Suzanne Morphew’s household releases assertion calling for justice for ‘murdered’ Colorado mother after her stays have been discovered three-and-a-half years after she vanished

Suzanne Morphew’s household has launched an announcement calling for justice at some point after the missing woman’s remains were found and three years after she went lacking. 

Morphew, 49, was final seen on Mom’s Day 2020 in Colorado and her husband, Barry Morphew, and two daughters have spent the final three years trying to find her. 

In an announcement launched Thursday, the household thanked legislation enforcement and supporters for his or her unwavering dedication to bringing Suzanne residence. 

‘The Moorman household wish to thank all concerned for the invention of our sister Suzanne,’ the household wrote of their assertion. 

‘We expect to find long-awaited justice for Suanne within the profitable prosecutions of these concerned in her disappearance,’ it continued.  

Suzanne’s ‘scattered stays’ have been found in a shallow grave in a distant desert area 50 minutes from her residence in Salida, 140 miles south of Denver. 

The mom-of-two had gone for a motorcycle trip however by no means got here residence. Her bike was discovered the day she went lacking, discarded in a ravine close to her mountain residence. 

Of their assertion, the household mentioned they may not let the ‘numerous hours’ of trying to find the Colorado mother go unnoticed. 

‘Over the past three years, numerous hours have been spent searching for Suzanne by a decided group who’ve by no means given up hope that she can be discovered,’ it learn. 

‘The recollections of her mild spirit and great smile have been a continuing presence since her disappearance to all who knew and beloved her,’ it continued. 

They gave a particular shout out to Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze, his employees, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and the FBI for his or her work. 

Moreover, they thanked the lots of of volunteers who ‘by no means gave up.’ 

‘Destiny might have performed a key position to find her, nevertheless it doesn’t negate the resolute dedication of all these concerned,’ the grieving household wrote. 

We might additionally wish to thank the residents of Chaffee County who’ve been subjected to this unimaginable sage for his or her assist and prayers.’

‘We expect to find long-awaited justice for Suanne within the profitable prosecutions of these concerned in her disappearance,’ the assertion concluded. 

Investigators revealed they discovered her stays 50 miles from her bike, in Moffat, Saguache County, whereas they have been probing a very separate case. 

She had been buried in a shallow grave, the coroner referred to as to the location mentioned, and her bones then dispersed through the years.

No arrests have been made since the remains were located on September 22, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation confirmed on Wednesday. Her identification was confirmed on September 27. 

In Might 2021, a 12 months after Suzanne disappeared, her husband Barry Morphew was arrested and charged together with her homicide – regardless of police not having discovered a physique.

Final 12 months, prosecutors dropped all charges towards Morphew after a choose sanctioned the district lawyer’s workplace for discovery violations.

The case was dismissed without prejudice, despite objections from the defense, which means it could still be re-filed should new evidence come to light. 

A supply near Barry Morphew advised The US Sun that they thought he can be fully exonerated. 

‘It is a reduction but additionally an important unhappiness,’ the supply advised the web site.

‘We now know she’s not alive, which we would desperately been hoping (for).

‘However we hope that Barry’s title will be cleared due to the situation the place she was discovered and the timing of all of it,’ they continued. 

Barry Morphew was working in Broomfield, a suburb of Denver roughly 150 miles from the household residence, on the time of his spouse’s disappearance, and the physique was discovered even additional away.

Barry Morphew is suing for $15 million after he was arrested on suspicion of his spouse’s homicide, just for prices to then be dropped. 

John Spezze, Chaffee County sheriff, mentioned on Wednesday: ‘Whereas this case has garnered consideration from world wide, it has touched our group and the sheriff’s workplace deeply.

‘We’ve by no means stopped our investigation and can proceed to comply with all leads in pursuit of justice for Suzanne.

‘Though finding Suzanne’s stays is a essential element of this investigation, and for her household, we’re left with many extra questions than solutions, and it could be a disservice to conduct a information convention presently.’ 

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has additionally refused to offer particulars in regards to the discovery, however Tom Perrin, the coroner of Saguache County, mentioned she was present in a distant, dry desert area of sagebrush and pure grasses south of Moffat. 

He was referred to as to gather her stays on September 22, and advised The Denver Gazette it appeared that her physique had been buried in a shallow grave earlier than the stays scattered. 

Melinda Moorman Balzer, Morphew’s older sister, advised The Denver Gazette that they have been advised on Wednesday morning that Suzanne’s stays had been discovered. Barry Morphew, her subsequent of kin, was knowledgeable first.

‘This can be a miracle. It is like searching for a needle in a haystack,’ Moorman Balzer mentioned. 

