Michael Morales

Michael Angelo Morales (born October 17, 1959) is a convicted murderer who was scheduled to be executed by the State of California at 7:30 p.m. on February 21, 2006. Two hours before the scheduled execution, the State of California notified the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that they could not comply with a lower federal judge's ruling that the execution must be carried out by a medical professional due to the chemical used in the execution. Consequently, California has indefinitely suspended Morales' execution. The case subsequently led to a moratorium on capital punishment in California entirely, as the only legal method of execution must be carried out with the participation of a licensed physician, who are ethically prohibited from participating in executions.

Death of Terri Winchell

Michael Morales was convicted of murdering 17-year-old Terri Winchell on January 8, 1981. Winchell was in a love triangle with Richard Ortega, a cousin of Morales, and another man. Ortega hired Morales to kill Winchell so that Ortega could have exclusive relations with his male lover. According to prosecutors, Morales attacked Winchell from behind and tried to strangle her with his belt. Morales then hit her head with a hammer, beating her into unconsciousness, and crushing the victim's skull. Morales then dragged Winchell face-down across the road and into a vineyard, where he raped her and stabbed her four times in the chest. Winchell died from both the head and chest wounds.

Michael Morales (musician)

Michael Morales, (born April 25, 1963), is an American musician most known for the Top 40-charting songs, "Who Do You Give Your Love To?", (#15 Billboard Hot 100), and a cover version of The Romantics' "What I Like About You", (#28 Billboard Hot 100).

Early life

Born in San Antonio, Texas, he came from a musical family, (father, Henry, met his mother, Felicia, when the two were to perform together on a radio broadcast). As a child, Morales formed and played guitar, drums and piano in several bands including Crimson Sash. In 1980, he founded the popular band, The Max, in which he would perform until signing his first recording contract with PolyGram Records in 1988.

Career

Morales released the self-titled Michael Morales in 1989. That CD garnered MTV airplay and landed three hit singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including "Who Do You Give Your Love To?", (peaked #15 Billboard Hot 100). Before releasing his second CD on PolyGram, Thump (1991), he founded Studio M in San Antonio. There he and brother, Ron Morales, have won four Grammy awards for CDs produced and recorded at Studio M. In 2000, Morales released his third CD on Major/MTM Records entitled That's The Way.