Current:Home > MyRemains of Suzanne Morphew found 3 years after her disappearance -AssetLink
Remains of Suzanne Morphew found 3 years after her disappearance
View
Date:2025-04-18 17:55:49
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! (292)
Related
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- Firefighters battling fierce New Mexico wildfires may get help from Mother Nature, but rain could pose flood risk
- Who challenges Celtics in 2024-25 season? Top teams in East, West that could make Finals
- Texas woman sues Mexican resort after husband dies in hot tub electrocution
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- Reaction to the death of Willie Mays, ‘a true Giant on and off the field’
- Atlantic season's first tropical storm, Alberto, expected to form over Gulf Wednesday
- What Justin Timberlake Told Police During DWI Arrest
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- Jinkx Monsoon is in her actress era, 'transphobes be damned'
Ranking
- Rylee Arnold Shares a Long
- Scottie Scheffler will head Team USA roster at Olympic golf competition in Paris
- What You Need to Know About Juneteenth
- One catch, one stat: Why Willie Mays' greatness is so easy to analyze
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- Missing hiker's brother urges increased U.S. involvement in search efforts: I just want to find my brother
- EV startup Fisker files for bankruptcy, aims to sell assets
- Florida medical marijuana patients get an unexpected email praising DeSantis
Recommendation
Global Warming Set the Stage for Los Angeles Fires
Simone Biles docuseries 'Rising' to begin streaming July 17, ahead of Paris Olympics
Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker Channeling Forrest Gump Is Sweeter Than a Box of Chocolates
Bachelor Nation’s Ryan Sutter Admits Cryptic Posts About Trista Sutter “Backfired”
Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
Run, Don’t Walk to Lands’ End for 50% Off Swimwear & 40% Off Everything Else for a Limited Time Only
Watch Animal Rights Awareness Week spotlight the need to improve animal welfare
Track legend Carl Lewis says no one can break Olympics record he holds with Jesse Owens