ABC News was unable to reach Morphew's attorney. "They absolutely dismissed this case at this point because they knew they were going to lose this trial and Mr. Morphew was going to be acquitted and exonerated," she told reporters after the news of the dismissal. Michelle Stein: Of course, I regret it. Dan Ridenour [reading]: Barry said, "The first thing I thought of when I came here and saw deer in my yard with big horns, I'm like, 'I'm getting them horns. CHIEF MILES DE YOUNG [to reporters]: As you can tell from the arrest, sadly, we do not believe Kelsey is still alive. However, to this day, Suzanne Morphews body has not been found. Now they needed to figure out the identity of "Jeff," Suzanne's lover. A neighbor reported her missing, officials said at the time. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. They would not, he said, be allowed to testify. But the move did not appear to improve the relationship. Agents took the circumstantial evidence they gathered Barry's apparently suspicious behavior, his contradictory statements, the puzzling data from his truck, Suzanne's disturbing texts and those five trash runs and brought it all to the district attorney. He started a landscaping business. Nikki Battiste: Were they in a sexual relationship? In the days, weeks and months after Suzanne Morphew was reported missing on Mother's Day 2020, her trail went cold, but the mother of two's disappearance had become the biggest story in. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Initially, Barry told police that he set his alarm for 4:30 a.m. on Mother's Day and left the house by 5 a.m. to drive to a job site in Broomfield, a town near Denver, 150 miles from Salida. Ashley Franco: Krystal says that she can't come out that same day, but will come out a few days later She's in Idaho loads up the car with cleaning supplies, bleach, hair nets, you know, gloves, trash bags . I would do anything to have stopped that somehow. CHIEF MILES DE YOUNG [to reporters]: Patrick told officers that he hadn't seen her since Thanksgiving, November 22nd when he exchanged their daughter Kaylee Berreth. Ashley Cogburn: He never came to see her, but she would, like on her days off, she would go back and be with him. She also denied knowing Patrick Frazee. He is described as a fit trail runner, backpacker and climber with backcountry experience who may be wearing a brown beanie, yellow pants, a blue top layer and blue or red shoes, according to the NPS. What Lee revealed to investigators would become the center of the prosecution's case against Patrick Frazee. Barry ultimately hired high-profile lawyers from Denver, and, in the summer of 2021, Judge Patrick Murphy heard the prosecution's evidence in open court. Peter Van Sant: And what did she message him? "And thats my point. The latest development in the case is that the attorney for Morphew filed an 83-page complaint to the Colorado Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel. After the judge granted the motion to dismiss homicide charges against Barry, he walked out of court a free man, flanked as usual by his loyal daughters. Injury ended Barry's dreams of a major league career. "Today is all about Suzanne, and it's about her family, and it's about all the individuals that knew her and loved her and cared about her. Call us if you can. Andrew Katers, the owner and CEO of Animal Care and Equipment Services, showed us a tranquilizer rifle he'd typically use on animals. By Minyvonne Burke. Michelle Stein: And, so, I was like Well I was in shock at first because who says that? At the end of her testimony, Lee told the jury Kelsey's chilling last words: "Please stop." Colorado has 3.22 open missing persons cases per every 100,000 residents based on its 2020 population, the 23rd lowest rate in the U.S. A week later she says Frazee called with a new murder plan. It includes sections of fifth-class rock climbing, which requires climbing up a vertical rock using rope, and difficult terrain. And he says he met Suzanne a handful of times; she even made cookies for his wife and kids. I saw blood up the wall. In her motion, the DA pointed to the court's decision to bar "several key witnesses without this crucial evidence and without the victim's body, the People cannot move forward at this time in good faith.". Ashley Franco: He had been interviewed by investigators through the course of it and he talked to investigators almost every time. Ashley Franco: He calls her back and says, OK, I'll give you a second chance. But just like her earlier attempts, she says she chickened out. Girlfriend of convicted killer shows cops where she cleaned up victims blood. Barry, investigators say, told them he didn't know how the cap got there, but admitted he was an experienced tranquilizer dart gun shooter. There was still no response from Suzanne and investigators speculate the next few moments are when Barry returned home. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Patrick Frazee, seen in court before his trial for the murder of Kelsey Berreth, was sentenced to life in prison plus 156 years. Yet, there she was shopping the next day for the family dinner. What was I supposed to do? Peter Van Sant: She would have been injured, yeah? Office of Missing And Murdered Indigenous Relatives ** The Missing Indigenous Person Alert (MIPA) will not be in available until December 30, 2022 ** Tweets by CBIAlerts Contact Information For questions about the alert program, please contact the Colorado Bureau of Investigation at 303-239-4211. Tuesday will mark two years since Morphew was last seen on May. One clue may be a deleted text that investigators found on Barry's phone sent by Suzanne just days before: "I'm done. Iris Eytan: Barry Morphew loves Suzanne Morphew. Missing Mom Suzanne Morphew Presumed Dead in Father's Obituary - People Colorado dad charged with murdering wife found her texts with lover Human remains identified as missing Colorado woman following a Nikki Battiste: Who goes to get a Sonic burger after cleaning up what she describes as a horrific bloody scene for three to four hours? Chaffee County Sheriffs Office via Facebook. Horses, open spaces? Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Ashley Franco: He says I have a metal pipe that I'll leave outside my property that you can come pick up, and I want you to go wait for Kelsey at her townhome. CHERYL BERRETH [to reporters]: She's not the kind that runs off. Beth Reed: It says that Patrick will do whatever he wants to get whatever he wants. A surveillance image from November 22, 2018 shows the last time Kelsey Berreth was seen in public. Barry follows up, appearing to wonder where Suzanne is. 2. I'd have to look at my phone." Suzanne, who shared two daughters with her husband, disappeared on May 10, 2020, near the small mountain town of Salida, in Chaffee County. Chromebooks are excellent alternatives to traditional laptops and have built-in security software. It is important to note, however, that over time missing persons are found and their cases are no longer considered open, so they are removed from this accounting. Amanda Smith: I did. He said Kelsey wasn't with them, but investigators discovered that her cell phone was. Michelle Stein: I think that she was to a point. Aya Gruber: One of the managers from the Holiday Inn had actually communicated to agents that this smell of chlorine existed before Barry Morphew was there because that room's directly above an indoor pool. It's impossible to get it to do anything else. Stories About Missing Teen - CBS Colorado Surveillance image shows Frazee at an ATM earlier that day with a black tote in his truck. Missing Persons | Colorado Bureau of Investigation Aya Gruber: The prosecution's theory is that at some point, when Barry came home on the 9th and snapped, and decided to murder Suzanne, he used a tranquilizer dart that you would use on animals . There was no working tranquilizer rifle found in the Morphew's home. Lee, who had cut that deal with prosecutors, seemed shaken when she appeared in court after she turned herself in to authorities. They stand firmly behind their dad. At one point, Suzanne messaged her lover this selfie, which investigators dubbedher last "proof of life" photo. I kept telling her to call and tell somebody. "So, the things that were thrown into the fire by me were the belongings from Kelsey's house, the curtains, the pillows," she tells investigators in the video. Aya Gruber: It's a tampering with evidence charge, which is a minor charge compared to murder, or you know, accessory to murder or attempted murder. Families of missing Black men plead for police accountability Stephanie Pagones is a Digital Reporter for FOX Business and Fox News. Then, she changed her story. So, an accident is certainly plausible. Aya Gruber: Well, that DNA can end up in her car if she was the victim, for example, of a serial killer or if the person was hired or opportunistic There could also be potentially an innocent explanation that at some point, you know, the person came in contact with the car randomly as a mechanic but it is very, very curious. Then, at 2:26 p.m., Suzanne gets a text from Barry that he's heading home. AGENT GREGG SLATER: Did you say, correct me if I'm wrong, did you say that you cleaned off some of the appliances? School leaders and community advocates have been sounding the alarm about missing children for months. Aya Gruber: he asks the agents, "Am I a target?". "We just know our dad better than anyone else, and we know he was not involved in our moms disappearance.". "But as we investigate further that may change, so at this time I can't comment. With Suzanne now officially reported missing, Barry tells his workers there's a family emergency and arranges hotel rooms with one of those workers taking over Barry's room. Patrick Frazee told police he and Kelsey met to exchange the baby on Thanksgiving Day. DA Dan May: He keeps, beating her, and beating her, and beating her. