New details about the murder of 78-year-old Mission Hills resident Jean Morgan were released yesterday as the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Dept. continues its investigation into the incident.

In addition to releasing a photo of Jean Morgan’s 77-year-old husband, Eugene Carl Morgan, the sheriff’s department has confirmed that Morgan struck his wife’s head with a hammer, causing the profuse bleeding that led to her death Tuesday at the Lompoc Hospital at approximately 9:30 a.m.

Deputies entered the Morgans’ home on the 1700 block of Calle Lindero in Mission Hills at about 8:40 a.m., following Eugene Morgan’s 9-1-1 call to the police. Jean Morgan was unconscious and lying on the floor. Eugene Morgan surrendered to deputies without incident and was booked at the county jail under suspicion of murder.

Reports of Eugene Morgan’s past history of mental illness have also surfaced. Morgan, a former mailman, had apparently suffered depression following an injury to his hip several years ago. Sheriff’s department spokesman Chris Pappas could not state at what stage the murder investigation had reached or what the department’s next actions would be.