April 30 is Suzanne Morphew's birthday. At the end of her testimony, Lee told the jury Kelsey's chilling last words: "Please stop." In exchange for her testimony against Frazee, sheagreed to plead guilty to evidence tampering. He only began cooperating after he was located by investigators, who learned Jeff had taken steps to hide the nearly two-year affair. ABC News was unable to reach Morphew's attorney. They've received 555 tips, but he still hasn't been found. Attorney Iris Eytan laid out 12 specific complaints against 11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley and six other prosecutors involved in the case. Tools including a shovel. Dylan Redwine La Plata County Sheriff. "Weve decided we finally want to break the silence," Mallory said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. NEWS REPORT: Tonight, the husband of Suzanne Morphew is behind bars accused of killing her. 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 . Ashley Franco: DNA results showed it was Kelsey's. Officials did not specify exactly what "misinformation" to which they were referring. Imagine my son. 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. I'd have to look at my phone." School leaders and community advocates have been sounding the alarm about missing children for months. PeterVan Sant: So, if Suzanne had been struck by one of these darts would she have time to run around, try to escape? Peter Van Sant: How do prosecutors interpret that? Chromebooks are excellent alternatives to traditional laptops and have built-in security software. Stein says she asked Lee why Frazee wanted to kill Kelsey. He said Kelsey wasn't with them, but investigators discovered that her cell phone was. Published She was crying she was extremely upset and scared. Investigators found no proof Kelsey had harmed her daughter but did find evidence that Frazee had planned to challenge Kelsey for custody and believe that may have been his motive for murder. He said he felt he had to do something anything. Also on Frazee's hit list: Krystal Lee's best friend, Michelle Stein, and Kelsey's mother Cheryl Berreth. I regret it every day. The man whose DNA is in my wife's car, tied to past sexual assaults, that's your killer.". This photo taken from police body cam footage shows Suzanne Morphew's mountain bike after being discovered by sheriff's deputies on the side of a cliff off a road near the family home. And that's what his defense is banking on in this case. Melinda Moorman: Barry was very dominant in the relationship, and my sister was a very passive, gentle soul he had a great tendency to overpower, intimidate people to get what he wanted. Meanwhile, the judge dismissed murder charges against her husband Barry Morphew. Gannon's disappearance is now classified as a missing/endangered persons case. Barry Morphew previously said investigators were trying to blame him for the May 10 disappearance of his wife, Suzanne. For the year 2020, there are 1,186 missing persons cases that remain open. It was very powerful. Sometimes the smallest item will turn an investigation, and, in this case, agents seized on a clear plastic cap that a forensics team had found in the family's dryer. ", She called the charges an "important and incredibly crucial step. It was very revealing. The sheriff's office said it worked with law enforcement partners to execute over 135 search warrants statewide and interview more than 400 people in multiple states. Aya Gruber: It's just hard to believe these stories. Peter Van Sant: And what are you holding? Of 543,018 people reported missing in 2020, more than 182,000 or . 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. May 17, 2020: Pueblo County Sheriffs Office Dive Rescue Team searched water sites, April 19, 2022: The district attorney for the 11th Judicial District. Produced by Paul La Rosa. He told agents he went to bed around 8 p.m. that night, but the data pulled from the truck shows that the truck was put in reverse and moved some 96 feet closer to his house around 9:30 p.m. Ashley Franco: Investigators think that's when he could have loaded Suzanne's body. READ PROSECUTORS' MOTION TO DISMISS HERE: They wrote that investigators had hoped to recover Morphew's remains in a remote area near the couple's mountainous home before the trial, but weather stymied their efforts. CHIEF MILES DE YOUNG [to reporters]: Today we arrested Patrick Frazee on charges of first-degree murder of Kelsey Berreth As a reminder Patrick Frazee is presumed innocent until proven guilty. '", Dan Ridenour [reading]: "And I'll tell you exactly what I did I shoot 'em. He told agents he was merely being cheap, not criminal. Turns out, he says, Frazee gave him a hit list -- some of the names handwritten on paper towels he was instructed to flush. Almost a year after Kelsey Berreth's disappearance, there was a long line to get a seat in the courtroom at Patrick Frazee's murder trial. Furthermore, Suzanne's DNA was found on the cap, not Barry's. Michelle Stein: I think that she was to a point. Iris Eytan: Barry Morphew loves Suzanne Morphew. A neighbor reported her missing, officials said at the time. Kelsey's mother Cheryl alerted investigators who returned to the house. "And thats my point. 