Press Release

Governor Signs Warrant

May 21, 2008

(Anchorage, AK) Today, Governor Sarah Palin signed a warrant of extradition, to return Morgan Hite to Colorado to stand trial for the death of her infant son.

On May 20, 2008, Alaska received a request from Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor of Colorado, for the extradition of Ms. Hite. Ms. Hite is charged, in that state, with Murder in the First Degree. The charge is that on or about February 2008, "Morgan Hite unlawfully, feloniously, and knowingly caused the death of Baby Boy Hite, a child who had not yet attained twelve years of age, and the defendant was in a position of trust with respect to the victim".

Hite is also charged with one count of Child Abuse alleging that she, "unlawfully, feloniously, knowingly, or recklessly, caused an injury to, or permitted to be unreasonably placed in a situation that posed a threat of injury to, the life or health of a child, namely: Baby Boy Hite, that resulted in the death of the child".

Extradition is the process by which a person who is accused of, or convicted of, a crime in another state is returned to that state for trial, for sentencing, for probation or parole revocation, or to complete service of a sentence. Extradition is a right guaranteed to each state by the United States Constitution.

The next stage in the process of returning Ms. Hite to Colorado is a hearing to be set in the Palmer court where Ms. Hite will be served with Governor Palin's warrant. The court will provide Ms. Hite with a period of time, usually 5 days, to determine if the paperwork is in order. After that time Colorado authorities will come to Alaska, take custody of Ms. Hite and return her to Colorado.

The charges in the Colorado case are accusations and Ms. Hite is presumed innocent of them until proven guilty.

For further information you may contact Richard Svobodny at (907) 465-3428.

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Department Media Contacts: Communications Director Patty Sullivan at patty.sullivan@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6368. Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.