Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze says that he is “disappointed in the delay”, but he remains committed to the investigation and the ultimate prosecution of Barry Morphew.
On Tuesday, April 19th, Linda Stanley, District Attorney for the 11th Judicial District, filed a motion to dismiss the pending charges against Barry Lee Morphew, including the First-Degree Murder of Suzanne Morphew.
The motion is a request to dismiss all charges without prejudice, which allows for the opportunity to refile charges against Mr. Morphew in the future. On the District Attorney’s motion, Fremont County District Judge Ramsey Lama dismissed the current case without prejudice.
The Morphew trial will not proceed as scheduled for April 28, 2022, but future prosecution may be pursued pending further investigation.
The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office acknowledges the decision of Judge Lama to dismiss the pending charges in the Morphew case. Sheriff John Spezze responded, “As an on-going, active investigation, we will not share additional information at this time. The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office maintains its commitment to this case and will continue to work tirelessly to find the body of Suzanne Morphew. While we are disappointed in the delay of the proceedings, we remain unwavering in our commitment to this investigation and the ultimate prosecution of Mr. Morphew. I stand behind the strong work of the investigators within the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and the many law enforcement agencies involved and the strong case we have built. Above all else, we remain dedicated to seeking justice for Suzanne and her family.”
The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office will not address questions or issue additional comment on the Morphew case dismissal at this time. The Sheriff’s Office will issue updates as relevant.
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