CHAFFEE COUNTY, Colo. — It has now been three months since a Chaffee County mother disappeared. For the first time, a family member of the woman is speaking out to FOX21 News.
Suzanne Morphew, 49, was reported missing by a neighbor on May 10th, on Mother’s Day in the town of Maysville, Colorado.
One of Suzanne’s family members says that they are worried Barry, Suzanne’s husband hasn’t told investigators everything he knows. Barry told the family he was working in Denver when Suzanne was reported missing and their girls were on a camping trip out of state.
Her family also wants everyone to shine a bright light to remind the public that she is still missing and just how much she’s loved. FOX21 received photos of people shining lights all across the country and world.
“I’ll do anything to get you back,” Barry said in a video posted to Facebook on May 17.
But a member of Suzanne’s family, with the promise of anonymity, told FOX21 News Barry has refused two polygraph tests and a critical analysis test. The family member also said data collected from Barry’s truck did not match up with what he told investigators.
The Chaffee County Sheriff would not offer any insight on the information shared by that family member.
PART ONE: “You don’t just see beauty when Suzanne is around, you feel it”
PART TWO: Neighbors want answers two months into Chaffee County woman’s disappearance
Suzanne Morphew / Courtesy photo Suzanne Morphew / Courtesy photo
Michelle Davis and Suzanne were childhood friends. They attended church together, and they became even closer when each friend received a cancer diagnosis.
“Everybody liked Suzanne, it was never a popularity thing with her,” Davis said. “She was just that girl that everybody liked. She would never try to get noticed. She had a natural beauty about her.”
Suzanne’s family said she beat Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma as a young girl in her late teens. At the time, the family says doctors told Suzanne the harsh treatments meant children weren’t likely in her future.
And Suzanne faced another cancer diagnosis later in life.
“It wasn’t losing the hair that was the hard part,” Davis explained. “It was others treating you differently. She was praying that she wouldn’t lose her hair this time so that Barry and the girls wouldn’t see her like that.”
Another friend of Suzanne’s offered the following statement:
“Suzanne is the kindest, sweetest, soft spoken woman I’ve ever known, but most importantly she’s a follower of Christ. Her gentle spirit is like that of Jesus’, always seeking to give him praise in whatever she does. If you need a friend that will lift you up in prayer or offer encouragement, Suzanne is that friend!”
Friend of Suzanne’s from Church
Holly Burman said she and Suzanne became friends as their daughters began spending time together.
“She’s lots of fun and likes to things with the girls, and that is why I don’t think she would have left on her own,” Burman said. “Those girls mean too much to her to do that.”
Burman shared one of her favorite memories of her friend with FOX21 News.
“She called one day and said let’s take the girls to Gene’s Rootbeer and Hotdog’s in your jeep,” Burman said. “It was a last-minute thing – beautiful summer night – she and I had ballcaps on, no makeup on, and we drove 45 minutes in the jeep. Top-down, hair blowing everywhere, and just laughed and giggled, it was just carefree fun!”
Suzanne’s friends said she is a woman of great faith and they’re leaning on faith now, as they wait to hear more from investigators.
“This whole thing is shocking to think that somebody you knew has disappeared out of the clear blue,” Davis said.
Courtesy of Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office Courtesy of Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office
Investigators handed out flyers on Monday, asking anyone with information to call the tipline at (719) 312-7530. So far 700 tips have been collected. Investigators traveled from Colorado to Indiana a few weeks ago – where Suzanne and Barry grew up – to question friends and family.
FOX21 News has reached out to Barry Morphew on many occasions, but has not heard back.
The Morphew family is offering a reward of $210,000 for information for Suzanne’s safe return.