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. KRYSTAL LEE: I did. Iris Eytan: There's DNA that is placed on all the critical items of evidence in this case on the bike, on the bike helmet, in the house, in the car that is linked to unknown males. Police searched Kelsey's home but turned up no signs of foul play. LeMere is the CEO of the Berla Corporation. After checking out the work site, Barry headed back to his room at the Holiday Inn, and investigators say he stayed there from 12:42 p.m. to 6:03 p.m. By then, he'd already spoken to older daughter Mallory who told him she could not get in touch with her mother. Experts say it can take between 4 and 20 minutes for an animal the size of a deer to drop after being shot with a tranquilizer dart. 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. On November 24, 2018, Patrick Frazee is captured on a Conoco gas station surveillance camera filling up a gas can. Perhaps the most shocking testimony came from a surprise prosecution witness. At one point, Suzanne sends Jeff a selfie. They grew up together in Moses Lake, Washington. Nikki Battiste: What are you thinking at that point? They said that weather complicated recovery efforts, but believed they were close to locating her body. Two months before Kelsey went missing, Lee says she drove 12 hours from Idaho to a Starbucks near Kelsey's home in Colorado. ", She added: "And the prosecution has chosen not to follow those leads.". They go to sleep, I cut their horns off It's totally illegal But you're gonna find tranq darts around my property because I've done that.". Barry says the chipmunks were a constant nuisance at his house and he'd been running around shooting them that day. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. But Lee says she couldn't do it. Kelsey had been gone about a month before Stein talked to the FBI. How senseless this was. Kade Atwood:Krystal and her family are a big part of the rodeo community. ", Jeff's response at 2:06 p.m. was: "Want to strip down and get naked? Dan Ridenour [riding in car with Peter Van Sant]: What happened on this road is a real mystery. Dan Ridenour [pointing]: It was found right over this little cliff right here resting on these boulders. The next text from Kelsey's phone read: "Do you even love me?" The Chaffee County Sheriff's Office says that Barry Morphew was arrested this morning. Ashley Franco | KKTV reporter: Right the last day she's seen publicly. Michelle Stein: And, so, I was like Well I was in shock at first because who says that? No cameras in the courtroom. Nikki Battiste: What does Krystal do next? Gannon disappeared on Jan. 27 from his home in Lorson Ranch, a neighborhood southeast of the Colorado Springs Airport. Ashley Franco: She buys ingredients for a sweet potato casserole. That's what she liked. Susanne Morphew, center, with daughters Macy, left, and Mallory. Legal Statement. No one knows exactly how many Native American women go missing or are murdered each year. Prosecutor Beth Reed | Teller County DA's Office: Very charming, very manipulative, and controlling, all traits consistent with being a sociopath. Despite the lack of a body, Barry was charged with first-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and a variety of other allegations. Another big question investigators had was when Frazee said he last saw Kelsey. See, you got to understand, I'm trusting her to do the right thing. Anger at what I've allowed.". First published on November 23, 2019 / 11:02 PM. He told them that the day before Thanksgiving, Kelsey saidshewanted to end their relationship. Aya Gruber: Everything. So, an accident is certainly plausible. Aya Gruber | University of Colorado law professor: She says "I'll get the drugs. Law professor Aya Gruber said the case was going to be an uphill battle for prosecutors even before she heard about the most recent sanctions. But the move did not appear to improve the relationship. El Paso County Sheriff. When she returns in the truck at 2:19 p.m., Gannon is nowhere to be seen. A week after she went missing, Barry Morphew posted a video on Facebook pleading for her safe return. 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. 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.". A judge on Tuesday dismissed a murder case against Barry Morphew, the Colorado husband charged in the 2020 disappearance and presumed death of his . Authorities say they found Gannon Stauch's body in Pace, Florida, near the Escambia River Bridge. That day, a neighbor called 911 to report that the 49-year-old had gone for a bike ride and never returned, the sheriff's office said. "We do have information that led us to this point today, and how we think a certain scenario had occurred," she said. This time they used chemicals to detect the presence of blood. What was I supposed to do? Stauch faces several charges, including first-degree murder of a child, in the presumed death of 11-year-old Gannon Stauch. And Krystal Lee had already lied to law enforcement, so she's the one to blame for this. Your girls need you," he said in the clip, appearing to hold back tears. Nothing is what it seems.". Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Fed is set to raise rates yet again. This time, with an aluminum baseball bat. Barry follows up, appearing to wonder where Suzanne is. Prosecutors believe the cap was from a syringe used to fill a tranquilizer dart. He didnt go to a friend's house,'" Drayton said. Morphewwas chargedin May 2021 with murder, tampering with a deceased human body and tampering with physical evidence, among others, in connection with the May 2020 disappearance and presumed death of his wife. 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. Our library has issues from 1985 to the present on our website. How do I keep bugs off my patio this spring? Nikki Battiste: If you could sentence Krystal Lee, what would it be? Peter Van Sant: Give me a sense of how your technology, from your company, helps solve criminal cases. Authorities believe Barry killed Suzanne that afternoon. Peter Schweitzer is the senior producer. Video shows how Lee says she helped Frazee burn Kelsey's body in that black tote: And burned evidence, including Kaylee's toys and Kelsey's blood-stained Bible: AGENT: Do you remember what the books were --. They happened to meet at the site where Suzanne's mountain bike was found and Tyson secretly videotaped Barry: BARRY MORPHEW [to Draper]: The first night there was a mountain lion that officers seen that walked by the car. Aya Gruber: So, one of the things Krystal says is that after she does about three to four hours of cleaning she goes and gets a Sonic burger. 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. Aya Gruber: We don't know whether if he's coming or going. Patrick Frazee, seen on surveillance video at a drive-through ATM on November 22, 2018, was on his way toKelsey Berreth's home just before her murder. And investigators are thinking, OK, but we already know that your phone has called his phone multiple times in the last few weeks. In comparison, Arkansas has 25.77 missing persons per 100,000. Peter Van Sant: And are they monitoring him in some fashion? Peter Van Sant: She would have been injured, yeah? Michelle Stein | Krystal Lee's best friend: He would play head games with her a lot he just had a way of manipulating her into doing things. "So, what this case lives and dies on is the testimony of Krystal Lee. He was also worried agents considered him a suspect. But prosecutors then changed course, successfully asking a judge on April 19 to drop the charges. Nicole Haywood: From the pictures she's gorgeous, obviously, and very put together and so you might think that she's this prissy girl, but she was not. They steadfastly support their father, attending most of his court hearings like this one in December 2021. Murphy said he was "obligated" to set bond for Barry. That text pinged off a cell phone tower 800 miles away. Suzanne Morphew's three-bedroom Maysville home on. While his body has still not been found, she has been charged with first-degree murder of a child under 12 by a person in a position of trust; child abuse resulting in death; tampering with a deceased human body; and tampering with physical evidence, according to El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder. I don't know their names and I don't know where they live. In this still image from video, Barry Morphew, center, appears in court in Salida, Colo., Thursday, May 6, 2021. . If the body proves to be there, further forensic examination could potentially inculpate or exculpate the Defendant," the filing states. Suzanne and Barry Morphew with their daughters Macy, left, and Mallory, right. The love affair between Suzanne and Jeff became a key part of the investigation as agents tried to figure out what happened to her on that Saturday, May 9, the day before Mother's Day. I excuse me [in tears]. "In fact, there is DNA that is placed on all the critical items of evidence in this case on the bike, on the bike helmet, in the house, in the car that is linked to unknown males and has been linked to convicted sex offenders in this country. Ashley Franco: They had said, you know, Patrick wasn't involved. There's blood everywhere. In a surveillance shot of Barry on one of those trash runs, investigators could not see what he was throwing away. Aya Gruber:Yeah, that is you know just something that feels really unbelievable. If you wish to submit an anonymous tip, you can do so by calling Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-7867. But there were also rumblings about the state of the Morphew's marriage. The text read in part: "He's also been abusive emotionally and physically I feel more angry now. Barry offered a $100,000 reward for information that was later doubled to $200,000. Seven years after a Texas man vanished while on a hike at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado his remains have been found. By looking through the couple's iCloud accounts and phone records, agents were able to piece together their relationship, including the times they met in person. It appeared as though Suzanne could have been abducted, and that's when Barry made a videotaped public plea on social media. He knew how to load darts with paralyzing chemicals, having used them to illegally sedate deer and remove their antlers to sell. They bolstered their case with surveillance videos and photos, including one of the black tote in the back of Frazee's truck that Lee says he would use to dispose of her body. