CAMBRIA COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — A South Fork man is behind bars after state police said he admitted to killing a missing Altoona man.

Austin Kline, 22, is charged with criminal homicide after he told police he killed 55-year-old Richard Morgan, according to the Cambria County District Attorney’s Office.

Morgan was reported missing on Thursday, May 25 by his son. Police immediately began investigating which led them to Kline’s home along Lake Street in South Fork on Friday, May 26.

Shortly after arriving, police found the Altoona man dead and that’s when Kline confessed, according to state police.

Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees pronounced Morgan dead at 9:40 p.m. Friday evening.

The District Attorney’s office said police spent hours at home Friday evening into Saturday morning.

An autopsy showed Morgan was shot multiple times and assaulted as he suffered from blunt force trauma. Kline has been charged with criminal homicide, felony aggravated assault, two counts of tampering with evidence and one count of abuse of a corpse.

Kline is currently lodged in the Cambria County Prison.

District Attorney Greg Neugebauer stated the following about the incident.

“This was a senseless taking of a life. The family of Mr. Morgan quickly contacted authorities when their loved one was missing, which enabled law enforcement to mobilize and begin an
intensive investigation, and our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time. Law enforcement believes this was an isolated incident, and there was no danger to the public as a result. The investigation is ongoing. Special thanks to the South Fork Borough Fire Department for providing many hours of traffic control and scene lighting assistance.”

The investigation was led by Pennsylvania State Police Troop A, and assisted by South Fork Borough Police and Croyle Township Police