Investigators found the body of Suzanne Morphew while searching for another woman, who disappeared in May — and that’s not the first time authorities found a body in the area while looking for 55-year-old Edna Quintana.
Morphew disappeared on Mother’s Day in 2020 after leaving for a bicycle ride, according to her husband, as CrimeOnline reported. Barry Morphew was later charged with her murder, but the case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning it could be reinstated if evidence warrants.
Investigators searching for Quintana found a body alongside Highway 17, south of Moffat in Saguache County, on September 22, and on Wednesday, the Colorado Bureau of Investigations said the remains belonged to Suzanne Morphew.
The CBI told KRDO they were looking for Quintana when they found Morphew. In July, while searching the remote, isolated area for Quintana, they found the body of 26-year-old James Montoya, who disappeared in April. His body was found in the foothills west of Saguache Peak off County Road 46AA.
“I believe it’s a coincidence,” Quintana’s cousin, Augustina Edwards, told the station. “I’m glad that in the searches for Edna, two other families were able to get some closure. Now we would like the same closure as well.”
Montoya’s family said he was last seen at a bar in Lakewood, four hours from Saguache County. His mother, Corinna Montoya, said she hopes all the families involved “have some closure that we found.”
She also said that “Saguache County is getting a reputation for being called ‘the boneyard’ just because they’ve found over the years so many bodies or bones.”
Barry Morphew’s attorney, Iris Eytan, also pointed to the area’s creepy reputation to cast doubt on any belief that her client was involved in his wife’s death and disappearance. Authorities should not, she said, be “pointing fingers” at her client and should instead be investigating the deaths connected to Saguache County.
“Whatever happened to Krystal Reisinger [disappeared in 2016], Edna Quintana, Suzanne, the man whose remains were found by Saguache County Sheriff’s office in the foothills on July 26, 2023 [James Montoya], or the remains of the person found in another area in Saguache County last weekend [more info to come from authorities tomorrow],” Eytan said.
“What were the circumstances of their disappearances, what is cause and manner of death of the remains found in the area, what happened to them, are they looking for other remains in this area? The public should demand answers about these five people who suspiciously went missing or were found dead in this area.”
The CBI declined to comment on ongoing cases.
No further information has been released about the death of Suzanne Morphew.
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[Featured image: Suzanne Morphew/Facebook and Edna Quintana/handout]