‘Colorado is an enormous and rugged place and we have now prayed that God would put gentle on the place she is. We’ve been praying and right here we’re at this time. 

‘It is day of nice unhappiness, however a day of celebration.’

Melinda mentioned the household nonetheless has unanswered questions.

‘That is only a small little snippet,’ she added.

‘Much more might be revealed in time. We might be affected person and belief the method.’ 

Suzanne Morphew was reported lacking on Might 10, 2020 – together with her bike gone from the storage.

Her bike was discovered later that day, discarded down a ravine. 

5 days later, on Might 15, her bike helmet was found on the aspect of a freeway lower than half a mile from the place her bike was discovered, a brief distance from the household’s residence.

No clothes, blood, or proof of a wrestle was discovered close to the bike or helmet.

Her sun shades and hydration backpack had been discovered inside her automobile, main investigators to take a position that maybe Suzanne by no means actually went for a motorcycle trip on the morning she vanished, and as an alternative staged a scene.

Suzanne’s physique was discovered on September 22 this 12 months, 50 miles from her bike.

After Barry was charged with homicide and the case towards him progressed, authorities revealed intimate particulars about their married life.

Suzanne had been having an affair with somebody she met in highschool, Jeff Libler, whereas Barry was signed as much as on-line affair web sites.

When the case was nonetheless energetic, it was revealed that Suzanne, Barry and Libler appeared within the native paper collectively in 1985.  

Each males attended the identical highschool as Suzanne, with Barry two grades forward of his spouse and Libler on the Alexandria-Monroe Excessive College in Alexandria, Indiana. 

At a preliminary listening to in 2021, law enforcement officials presented to the court Suzanne’s text message exchanges with her lover, through which she advised him she had a fantastic night time and was taking a look at homes on the market. 

When her husband got here residence from work that day, he discovered Suzanne sunbathing within the yard. She was sending photos of herself to Libler through LinkedIn, which the couple had been utilizing to speak behind her husband’s again. 

The court docket was then proven a photograph of Suzanne that she had despatched to Libler that day, which depicted her laying on her entrance in a bikini and smiling at her $1.3million residence.

Barry would later inform investigators his spouse seemed ‘drunk’ in that picture, which officers mentioned was Suzanne’s final proof of life. 

The next day, Libler wished Suzanne Joyful Mom’s Day and mentioned he knew it could be a tough day for her as a result of she missed her mom. Suzanne by no means replied.

His final identified textual content to Suzanne was despatched on Might 11, 2020, through which he supplied her properly needs for her most cancers remedy. That message additionally went unanswered.

Suzanne had survived two battles with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a long time aside.

The listening to in 2021 additionally revealed that simply days prior, Suzanne texted her husband and apparently signaled to him her intention to finish their rocky marriage, which was marked by accusations of infidelity and abuse.

‘I am finished,’ Suzanne wrote to Barry on Might 6. ‘I could not care much less what you are as much as and have been for years. We simply must determine this out civilly.’ 

It has been revealed that Suzanne suspected her husband of being untrue to her and even bought a spy pen to eavesdrop on him. 

Barry insisted to his spouse that he was not dishonest on her, writing in a single textual content: ‘I promise you, you might be flawed about all of the loopy ideas about me. Why would I would like one other, solely a idiot would stray from an angel such as you.’ 

Police mentioned the pair had a tumultuous marriage, with the suggestion being that he might need killed her out of jealousy or to cease her from submitting for a divorce.

However final 12 months, the fees have been immediately dropped with out prejudice by Assistant District Legal professional Linda Stanley.

In Might this 12 months, Barry Morphew and his two daughters with Suzanne spoke to ABC News’ Good Morning America.

They mentioned Suzanne had made ‘unhealthy selections’ as a result of she was battling medication and chemotherapy whereas battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

‘We had a beautiful life, a beautiful marriage,’ mentioned Barry. 

‘She was simply so loving and giving, and such a superb mom. 

‘I do know that she was going by chemotherapy for the final couple years earlier than her disappearance. 

‘I do know she was going by some onerous issues and made some unhealthy selections. She was actually having hassle with the chemotherapy and the medication.’ 

Barry mentioned that his coronary heart was ‘damaged’ when he discovered his spouse was having an affair with a person who she went to highschool with.

Holding again his tears, he advised ABC Information: ‘My coronary heart was damaged. I did not consider it.’

When requested how the ordeal has left them, her daughters Mallory and Macy advised ABC: ‘Very very unhappy. Very confused. So traumatic. Actually our worst nightmare.’ 

Requested if he had something to do with the disappearance of his spouse, Barry mentioned: ‘Completely not. It’s totally hurtful to lose your repute and your integrity.’

