Bail raised for accused killer in Mason City

A Cerro Gordo County District Court judge has raised the bail for a Mason City man suspected of killing a Blue Earth, Minnesota woman. 46-year-old Roger Morton is now being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on $250-thousand bond after the case was reviewed yesterday by Judge James Drew. Morton was arrested last Friday and was charged with second-degree murder in the death of Mary Klatt. The former Britt (IA) school teacher was a clerk at the AmericInn hotel in Blue Earth and was strangled in the early morning hours of May 29th. Morton’s bail was originally set by magistrate judge John Cherry at $32-thousand-500, but Drew raised that during a hearing Thursday after Minnesota officials were concerned that Morton might be able to post bond and flee while awaiting extradition to Fairbault County (MN). Fairbault County officials say officials in Cerro Gordo County will now hold hearings to rule on extraditing Morton to Minnesota, a process which could take up to a month. Morton’s next court appearance is slated for July 21st at 9 AM.