Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Daughters of missing Colorado woman stand by their father

The two adult daughters of a Colorado man who had been charged in the presumed death of their missing mother have gone public to say they are standing behind him

Via AP news wire
Friday 06 May 2022 18:40 BST
Missing Woman Colorado
Missing Woman Colorado

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The two adult daughters of a Colorado man who had been charged in the presumed death of their missing mother said in an interview that aired Friday that they are standing behind him and do not believe he had anything to do with her disappearance.

Barry Morphew pleaded for help finding Suzanne Morphew after she disappeared and was reported missing on Mother’s Day in 2020 but he was arrested and charged with murder in her death and other crimes last year. He pleaded not guilty and was scheduled to go to trial last month, but prosecutors dropped the charges.

“We just know our dad better than anyone else and we know he was not involved in our mom’s disappearance,” Mallory Morphew told ABC's “Good Morning America” in the interview, as her sister Macy nodded in an agreement. Barry Morphew sat between them, holding their hands.

“I just love my girls and I love my wife. I just want her to be found,” Barry Morphew said of his wife.

It was the first time that Suzanne Morphew's daughters have spoken with the media about the allegations their father faced. Their comments come just before the second anniversary of their mother's disappearance from the couple's home near the mountain community of Maysville.

The prosecutors dropped the criminal charges against Barry Morphew after a judge prohibited them from presenting most of their key witnesses at the trial as punishment for repeatedly failing to follow rules for turning over evidence in Barry Morphew's favor.

The evidence 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.

In the court filing asking to drop the charges, District Attorney Linda Stanley cited that disadvantage and the ongoing search for Suzanne Morphew's body as reasons for dropping the case. Prosecutors have the option of filing charges against Barry Morphew later.

Stanley last month also announced that authorities believe they know where Suzanne Morphew's body is — an area then covered by deep snow near the couple's former home in the southern Colorado mountains. Weather has complicated the search but prosecutors and law enforcement believe they are close to finding the body, she said in the April 19 court filing.

Macy Morphew said in Friday's interview that she hoped Stanley does everything possible to find her mother.

“What they've done is not fair and we're never going to stop looking for our mom," she said.

In a statement to ABC, Stanley's office said that that prosecutors and law enforcement “have been diligently searching for Suzanne Morphew since she was reported missing" and continue doing so.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in