Owen Morris, who last resided in Warren, was recently found not guilty by reason of insanity in the 2018 murder of East Providence resident Dr. Clive Bridgham.

Rhode Island Superior Court Associate Justice Maureen Keough rendered the verdict at the close of the trial on Thursday, Aug. 21. Morris, now 28 years of age, admitted to stabbing Bridgham to death in his East Providence home in January of 2018.

The assailant used a diving knife to inflict over 30 wounds. He was facing a first-degree murder charge. The prosecution was seeking a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.

The prosecution was seeking a sentence of life without the possibility of parole.

"(The judge) found that the evidence showed that Owen had a mental illness at the time of the crime, and because of that he could not conform his behavior to the requirements of the law. This is after finding that, yes, indeed, Dr. Clive Bridgham had been killed, had been killed by Owen, and she detailed the nature of the killing," said Morris' attorney, Jason Knight.

Knight practices out of Providence and is the state representative for District 67, Barrington and Warren. Morris remains in the custody of the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals at the Eleanor Slater facility in Cranston.

"The procedure is he will be evaluated to see whether or not he's eligible or capable of being released into the community, present that report to the judge, and then the judge will have to make a decision," Knight explained of Morris' immediate future.

He added, "Practically speaking, what happens in these kinds of cases is there is usually a very, very long period of treatment before that question is seriously entertained."

Morris' actual trial began with opening arguments in September of 2024. The sides then presented their respective cases over the next several months.

Two experts testified on his behalf: Dr. Patricia Recupero, a psychiatrist who has over 30 years in the field including at Brown University's Warren Alpert School of Medicine; Dr. Keelin Garvey is noted area forensic psychiatrist.

Of the verdict, Knight said, "I think it reflects the facts of what actually happened here. I think justice is certainly served. I'm saddened, frankly. Every murder case is a sad case, but this one is particularly sad because obviously Dr. Bridgham did not deserve the end that he got, and Owen was the victim of severe, severe mental illness. It's just a tragedy for everyone."

The crime occurred Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2018, and prosecutors say it was the culmination of a long-standing relationship that had soured.

Morris pleaded not guilty to murder at his arraignment in Superior Court in August 2018.

The two initiated a relationship through athletics. Morris played lacrosse and began working with Bridgham, a well-known sports physician who once operated the Barrington Chiropractic and Sports Medicine Clinic in Barrington.

Later, though, Morris and Bridgham had a falling out, leading the former to file a complaint against the doctor with the Rhode Island Department of Health in 2016. Morris alleged Bridgham “violated the professional boundaries of the chiropractic physician-patient relationship” during the course of their acquaintance.

During trial, the nature of the Morris' complaint was specified as Bridgham having "inappropriately touched him in the context of a medical exam." Bridgham eventually gave up his license to practice in 2017.

The doctor had come under scrutiny previously. In April 2003, Bridgham was placed on three years of probation by the RIDOH after admitting to a sexual encounter with someone who was described as a “sibling” of a family he was treating.

East Providence Police conducted the initial investigation after finding the doctor’s body. The prosecution alleged Morris planned the murder in advance. A grand jury handed down an indictment on the first-degree murder charge in July of 2018.

The case subsequently stalled for various reasons, including the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.

At that time, Knight also said the complexity of the situation contributed to the extended length of the proceedings.

He added recently, "The process around these kinds of cases is always pretty slow because the experts that you need to evaluate, to generate evidence on this issue, are pretty few and far between."

Upon final reflection of the case, Knight said, "Looking forward, I'm glad that the law recognized Owen's illness and that he will be treated and he will be given help. The law has a procedure for this sort of situation. And at some point he may have the opportunity for a life again."

— With contributions from East Bay Media Group editor Ted Hayes.