The Ken-Rex Killing Case

The wealthy don't die like the rest of us do. They just don't up and get murdered like that.

— Detective E. Abath, the Isdal Detective Agency

An arms-manufacturing executive is found dead in his personal quarters, surrounded by the best security that money can buy. Automated turrets, guards, and guard Cybiders proved no defense against murder most foul, creating one of Megacorpolis most enduring - and profitable - mysteries.

The Crime

At 03:58, the corpse of Charles E. Morgan was discovered inside his apartment on the top floor of the Ramsey Executive Complex. Infamous for his fierce temper, he was found to have been dead for at least three days before service personnel dared to enter the apartment when he failed to answer knocks and missed several appointments.
Early reports indicated a violent struggle and a large amount of blood, but it is unclear if people aren't just thinking of the third movie in the Cutter Charles franchise.

There were no signs of forced entry and no signs left of the assailant... Besides the body, I mean. No DNA, no shell casings, no digital trail. Whoever killed 'em knew what they were doing.

— Detective E. Abath

COME SEE THE INFAMOUS ROOM OF DEATH! Chills, spills, and cybernetic thrills await those who dare step into the haunted home of Cutter Charles!

— Ken-Rex Mystery Tour Ad

Initially, the Ken-Rex corporation kept the details of the murder under wraps but with mounting public interest, they smelled an opportunity. Regular forensic reports were, after modifications, soon released to the public on a subscription basis. In the months and years that followed, several suspects have been named and even brought to trial, but no one has ever been convicted of the murder of Charles E. Morgan.

by Rob Treen

The Theories

With the popularity of TrueCrime media about the case, the murder of Charles Morgan has remained in the public consciousness. Every new theory sets off another cycle of movies, podcasts, and youtube videos. Only a few are considered by serious investigators as the most plausible.

The Rival

Did I kill Charles? I wish.

— Ms. Dust

Sometimes called the Crimson Countess, Dust was a long-standing rival of Charles in the field of weapons development. The two would frequently compete, much to the detriment of the low-income housing where these contests were held. When Charles was murdered, most believed it had been the final, fatal contest.
There has never been any evidence that directly ties the Countess to the crime, but she does have both means and motive. With a case that is almost entirely circumstantial, and the considerable wealth she possesses, she has never been even charged.

by Jonil

The Yeti

Able to come and go anywhere, remain absolutely traceless and unseen - remind you of anything?

— Terry Cullen, Bigfoot Hunter

When the Yeti was discovered to be real, Charles E. Morgan's weapons were among the foremost used to hunt them. Some speculate that the murder was their revenge for the carnage he wrought upon their kin. Some say that traces of unidentified hair were found within the apartment and that Charles's head looked like it might have been flattened by one massive foot.
Yeti-revenge media has been popular ever since their extinction, but none of the yeti clones have ever shown the same ability to disappear and reappear as the wild ones. Some wilder theories claim that Ken-Rex research into yeti-based weaponry created something terrible and that it killed him.

by Lenta.ru

The Mórrígan

Dissidents like her are dangerous. There's no more definite proof than this; she keeps hacking our profiles and removing the spooky desaturation!

— Detective E. Abath

With such a lack of physical evidence, some theories believe that someone turned the executive's defenses against him. There are only a few forces in the Megacorpolis capable of such a feat and while plenty of people point their fingers at the Computer, it is far safer not to accuse the establishment. As such, the Morrigan usually gets the blame.
The Morrigan is a rebellious and mysterious hacker, known for acts of terrorism against the Megacorps, citizens and seemingly random targets. Few can match her on the neural waves, and none have caught her. The Hacker has never killed before, but some think this is the next step of her Signal.

by Simon Weaner

The Disgruntled

Of course I wanted to kill him; he's my boss. Everyone wants to kill their boss. But even if you do, they're just replaced with some other asshole.

— Dr. Prachatarang, Ken-Rex Researcher

Charles E. Morgan was not a popular person even within his own company and had made many enemies. His superior distrusted him, and those who worked for him lived in fear, even more than the average tyrannical manager. Several employees of his department have been named as potential suspects, though none have been indicted due to lack of evidence.
In addition, several Ken-Rex board-members were growing concerned over the chance that his unstable behavior might lead to a decline in shares. Any single employee within the experimental division would have access to weapons that could possibly explain the strange circumstances around his death.

by Johny Mnemonic

Others think that Kelly, Charles's heavily augmented Cybiders "pet", was the one that killed him. Kelly's lawyers have so far kept it far away from any trial or jail. Its whereabouts are currently known.

