside the house. >> when sheriff boutwell told me that chris was dead, i asked if it was murder. he said yes. i asked to see her, i wanted -- not proof, but i needed to see her. and the sheriff refused. >> neighbors said the family had gone out to eat last night. it was michael morton's birthday. morton was at work for a grocery store chain when he heard his wife was dead. an autopsy will determine the exact cause of death, but she is said to have suffered some type of head injury.