Latest news with #SaguacheCounty
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Colorado murder suspect arrested in Gilbert maintains his innocence
The Brief A Colorado murder suspect was arrested June 20 in Gilbert. Barry Morphew is accused of killing his wife Suzanne in 2020. Her remains were found three years later, about 40 miles from where she went missing. The original case made national headlines in 2020. Suzanne Morphew, a mother of two, was last seen near her home in Salida, Colorado, on Mother's Day. She was reported missing after she didn't return home from a bike ride. The backstory Her husband, Barry, was initially charged with first-degree murder in the case, but the charges were dropped. Prosecutors at the time said they didn't have enough evidence to move forward and wanted more time to find her body. But the judge also accused the prosecution of withholding key evidence from the defense. The lead prosecutor in the case, Linda Stanley, was later disbarred, in part for her handling of the case. Suzanne's remains were found three years later, near the town of Moffat in Saguache County, Colorado, about 40 miles from where she went missing. An Associated Press report stated that an autopsy performed in 2024 found a drug cocktail used to tranquilize wildlife was found in her system. A tranquilizer gun and accessories were found in Barry's home, according to investigators. That brings us to this week, when a Colorado grand jury indicted Barry on first-degree murder charges. What they're saying The Gilbert Police Department says Barry was arrested in Gilbert during the morning hours of June 20 by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. "Federal, State and local law enforcement have never stopped working toward justice for Suzanne." said Twelfth Judicial District Attorney Anne Kelly. "The Twelfth Judicial District Attorney's Office stands in solidarity with Suzanne's family and the citizens of Chaffee and Saguache Counties in pursuing the Grand Jury's indictment." Barry has maintained his innocence throughout. "Yet again, the government allows their predetermined conclusion to lead their search for evidence," stated David Beller, Barry's attorney. "Barry maintains his innocence. The case has not changed, and the outcome will not either." What's next Barry's bond was set at $3 million.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Saguache County man sentenced on accessory charges in 2023 murder, killer still sought
(SAGUACHE COUNTY, Colo.) — A Saguache County man has been sentenced to six years in prison for his role in a 2023 murder, while law enforcement is still looking for the killer. According to the Saguache County Sheriff's Office (SCSO), in July of 2023, the remains of 26-year-old James Montoya were discovered by law enforcement near County Road 46 AA, north of the Saguache Airport. At the time of the discovery, Montoya was listed as a missing person out of the Denver area. Further investigation revealed that Montoya was allegedly murdered in the Denver area in April of 2023. In August 2023, a Denver judge issued a warrant for Jesus Angel Arvizo on first degree murder charges in connection to the case. According to SCSO, 59-year-old Saguache County resident Jan Franklin Murphy helped Arvizo transport Montoya's body to Saguache County in April of 2023 and 'materially assisted' in concealing and burying Montoya's remains in a remote area of the county. Murphy was arrested in August of 2024 and charged for his role in helping conceal Montoya's body. SCSO said in April of 2025, Murphy pleaded guilty to accessory to first degree murder, and he was sentenced on May 20 to six years in prison followed by three years of supervised parole. Arvizo remains a fugitive of justice, and he may have ties to the Alamosa area, SCSO said. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-7867. If you see Arvizo, do not approach and instead call 911 immediately, as he is considered armed and extremely dangerous. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
