Ex-Colwyn officer held for trial on murder charges

Stephen Rozniakowski was so enraged when he found out that his former girlfriend, Valerie Morrow, had bought a new car with her husband that on Dec. 12, 2014, he phoned her 60 times and sent her 20 e-mails while she was at work.

The harassment continued for two more days, as the former Colwyn Borough police officer threatened to release personal information and photos, and "embarrass her at work" if she didn't respond.

Even as Morrow applied for a protection-from-abuse order on Dec. 15, he continued to call. "I am fearful for my safety and my family's safety," she wrote in the application.

That night, hours after he was served with the order, Rozniakowski allegedly shot and killed Morrow and wounded her 15-year-old daughter.

At a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge Peter T. Tozer, Rozniakowski, 32, was ordered held for trial.

He is charged with first-, second- and third-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated assault, possession of a weapon, and related counts.

Prosecutors said they might seek the death penalty.

Rozniakowski allegedly entered the Glenolden house where the victim lived with her husband, Tom; shot and killed her; wounded her daughter; and then was wounded in a gunfire exchange with Tom Morrow.

Tom Morrow, a corrections officer, testified that he was awakened about 9 that night by banging noises. "I saw a silhouetted figure in the hallway," he said. "He was shooting."

Morrow returned fire, wounding Rozniakowski multiple times.

Then he heard the words, " 'Tom, kill me,' " Morrow testified. "I recognized his voice immediately."

Morrow jumped from a second-story window, fractured his foot in the fall, and ran to a neighbor's house to call 911.

Eric Davis, a Prospect Park police officer who was the first to respond to the scene, said that Rozniakowski called out to him, " 'Eric, help me, I'm shot.' "

Rozniakowski was hospitalized but has recovered and is being held without bail at the Delaware County jail.

Bridget Cruz, the victim's daughter, was shot in an arm and fled into her bedroom, prosecutors said.

After the shooting stopped, Cruz returned to the hallway, kicked the gun from Rozniakowski's hand, and ran from the house.

Her father, Wilfredo Cruz of Lancaster County, said that physically she is doing well, but that his daughter still is traumatized from losing her mother. She is living with her stepfather and older sister.

In 2009, Rozniakowski was found guilty of harassment, according to court records.