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Michelle Stein:She was very, very upset, very distraught she had told me that he had asked her to "take care of his baby mama.". It was updated on August 1, 2020.] Chromebooks are excellent alternatives to traditional laptops and have built-in security software. but he wanted Krystal Lee to pin it on. Weeks and months went by and Barry remained at the center of the investigation. She said the family has received more than 20 death threats. Investigators noticed Barry's cell phone appeared to be pinging all around his house on Mother's Day weekend 2020, which he maintains was because he was chasing and shooting at chipmunks. Part of his problem, Aya says, is that Barry granted between 30 and 40 interviews all without a lawyer to everyone from a county detective to members of the FBI. LOL??". Ashley Franco: They asked her, "when was the last time you talked to him?" First published on January 22, 2022 / 11:02 PM. After that,, Stock market today: Markets steady after latest bank, Insider Q&A: Aurora CEO Chris Urmson on self-driving, A good sign for summer travel? At that time in early December Woodland Park Police had not publicly named a suspect. Ashley Franco: Authorities say that they believe, when his phone went into airplane mode, that he was disposing of possible evidence. The defense tried mightily to blunt the state's case, countering that the clear, plastic cap found in the dryer means nothing because no one could say how long it had been there. After killing Kelsey with that baseball bat on Thanksgiving Day, Lee says Frazee told her he put her body in a black tote. Details on the circumstances of the boy's death have been sparse, however, with authorities keeping a tight lip about the investigation. A neighbor comes forward with surveillance footage that he says shows Letecia Stauch leaving the house with him and returning hours later alone. Prosecutor Beth Reed says the surprise witness was an inmate at the same jail where Patrick Frazee was being held. They further asked that the counts be dismissed without prejudice, meaning they could still re-submit charges if new information presented itself,according to the motion. It was updated on August 1, 2020.]. It was just days after Suzanne Morphew went missing when investigators make that intriguing discovery. Investigators, however, believe Barry was disposing of evidence. After Lee said she couldn't go through with the poison plan, she told investigators Frazee came up with a different idea. Of those hundreds of people, there are 73 children whose cases are currently being handled by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Colorado has an even lower ranking for the number of missing persons per capita. Ashley Franco: Barry Morphew absolutely could say that. Kelsey didn't seem all that worried about it. "When something like this happens when somebody goes missing you want answers," Aya Gruber, a law professor at the University of Colorado and a former defense attorney, tells "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant. "Prosecutors need to be held responsible, and they need to pay for the damage they caused to Barry, which is frankly nearly irreparable. Suzanne, who shared two daughters with her husband, disappeared on May 10, 2020, near the small mountain town of Salida, in Chaffee County. First published on November 23, 2019 / 11:02 PM. El Paso County Sheriff's Office Allen would not elaborate on what he believes happened to Gannon. Frazee was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison plus 156 years. Iris Eytan: I didn't know a dismissal was coming today, although the writing was on the wall . Melinda Moorman: My sister had sent me a text message It was very lengthy. Park rangers found his car parked at the Glacier Gorge Trailhead on Thursday and are asking for the publics assistance with any information about his disappearance. Aya Gruber: This is a case