Current:Home > FinanceRemains of Suzanne Morphew found 3 years after her disappearance -TradeGrid
Remains of Suzanne Morphew found 3 years after her disappearance
View
Date:2025-04-13 13:15:11
The remains of Suzanne Morphew, a Colorado mother of two who went missing in 2020, have been found, authorities said.
Human remains located on Sept. 22 during an unrelated search in the town of Moffat in Saguache County were positively identified as Suzanne Morphew on Wednesday, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation said.
"Specific information about the location and the state of the remains are being withheld at this time," the agency said.
Suzanne Morphew was reported missing from her home in Chaffee County on May 10, 2020, which was Mother's Day, after she never returned home from a bike ride, the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office said at the time.
Her husband, Barry Morphew, 55, was arrested almost a year later on charges including first-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence in connection with his wife's disappearance. But all charges were dropped in April 2022, just days before he was set to stand trial.
The move came after the judge presiding over the case barred prosecutors from using most of their key witnesses at trial as punishment for repeatedly failing to turn over evidence in the defendant's favor.
The case was dismissed without prejudice, which allows prosecutors to file charges against Barry Morphew again.
MORE: Barry Morphew and daughters speak out for 1st time since murder charges were dropped
No arrests have been made since Suzanne Morphew's remains were located, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation said.
"While this case has garnered attention from around the world, it has touched our community and the sheriff's office deeply," Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze said in a statement. "We have never stopped our investigation and will continue to follow all leads in pursuit of justice for Suzanne."
Spezze said that while locating her remains "is a critical component of this investigation, and for her family, we are left with many more questions than answers."
Family notifications have been made following the formal identification of the remains, authorities said.
MORE: Suzanne Morphew's husband and daughters speak out for 1st time since filing lawsuit
Barry Morphew filed a $15 million federal lawsuit in May against prosecutors, the sheriff and several investigators, claiming that his life has been ruined by false accusations.
"It's very hurtful to lose your reputation and your integrity," Barry Morphew told ABC News in an exclusive interview following the filing.
When asked whether he has anything to do with his wife's disappearance, Barry Morphew told ABC News: "Absolutely not."
"They've got tunnel vision and they looked at one person and they've got too much pride to say they're wrong and look somewhere else," he added. "I don't have anything to worry about. I've done nothing wrong."
The couple's daughters, Mallory and Macy Morphew, told ABC News that the last three years have been "literally our worst nightmare," and they never doubted their father's innocence.\
Following the news that Suzanne Morphew's remains had been found, a lawyer for the family issued a statement.
"Barry is with his daughters and they are all struggling with immense shock and grief after learning today that their mother and wife whom they deeply love was found deceased. They had faith that their wife and mom would walk back into their lives again. The news is heartbreaking," the statement read.
The family has asked for privacy at this time.
veryGood! (391)
Related
- Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested
- Founding member of experimental rock band Mr. Bungle suspected of killing girlfriend in California
- Jan. 6 Proud Boys defendant who led law enforcement on manhunt sentenced to 10 years in prison
- Backers of an effort to repeal Alaska’s ranked voting system fined by campaign finance watchdog
- Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
- Parents of Cyprus school volleyball team players killed in Turkish quake testify against hotel owner
- Crib videos offer clue to mysterious child deaths, showing seizures sometimes play a role
- St. Petersburg seeks profile boost as new Tampa Bay Rays ballpark negotiations continue
- Louvre will undergo expansion and restoration project, Macron says
- Golden Bachelor's Gerry Turner Marries Theresa Nist in Live TV Wedding
Ranking
- Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
- Body found in freezer at San Diego home may have been woman missing for years, police say
- Mayor Eric Adams sues 17 charter bus companies for $700 million for transporting asylum seekers to NYC
- Survivors are found in homes smashed by Japan quake that killed 94 people. Dozens are still missing
- Are Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp down? Meta says most issues resolved after outages
- Serbia’s army proposes bringing back the draft as tensions continue to rise in the Balkans
- Italian Premier Meloni says curbing migrant arrivals from Africa is about investment, not charity
- Natalia Grace Case: DNA Test Reveals Ukrainian Orphan's Real Age
Recommendation
Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
Justice Department sues Texas, Gov. Abbott over state law allowing migrant arrests, deportations
Tia Mowry says her kids aren't interested in pursuing acting: 'I don't see it happening'
Tom Sandoval slammed by 'Vanderpump Rules' co-stars for posing with captive tiger
The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
Nikki Haley’s Republican rivals are ramping up their attacks on her as Iowa’s caucuses near
Florida man charged with threatening to kill US Rep Eric Swalwell and his children
WTF is a bitcoin ETF?