A Colorado Cyclist Went Missing on Mother’s Day 2020. A Year Later, Her Husband Is Arrested
Update: Nearly one year to the day after Suzanne Morphew’s disappearance on May 10, 2020, Chaffee County Police have arrested Morphew’s husband, Barry Morphew, on charges of first-degree murder after deliberation, tampering with physical evidence, and an attempt to influence a public servant, according to Denver7. He is being held without bond in Chaffee County Jail.
Sheriff John Spezze said during a press briefing that investigators received over 1,400 tips, interviewed over 400 people in various states, and conducted over 135 search warrants over the course of the year-long investigation. Spezze does not believe Morphew is alive at this time. Despite Morphew’s body still having not been found, District Attorney Linda Stanley said she is confident in bringing the charges against Barry Morphew.
Suzanne Morphew set out from her home in Maysville, Colorado, on a solo bike ride on Mother’s Day. Five days later, Morphew still hasn’t returned.
When Morphew, 49, didn’t come back from her ride, a neighbor notified the police; Morphew’s husband, Barry, was in Denver at the time. She was last seen wearing a mountain bike-specific helmet and wearing a Camelbak.
There is a $200,000 reward being offered by Suzanne’s husband and a family friend for “her safe return, no questions asked.”
More than 100 search personnel from Chaffee County have looked for Morphew since Sunday. County personnel have also used drones and eight tracking dogs, Reach Air Ambulance crew have conducted rescue missions, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife and South Ark Swiftwater Rescue Teams have searched local watersheds.
Police and other personnel have been searching the area of County Road 225 and West Highway 50. A recent press release states that part of Highway 50 near Monarch Pass will temporarily close on May 15 to help search efforts after a personal item of Morphew’s had been discovered. Morphew’s nephew, Trevor Noel, told FOX21 that her bike had been found Sunday, but police have not confirmed that.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation are now involved in search efforts, and over fifty search personnel will be scouring the area on Friday. Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze will give a media briefing later this afternoon on the day’s search efforts.
Noel has set up a GoFundMe page for family and volunteers helping with the search.
Anyone with information on Morphew’s disappearance should call the dedicated tip line: 719-312-7530.
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