Morris claimed his paycheck from his place of employment in Nashville, Tennessee on March 30, 2001. Witnesses said that he was confronted by an unidentified woman outside of the building shortly thereafter. She was apparently speaking loudly and appeared to be demanding money from Morris. He became frustrated and walked back inside the business. Morris waited for a few moments, then departed. He has never been heard from again. All of his personal belongings were left behind at his residence.

Morris was a member of a church on Berry Street in Nashville at the time of his disappearance. The minister told authorities that he arrived at Morris's residence to pick him up for church services during the morning of March 25, five days before Morris vanished. Morris left the minister a note stating that he was forced to report for work that day. The minister called Morris's employer later and discovered that he was never scheduled to work. Morris traveled to other states in the past, but the minister said that he always communicated with him. Morris was a member of the Nashville congregation for two years in 2001.