without a body. August 1, 2020 / 11:03 PM But I don't think she would get very far. The initial press release on his disappearance describes the call about him as a "report for a juvenile runaway.". ", Dan Ridenour: So, the only thing that makes sense is that Barry Morphew lost it when Suzanne finally said, "I'm leaving you.". appreciated. I'll poison the coffee.". Ashley Cogburn: It appeared that way from what I saw And it seemed like it was just knocking her spirit down. Barry Morphew, alongside his daughters, walks out of the Fremont County Courthouse in Colorado a free man after all charges against him are dismissed on April 19, 2022. "Did you leave?". This is a case without a lot of physical evidence. Thanksgiving Day, 2018 the last time Kelsey Berreth was seen in public. Security was tight. KRYSTAL LEE: blood all over the floor. Nationally, there are 374 missing persons cases that remain open from the year 2000. Aya Gruber: there are events in the car that aren't recorded. The El Paso County District Attorney's Office to file nine additional charges against his stepmother, including one count of first-degree murder after deliberation and eight counts of committing a crime of violence. Barry was a star baseball player who was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays. Grunwalds last contact with family and friends was more than two weeks ago, officials said. And they say that there could have been a chase and then a struggle. Cases like the disappearance of Suzanne Morphew. Police say this is likely when Frazee killed her: CHIEF MILES DE YOUNG [to reporters]: investigators have recovered a number of items that make us suspicious that the crime did occur at Kelsey's residence. We've compiled this list of children still listed as missing by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Can there ever be justice? He agreed to provide access to his DNA, phone records and his passwords for those deleted accounts. And it's gone. Investigators have followed bizarre cluesa chipmunk alibi, a tranquilizer gun, and a spy pen but lack direct evidence. Rangers began their search for Grunwald on Friday, after his friend reported him missing a day before. He told them that the day before Thanksgiving, Kelsey saidshewanted to end their relationship. Peter Van Sant: Did Barry Morphew cooperate with investigators during the course of this? Experts say a human female tooth fragment was recovered from Frazee's ranch near the burn site, but there wasn't enough DNA to determine a profile. Remains Of Man Who Went Missing At Mesa Verde National Park Found The pen captured several intimate conversations between Suzanne Morphew and a secret lover. Ashley Franco: The judge sets $500,000 cash-only bond. Despite the intensity of the investigation into 49-year-old Suzanne's disappearance . One woman may have the answer. The first day authorities searched for Suzanne, they found her mountain bike close to the Morphew home. Aya Gruber: We don't know whether if he's coming or going. Neither Barry, his daughters nor his lawyer had any advance warning. Tell me about him. I think it's very possible he would have gotten away with that. Dan Ridenour [riding in car with Peter Van Sant]: What happened on this road is a real mystery. DENVER (KDVR) The number of missing persons per year has been going up both in Colorado and nationally, though Colorados number are in the middle of the national pack. He doesn't have Kaylee and he's not with Kelsey. Dan Ridenour: Which would be to our left. Despite the lack of a body, Barry was charged with first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and a variety of other allegations. Investigators found this clear plastic needle cap in the Morphew family's dryer. Her credibility was on the line. In the back of his truck, pictured right, is the black tote that prosecutors say he soon used to transport Berreth's body after beating her to death with a baseball bat. He entered the courthouse through a white tent -- out of sight from the media. He said it was "unlikely" Suzanne had run off on her own, even though she and lover Jeff Libler had discussed moving to Ecuador. At one point, Suzanne sends Jeff a selfie. It took FBI agents six months before they uncovered the identity of Suzanne's secret lover: Jeff Libler, a man Suzanne and Barry knew from their Alexandria, Indiana, high school. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Cody Cox: She was a sweetheart. And in Idaho, where rodeo rules, Lee was royalty. Produced by Paul La Rosa. Patrick Frazee was arrested on charges of first-degree murder in the death of Kelsey Berreth. A Colorado Springs boy who disappeared in January 2020 and whose remains were found two months later in a suitcase 1,400 miles away, was shot in the jaw and stabbed at . Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Clint Cline: I think a lot of people that knew Patrick they don't think that the candle story adds up. (Courtesy of Suzanne Morphew's Family). Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. As for Krystal Lee, she's facing a maximum of up to three years in prison. The next morning, Mother's Day, Barry says he drove to a job some 3 hours away. Nikki Battiste[on horseback]: Is this Krystal's world? 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. He told agents he took a left upon leaving his home instead of a right because, even though it was dark, he remembered seeing some elk. Nikki Battiste: Do you remember Kelsey talking about wanting to be a pilot? "We are going to find Gannon, and that's the main goal that we all have. Cody Cox: So, when I heard about the news, I didn't believe it I heard it actually on the radio. For two days, prosecutor Jennifer Viehman asked Lee to describe Frazee's plan to kill Kelsey Berreth. Authorities believe Barry killed Suzanne that afternoon. Ashley Franco: She had been out here multiple times to see him and it was type a type of affair. Ashley Franco: Krystal tells authorities she opens a door and the scene is horrific. Ashley Franco: The judge says that because of the evidence that's been presented about how loving Suzanne was toward her daughters and toward her family that she could never do that.". Macy, 16 years old when her mom disappeared, lived at home. He's got a lot to lose if revelations of this affair come out. Park rangers are searching for a missing hiker at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. And she said, "I don't know. Melinda Moorman: "Mallory, Macy Your mother would have laid down her life for you girls She would never leave you. Neighbor reports 'loud noise' night before Colorado mom went missing Nothing is what it seems.". Sunday marked the second Mother's Day without missing Colorado woman Suzanne Morphew since the mom of two disappeared in 2020. And with so few answers, rumors have persisted. Nikki Battiste: She only faces at max, three years in prison. A cadaver dog alerted to the area. Ashley Franco: And at that point Krystal knows something has happened to Kelsey. So, he was interested, and he wanted to get an up-close look. Gannon Stauch Was Shot in Jaw, Stabbed 18 Times, Colorado Detective On April 19, 2022, as a pre-trial hearing was about to begin, District Attorney Linda Stanley filed a motion to dismiss the murder charges against Barry Morphew without prejudice, meaning the case could be refiled at a later date. Nikki Battiste: Does Kelsey take the coffee? After three-and-a-half hours of deliberations, there was a verdict. See, you got to understand, I'm trusting her to do the right thing. In images from a neighbor's security camera on that Thanksgiving Day, Patrick Frazee and Kelsey are seen at her door with a baby carrier after Kelsey returned from the store. But he didn't. Nikki Battiste:Did Kelsey say what was it she liked about Patrick? Murder case dismissed against Barry Morphew, Colorado husband of woman On day four, the prosecution's star witness, Krystal Lee took the stand. She told the El Paso County Sheriff's Office he left home between 3:15 p.m. and 4 p.m. local time to walk to a friend's house in Colorado Springs. Gas prices are dropping, Cron powers Rockies to 12-4 win over Diamondbacks, Former Broncos players daughter drowns in pool, Avs forward Cogliano fractured neck in Game 6, Barry Morphew arrested on murder charge in disappearance of wife, Suzanne Morphew, Timeline: What we know about the disappearance of Suzanne Morphew, Video: See the moment Barry Morphew was arrested, While Barry Morphew has been charged with murder, 5 brands that consistently make great Chromebooks, Surprise your mom with one of these Mothers Day. Nikki Battiste: What does that say about Patrick Frazee? Ashley Franco | KKTV reporter: He said that Kelsey wanted to go their separate ways and things weren't working out between them. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. If you have any information about Stine, you are asked to call the Aurora Police Department at (303) 739-6130 or (303) 739-6109. Husband of missing Colorado woman arrested, charged with murder year Unable to track Barry's cell phone, investigators tapped into a relatively new investigative technique digital vehicle forensics to pull a stream of data out of Barry's Ford truck.
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