Suzanne Morphew’s husband said he and his daughters were “extremely shocked” and heartbroken after missing mother’s remains were finally found in a shallow grave, adding that they believed she would one day “come back to their lives” .
Barry Morphew’s defense attorney Iris Eytan issued a statement on behalf of the family on Wednesday after it was revealed that the remains found in a remote desert area 50 miles south of the Morphew home in Salida, Colorado, belonged to Suzanne.
Eytan insisted that Barry – who was arrested on suspicion of his wife’s murder only to have the charges dropped days later in 2021 – “is as innocent as he has been from day one.”
“Barry is with his daughters and they are all dealing with great shock and sadness after learning today that their mother and wife, who they loved dearly, were found deceased.”
“They trusted that their wife and mother would come back into their lives.” “The news is heartbreaking,” Eytan wrote.
Suzanne Morphew disappeared without a trace on May 10, 2020, after leaving home for a Mother’s Day bike ride. Her bike was found that same day, and now her body has finally been found, more than three years later, in Moffat, Saguache County, while investigators were investigating a completely different case
Barry Morphew, 55, the husband of Suzanne Morphew (right), has since filed a civil rights lawsuit seeking $15 million, claiming he was wrongly accused in the Colorado mother’s disappearance and murder
NEW: Here is a statement from Iris Eytan, defense attorney for Barry Morphew. Eytan says Morphew’s daughters were not informed of the discovery this afternoon. She says Barry is “innocent, just like he was from day one.” @KRDONC13 pic.twitter.com/cYjbEEZE7W
— Sean Rice KRDO (@SeanRiceTV) September 28, 2023
“Neither the prosecutor nor authorities have informed Mallory and Macy Morphew of their mother’s recovery.”
“As far as we know, Barry is as innocent as day one. Da Stanley and law enforcement were wrong.”
“We hope the authorities quickly admit their wrongful persecution of Barry, an innocent man, treat the Morphews like the victims they are, and charge the person(s) responsible for Suzanne’s murder.”
“The Morphews would appreciate their privacy at this deeply emotional and personal time.”
Suzanne, a 49-year-old mother of two, disappeared on May 10, 2020, after going for a bike ride on Mother’s Day.
Her bike was found the day she disappeared, discarded in a ravine near her mountain home in Salida, 140 miles south of Denver.
Investigators have announced they found her “scattered remains” 50 miles from her bike in Moffat, Saguache County, while investigating an entirely different case. She was buried in a shallow grave, said the coroner called to the scene, and her bones were then scattered over the years.
There have been no arrests since the remains were discovered on Sept. 22, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation confirmed Wednesday, and their identities were confirmed on Sept. 27.
In May 2021, a year after Suzanne’s disappearance, her husband Barry Morphew was arrested and charged with murder – even though police had not found a body.
Last year, prosecutors dropped all charges against Morphew after a judge sanctioned prosecutors for disclosure violations.
The case was dismissed without prejudice despite defense objections, meaning it could be refiled if new evidence comes to light.
A source close to Barry Morphew told The US Sun that they thought he would be fully exonerated.
Suzanne and her husband Barry had two daughters together. She disappeared on Mother’s Day in 2020
Morphew was charged with his wife’s murder in 2021 – the charges were later dropped
Morphew is accused of murdering his wife Suzanne (right), who disappeared on Mother’s Day 2020. Her body was never found
“It’s a relief, but also a great sadness,” a source close to Barry Morphew told the website.
“We now know that she is not alive, which is what we were desperately hoping for.”
“But we hope that Barry’s name can be cleared because of where she was found and the timing of it all.”
Barry Morphew was working in Broomfield, a Denver suburb about 150 miles from the family home, at the time of his wife’s disappearance, and the body was found even further away.
The source added: “We are all so shocked. “Hopefully there are answers.”
Barry Morphew is suing for $15 million after he was arrested on suspicion of his wife’s murder and the charges were dropped.