Remains of woman missing since Mother's Day 2020 found

Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Authorities in Colorado said Wednesday that they have found the remains of a woman who went missing from her Chaffee County home on Mother's Day 2020 and whose husband had been charged with her murder.

Suzanne Morphew, a 49-year-old mother of two, was reported missing on May 10, 2020. Her husband, Barry Morphew, was arrested and charged in her death the following year, but the case was later dismissed as they continued to search for the body.

Agents with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation found the remains Friday in the area of Moffat in Saguache County, located about 90 miles south of Chaffee County, during a search as part of an unrelated investigation.

On Wednesday, the El Paso County Coroner identified the remains as belonging to Suzanne Morphew.

The exact location the remains were found and their condition were being withheld from the public, authorities said, adding that no arrests have been made since their discovery.

Morphew's family has been notified, as has 12th Judicial District Attorney Anne Kelly.

"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," Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze said in a statement.

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

Barry Morphew has said he is innocent, and in May filed a lawsuit against Chafee County, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the FBI and prosecutors, seeking $15 million in damages and accusing authorities of violating his civil rights.