Fugitive's family pleads for him to surrender

Edward Morris and his wife, Renee, with their children, from left to right, Johnathan, Alexis and Bryant

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TILLAMOOK, Oregon (CNN) -- The father of a man suspected of killing his pregnant wife and three children begged his son Thursday to turn himself in to authorities.

Paul Morris made a public plea for his son, suspect Edward Morris, to surrender during a news conference with the Oregon FBI and Tillamook County Sheriff's Office.

"We want you to know that we love you, and we will stand by you regardless of what happens," said the elder Morris, along with his wife and two other children.

"We ask you to call 911 at the nearest phone and surrender yourself. If you need us to help you do this, call one of us, and we'll meet you somewhere and help you through it."

The FBI is offering up to $50,000 for information leading up to Edward Morris' arrest. He was charged last week with seven counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of his wife, Renee, 31 -- who was seven months pregnant -- and their children, Bryant, 10; Alexis, 8; and Johnathan, 4.

Four of the counts are for the four victims; the additional three were filed because the children were younger than 14, Tillamook Sheriff Todd Anderson said.

Relatives had reported the family when they failed to return from a trip as expected. Renee Morris and her children were buried Saturday in north Portland, where the family lived.

Edward Morris is considered an armed and dangerous fugitive, according to authorities.

Since the bodies of his family were discovered December 21, he has been spotted at a motel and gas station. Police are reviewing a surveillance video of him at the gas station.

He used the alias "Jim Elliot" when he registered at the motel, according to authorities. Clerks later identified Morris' van and called authorities with its license plate number.

Authorities originally described Morris as about 6 feet tall, 200 pounds, clean-shaven and possibly wearing glasses. They are saying his appearance may have been altered with facial hair or a shaved head.

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