The Franchise

It's tragic, yes - but at least his death has entertained millions and generated profit for his company. Charles would've wanted that, I'm sure.

— Bruce Charleton, Head of Ken-Rex Media Division

The mystery of the Ken-Rex Killing has been a financial success to the megacorp, primarily due to the vision and ambition of its Media Division. They realized early that the public's appetite for true crime was as strong as it had always been. There was profit to be made there, and from those humble aspirations came a media empire that now rivals Ken-Rex's weapons research branch; the very division once run by Charles Morgan.

Movies

Including the reboots, there are seven feature-length movies about the Ken-Rex Killing and three cross-over movies. While the first few tried to maintain a gritty, true-crime tone, the fourth movie saw Charles return from the grave as Cutter Charles, out for revenge.
The change infused new life into the series and catapulted it to stardom, with Charles (or "Cutter") as a wise-cracking, weapons-developing wraith. The character has since spread to other media.

Crime Tours

Citizen investigators can for a fee visit the apartment where Charles was slain, complete with murderous prop and set actors. It is a form of living theater that has proven immensely popular, with the scenario varying between groups.
Citizens can play detectives, see the sights, or put themselves in the day of death in a re-enactment of various theories. Very rarely do they end up in the crossfire, which only adds to the appeal.

by Johny Mnemonic (with slight alterations)

Games

Cutter Charles makes several appearances in various video-games, from his own stand-alone products or as characters in another.
It has been the least successful venture in the Ken-Rex media empire, with the mobile games drawing the ire of consumers.

Shows

Every few years, a new show goes through the mystery of the Ken-Rex Killing. In fact, the media division has a carefully designed formula they follow that ensures the case, and the character remains profitable.
New details carefully parceled out throughout new products or invented outright.

The Victim

by Dhelian

Charles E. Morgan was an executive for the Ken-Rex Weapons Corporation and in charge of its experimental weapons design department. He was brilliant but unstable, ruling his division with fear rather than respect. He was known to occasionally fire experimental weapons from his apartment balcony in the Megacorpolis slums and sometimes on journalists whose questions annoyed him.
There was no lack of people who wished to see Charles get what was coming to him and the Ken-Rex Corporation would later release a statement that amounted to "Good riddance".
He leaves behind a stock portfolio and his pet augmented Cybider, Kelly.

I think his murder might be the happiest day of my life.

— Unnamed Ken-Rex Weapon Researcher

His death came with a substantial .0457 drop in our shares. His estate has been billed accordingly.

— Ken-Rex Accounting CEO

Well, I mean, sure he used to shoot at people, but he was always nice to me...

— Soma Yun, Experimental Ammunitions Department

by Timo Peter

Independent Investigations and Citizen Sleuths

With all law enforcement privatized for decades, the Ken-Rex Corporation only really keeps the case open to generate marketing material. Most serious attempts to solve the mystery come from curious citizens and other, independent interests. Citizens who follow the case call themselves Charlies and some have dedicated years of their lives to solving the case.
Ms. Dust, one of the suspects in the case, has spent a considerable amount of money on an investigation of her own.

Witnesses

by Ninne

We'd hear gunshots from the apartment all the time, so we just kept our heads down and stuck to the routine.
I don't know if I heard anything more unusual than high-velocity weapon discharge.

— Anonymous Security Captain

by Jurassic World

OH NO, WHO WILL RECEIVE THIS FABULOUS PRIZE NOW!?
THERE WAS NO ONE THERE TO TAKE IT, ONLY SMOKE AND BLOOD!

— Anonymous Raffleraptor

by Johny Mnemonic

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— Anonymous Server Cluster; Recently Decommissioned

by Johny Mnemonic (with slight alterations)

True Crime Craze

Besides the official channels of media and products, the Ken-Rex Killing is a popular topic for true crime podcasts, streams, and youtube channels.
Some people involved have made their entire financial world about their slice of the case. The first law enforcement agent on the scene still does the circuit of shows to recount his experience.

by Dhelian

Ken-Rex Media Divison on Charles

Charles was rough around the edges, but he was my co-worker, my friend. He was a great talent that always brought value to the projects he worked on. I wouldn't put him in charge of people, sure, but you put him in charge of a gun that needed making and he'd make it.
He will be missed, but we'll make sure he is never forgotten. Charles'll bring the same value as he did when he was alive, and I think he'd like that.

— Bruce Charleton, Head of Ken-Rex Media Division