In the early hours of New Year's Day 2021 in Canton, Georgia, Morgan Metzger woke up to a terrifying sight. Standing at her bedroom door was a man wearing a mask and all black. The man ran and jumped on him. “That's when he started pointing the pistol at me,” Morgan said. The attacker used zip ties to bind her wrists before strangulating her twice, rendering her almost unconscious.
Cherokee County Sheriff's Office
“'You're going to regret this, you've really messed up now,'” Morgan remembered the man telling her in a deep, gravelly voice that sounded like he was trying to disguise himself. He said it looks like Batman. Morgan Metzger's horrific attack is the focus of this week's all-new “48 Hours,” reported by contributor Nikki Battist. “Batman's Infiltrator” Airs Saturday, December 14 at 10/9c on CBS and Paramount+.
Later, the attacker placed a pillow over her head and picked Morgan up and left her on the back porch, which was connected to the bedroom. He told her not to move until she heard two cars honking, otherwise he would kill her. Then everything became silent except the sound of the waterfall near his isolated house.
Forty minutes passed, but then the terror came again. Morgan heard someone walking toward her and up the porch steps. Initially frightened that her attacker had returned, she was surprised to hear a familiar voice.
“'Oh honey, what happened?'” Morgan remembered her ex-husband, Rod Metzger, when she found him.
Rod called 911 and law enforcement officers arrived at the scene. Rod's saving his ex-wife seemed an act of heroism.
Morgan Metzger
Rod said he was still looking for Morgan despite their divorce, which occurred after nearly 20 years of history together. They began dating when Morgan was 14 and Rod was 17, and married when they were 20. The couple, who had twins, were spending a few days with Morgan's sister in Florida when the attack occurred.
Morgan said her decision to file for divorce came after years of mental and physical abuse from Rod. Rod moved out of Morgan's house and into his own apartment and Morgan was ready to move on. Their divorce had been finalized just weeks before the attack.
However, this new beginning was short-lived for Morgan. Earlier in the week, Morgan said Rod gave him the shocking news that he had pancreatic cancer.
“And so I ran to see him,” Morgan told Batiste. “He showed me doctors' notes and whatnot.” She allows Rod to stay at her home to help her deal with her diagnosis. “I still need to be supportive because this is the father of my children.”
During this time, Morgan said that Rod was constantly trying to get back with her. But she wasn't interested and on New Year's Eve, she told Rod that she needed to share her health news with her parents.
“He said, 'No, absolutely not. I'm not telling anyone.' And that's when I said, 'Okay, get out,'” Morgan recalled, adding that Rod left, but he spent the whole day texting her about a reconciliation. Told her she was going to sleep over at her parents' house on New Year's Eve.
How Rod knew Morgan was at his home, as well as the coincidental timing of her arrival after his attack, were raised questions by investigators who spoke to Rod at the scene. Rod said he was planning to spend the night at his apartment. However, he tells them that he heard someone knocking on his ground floor apartment window and calling Morgan's name. When Rod tries to call Morgan but gets no answer, he decides to go to her house to check up on her. He told investigators that it was out of habit for him to go to her house instead of his parents.
After interviewing both Morgan and Rod at the scene, investigators became skeptical of Rod's story. They ordered search warrants on Rod's apartment, car, and electronic devices, which revealed his Internet search history. Searches included, “how to get sympathy from your ex” and “how to change the tone of your voice.” Investigators also discovered a finding: “Cancer letter from hospital.”
Investigators also discovered a fake email account created by Rod posing as a doctor to send cancer diagnosis letters, which he showed to Morgan. But there was something more.
“He created a bill for a doctor's office to show that he was being treated for pancreatic cancer,” said Cherokee County Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Rachel Ashe. She said that Rod “did everything he could to convince Morgan that he had pancreatic cancer.” He never did.
Rod Metzger ultimately pleaded guilty to 14 counts related to the attack on Morgan Metzger. He was sentenced to 70 years – 25 years in prison followed by an additional 45 years of probation.