Standing with their father, the ladies have been requested in the event that they ever questioned if their father’s innocence. 

Mallory responded: ‘I’ve by no means had a shred of doubt.’ 

Macy added: ‘Not one.’ 

The household huddled collectively and hugged amid their tears throughout the interview.  

Slamming the prosecutors, who believed that Barry was concerned along with his spouse’s disappearance, he reiterated: ‘They’re flawed. They have tunnel imaginative and prescient. 

‘They checked out one individual they usually’ve received an excessive amount of delight to say they’re flawed and look some place else.’

When requested what the toughest half has been, Macy advised ABC Information: ‘Simply not having mother.

‘It is actually troublesome particularly due to the shortage of closure we have now.’

Barry Morphew has filed a $15million federal civil rights lawsuit against more than 20 prosecutors and law enforcement officials for ‘irreparably’ tarnishing his ‘title and repute’ with a ‘conspiracy to violate his state and federal constitutional rights.’ 

The 185-page criticism claims that the authorities conspired to wrongly arrest Morphew, that they fabricated proof, hid exculpatory proof and performed a reckless investigation, all which led to Morphew being wrongly prosecuted.

‘As results of the Defendant’s conduct Barry was charged, arrested, and prosecuted, and his property seized, for against the law he didn’t commit,’ the lawsuit says.

‘As results of the Defendants’ conduct Barry spent 5 months in jail, roughly 6 extra months carrying a GPS ankle monitor with extreme restrictions on his motion, and nearly a 12 months defending towards the prison prices. To this date, Barry’s property stays within the CCSD’s possession.’

The lawsuit claims that Morphew’s ‘title and repute has been irreparably tarnished in Colorado and throughout the nation.’

These named within the lawsuit together with Chaffee County, the sheriff’s workplace and board of commissioners, eleventh Judicial District Legal professional Linda Stanley and her employees, and Colorado Bureau of Investigation and FBI brokers.

Suzanne was 49 years outdated when she vanished, sparking an enormous search and rescue effort. 

On the time, Barry Morphew issued a collection of tearful pleas for her return however quickly grew to become embroiled within the police investigation, with DailyMail.com reporting that Colorado Bureau of Investigation officers had descended on the house simply three days after she went lacking.

He had claimed to be on a landscaping job in Broomfield, Colorado, when his spouse vanished however as DailyMail.com revealed in September 2020, co-workers have been suspicious of his actions and mentioned he had left his Vacation Inn resort room stinking of bleach.

He additionally left a trash can crammed with shredded correspondence that was later turned over to the CBI.

Morphew started the authorized course of of getting Suzanne’s property and their joint property transferred to him shortly after she vanished.

In November 2020, he solid a vote for Donald Trump in her title – claiming she would have finished it anyway.

Investigators later mentioned Morphew had advised them he did it ‘simply because I wished to vote for Trump to win. I simply thought, ‘Give him one other vote.’

‘I figured all these different guys have been dishonest. I figured she (Suzanne) was going to vote for Trump anyway.’

In Might 2021, a 12 months after Suzanne disappeared, Morphew was arrested and charged together with her homicide – regardless of police not having discovered a physique.

A listening to in September 2020 shredded Morphew’s description of his marriage to Suzanne as being a contented and loving one, with investigators revealing she had been having a long-running affair with married dad-of-six Jeff Libler.

Libler, who has by no means spoken about Suzanne, was resulting from testify at Morphew’s trial and obtained Suzanne’s closing picture – a bikini selfie taken on Might 9, 2020 within the backyard of her $1.3m residence.

The court docket additionally heard how spent tranquilizer cartridges have been discovered contained in the laundry room on the Morphew residence, that Morphew had scratches on his arms within the days after Suzanne’s disappearance and that she had complained of his controlling conduct to her household.

A collection of textual content messages revealed how anguished Suzanne had mentioned ending her marriage in conversations with associates and referred to as Morphew ‘a Jekyll and Hyde character’.

His protection attorneys spent many of the hearings making an attempt to select holes within the prosecution case – pointing to unknown male DNA found within the glove field of her automobile and suggesting a hyperlink to a intercourse offender arrested in Arizona.

Morphew’s case was then scheduled for a full trial starting Might 1 nevertheless it was dramatically halted every week earlier than it was resulting from begin when prosecutors introduced they have been tossing the case.

The transfer got here after the choose resulting from preside over the trial banned the prosecution from utilizing a collection of witnesses on the grounds of discovery violations, whereas police mentioned they have been near discovering Suzanne’s stays and have been ready for the snow to soften.