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The family of a Colorado woman missing since May has sold their Salida home as their quest for answers continues, according to a recent report. "Prosecutors need to be held responsible, and they need to pay for the damage they caused to Barry, which is frankly nearly irreparable. He came home around 3 p.m. on May 9, 2020 and had a pleasant evening with Suzanne. In her motion for dismissal, DA Stanley told the judge that officials believe they are close to discovering the location of Suzanne Morphew's body. The state currently has eight such cases since last May. (Courtesy of Suzanne Morphew's Family). Say, "you need to talk to my friend. She pointed out where she claims she intentionally left blood for them to find. Dan Ridenour: I came home every day and my wife asked me, "had they found her yet?". The unit manages the Missing Person Alert Program in Colorado and functions as the Clearinghouse for the state of Colorado. I've gone to Colorado and looked at a few of his horses, and that's the extent of our relationship.". Ashley Franco: He decided to hold a preliminary hearing to see if this case had enough evidence to go to trial. Gannon Stauch, 11, has been missing from his Colorado Springs, Colo., home since Jan. 27, 2020. Eight thousand fewer 4-year-olds enrolled in public preschool, a 23% decline. CHIEF MILES DE YOUNG [to reporters]: Reports are correct that Kelsey's phone gave a location near Gooding, Idaho, on November 25. Ashley Franco: They were using Barry's own car against him. Please enter valid email address to continue. Peter Van Sant: So, is the thought somebody threw it out of a window, perhaps? AyaGruber: police are absolutely correct as a statistical matter to look at intimate partners when they suspect that a woman might've been harmed or murdered. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Two days after Thanksgiving, authorities believe Patrick concocted this conversation: KELSEY BERRETH: Sorry I didn't hear my phone. On day four, the prosecution's star witness, Krystal Lee took the stand. Ashley Franco: Barry Morphew absolutely could say that. Gannon Stauch, 11, has been missing from his Colorado Springs, Colo., home since Jan. 27, 2020. Bolstering the theory that Barry and Suzanne had a confrontation the day she disappeared were apparent scratches seen on Barry's left arm. Cody Cox was part of Barry's landscaping crew for nearly two years when Barry first arrived in Colorado. That's when the Morphew neighbors were contacted and could find no sign of Suzanne. She would never forsake you. The defense called no witnesses. but he wanted Krystal Lee to pin it on. She was unable to provide further details on the arrest affidavit, which is sealed, or a suspected cause of death. Peter Van Sant: For a human being, it could be lethal. He said he doesn't expect there to be any further arrests at this time. But just like her earlier attempts, she says she chickened out. Cody Cox: She was a sweetheart. Ashley Cogburn: I think Kelsey had mentioned one time about an ex-girlfriend who still kinda wanted to be with Patrick Kelsey wasn't worried about it. We certainly see a certain amount of justice but not the justice this case deserves. Suzanne's body has yet to be found and she is believed to be dead, Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze said during a briefing Wednesday afternoon. On December 21, 2018, Frazee was arrested at his ranch andcharged with Kelsey Berreth's murder. Aya Gruber: there are events in the car that aren't recorded. Patrick Frazee sits in a grim Cripple Creek, Colorado, jail put there by his former girlfriend Krystal Lee for the murder of his fiance Kelsey Berreth. 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.". Involving Krystal was -- it was a stupid plan. In September, Suzanne's brother Andy Moorman initiated an independent, volunteer-run search in the area where she was said to have vanished. "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. Ashley Cogburn: He never came to see her, but she would, like on her days off, she would go back and be with him. Dan Ridenour: Where is Suzanne Morphew's body? Injury ended Barry's dreams of a major league career. Ashley Franco: and then spends, you know, three to four hours cleaning and scrubbing the murder scene. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. (Jerilee Bennett/The Gazette via AP). He started a landscaping business. Aya Gruber: a couple of the pieces of evidence that I think are very harmful to his case come from the data in the car . Whether investigators ultimately were able to recover some of that missing data or received a tip about the location of Suzanne's remains is not known. There were are a total 19 missing persons with cases that remain open from the 1970s. First published on January 22, 2022 / 11:02 PM. ", Dan Ridenour: So, the only thing that makes sense is that Barry Morphew lost it when Suzanne finally said, "I'm leaving you.".
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