A 43-year-old woman living at a women's group home on Saint Paul's East Side is facing four felony charges after police say she turned on two gas stoves and left the building following a threat to blow the place up. Joanne Lajuan Morris was taken into custody by police officers on September 1, according to charges filed in Ramsey County District Court.
The case traces back to an August 25 disturbance at the group home, when police officers responded to the property at about 5:04 p.m., as reported by MN Crime. Per the complaint, the group home's director said Morris had become agitated after staff denied her request to buy a PlayStation gaming system, and Morris herself later said she was angry over the denial. During that encounter, Morris allegedly said, “I'll blow this place up,” and a staff member reported that she had also threatened other residents.
Investigators tried to reach Morris by phone after the August 25 incident and left her voicemail messages, but she did not return to the property until September 1. According to the complaint, Morris then stayed alone in the group home's kitchen for about an hour and a half. Surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed that only Morris entered the kitchen before a gas odor was detected, per court documents cited in the same report.
Staff Discover Burners Running After Morris Leaves
Group home staff told investigators they discovered the gas stoves had been turned on and detected a strong smell of gas only after Morris left the kitchen and then the property altogether. Staff turned off the burners themselves, and police and Saint Paul Fire were called after the odor was noticed. A staff member also reported that Morris had underlying mental health issues, per the complaint.
Morris allegedly made two other statements included in the charges: “I hear death knocking at the door, but he ain't knocking for me,” and “All my enemies deserve a casket.” For her part, Morris has denied intentionally turning on the gas burners and has denied making threats to destroy the property, telling investigators the incident was a misunderstanding.
Four Felony Counts, Up to a Decade Behind Bars
Morris now faces four felony charges: attempted first-degree arson, threats of violence with reckless disregard for risk, threats of violence involving explosives or incendiary devices, and releasing a harmful substance creating a risk of death, bodily harm or property damage. Under Minnesota's threats-of-violence statute, § 609.713, a conviction requires prosecutors to show the threat was directed at intimidating a person or causing serious public alarm, and such a conviction carries up to five years in prison.
The attempted arson count is the most serious charge Morris faces. Completed first-degree arson of a dwelling in Minnesota carries up to 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine under state law, according to the Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Because Minnesota's general attempt statute caps punishment at half of the completed offense, Morris's exposure on that count tops out at 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, per the Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. To convict on an attempt charge, prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Morris took a substantial step toward the crime beyond mere preparation, according to legal guidance published by Arechigo & Stokka.
Ramsey County District Court received the charges against Morris on September 3, and a judge ordered her held on $50,000 bail. Judicial bail determinations in Minnesota weigh public safety risks, community ties, and the risk a defendant will fail to appear, a framework that shapes how conditions like Morris's bail amount get set.
Why an Unignited Gas Leak Is Treated as an Emergency
Emergency response guidelines from the International Association of Fire Chiefs classify unignited indoor natural gas leaks as major explosion hazards, requiring immediate evacuation and barring responders or occupants from flipping electrical switches that could spark ignition. Natural gas is lighter than air and can pool near ceilings, creating a rapid ignition hazard in enclosed spaces. Saint Paul's own municipal safety rules call for gas shut-offs or excess flow valves in vacant or high-risk residential structures specifically to reduce the odds of an indoor explosion.
The response also lands amid a broader surge in call volume for the city's first responders. The Saint Paul Fire Department logged 65,711 total calls for service in 2024, a 63 percent jump in incident response volume over a decade, according to the City of Saint Paul.
Group homes for vulnerable adults in Minnesota, including the type of women's residential setting where Morris lived, are regulated by the Minnesota Department of Human Services under rules that generally cap capacity at four or five beds per setting. Whether the East Side home's staffing and licensing met those state standards at the time of the incident remains an open question, as does whether a court-ordered mental health evaluation will be sought before trial.
