Body of mum, missing since Mother's Day 2020, found in search

28 September 2023 , 15:46

594     0

Suzanne Morphew went missing on Mother's Day in 2020

The remains of a missing Colorado mum who disappeared on Mother's Day have been formally identified, police confirmed.

The body of Suzanne Morphew, 49, was located in the town of Moffat three years after she was last seen on May 10, 2020. She left behind two teenage daughters when she went missing and the case gained national attention.

The Chaffee County Sheriff's Office confirmed the remains were confirmed to be Morphew's by the El Paso County Coroner on September 27 after the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted a search unrelated to the missing mum's disappearance.

Her husband Barry Morphew had previously been charged with her murder, but the case was dismissed. No arrests have been made since the remains were located and identified.

Investigators declined to release the exact location and the state of the remains.

Nicola Bulley's children 'cried their eyes out' after being told 'mummy's lost'

For all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US

Barry Morphew was previously been charged with her murder, but the case was dismissed

"While this case has garnered attention from around the world, it has touched our community and the sheriff’s office deeply," said Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze. "We have never stopped our investigation and will continue to follow all leads in pursuit of justice for Suzanne."

He added: "Although locating Suzanne’s remains is a critical component of this investigation, and for her family, we are left with many more questions than answers, and it would be a disservice to conduct a news conference at this time."

Barry Morphew filed a lawsuit earlier this year saying he was wrongfully arrested and charged in connection with the death of his wife. The suit - seeking $15 million in damages - is against a number of organisations including the FBI, Chaffee County, the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office and investigators who worked on the case.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted a search unrelated to the missing mum's disappearance

The arrest affidavit laying out investigators’ case against Barry Morphew said his wife insisted on leaving him, and he later changed his statements as evidence in the case developed. He did not initially tell investigators that he went out of his way as he left for work on Mother's Day, driving toward the place where his wife’s bicycle helmet was eventually found.

Later, he said he went that way because he had seen an elk cross the road, according to the affidavit.

Suzanne Morphew's death left two daughters bereaved (AP)

Prosecutors dropped the charges after they were barred by a judge from calling most of their key witnesses for repeatedly failing to follow rules for turning over evidence in his favour. That included DNA from an unknown male linked to sexual assault cases in other states, which was found in Suzanne Morphew’s SUV, raising the possibility of another suspect being involved.

Benjamin Lynch