Barry Morphew pleads guilty to forgery charge after voting on behalf of missing wife

CHAFFEE COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- While appearing in a Chaffee County courtroom by video call on Thursday, Barry Morphew pleaded guilty to forgery charges, and admitted to voting in the 2020 election for Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump on behalf of his wife months after her disappearance.

Morphew was sentenced to one year probation, 32 hours community service, and no jail time.

According to Morphew's arrest records, Chaffee County Clerk Lori Mitchell reported to Chaffee County authorities on Oct. 22 that the office had received a ballot that was "predesignated for a missing person, identified as Suzanne Morphew." The ballot didn't have a signature, but it did have a "handwritten date of 10/15/20" and the handwritten name of "Barry Lee Morphew" on the designated signature line of Witness' Legal Name.

Morphew told investigators with the FBI "I wanted Trump to win ... I just thought, give him another vote, I figured all these other guys are cheating." Morphew also told the FBI agents, "I know [Suzanne] was going to vote for Trump anyway."

The FBI agents asked Morphew if he knew that it was illegal, and he replied saying, "I didn't know you couldn't do that for your spouse."

Morphew agreed to a plea agreement with the 11th Judicial District Attorney's Office. While Morphew is pleading guilty to a felony forgery charge, two separate charges, attempting to influence a public servant and a misdemeanor elections charge, were dismissed.

Suzanne Morphew, Barry's wife, was reported missing by neighbors on Mother's Day of 2020. Morphew, her husband, says he was in a Denver suburb for work at the time of her disappearance.

The 11th Judicial District Attorney's Office charged Morphew with the murder of his wife in May of 2021, a year after she was reported missing. Amid allegations that the DA's office was not following pre-trial procedure and was failing to disclose evidence favorable to Morphew to his attorneys and the court, District Attorney Linda Stanley announced she would drop the murder charges against Morphew in April of 2022, days before his trial was scheduled to begin.

While Morphew faces these charges, Stanley has noted that Morphew can still be re-charged with his wife's murder. The DA's office also stated they felt they were close to finding Suzanne's remains.

Her remains still have not been found.

Morphew has maintained his innocence in his wife's death since she disappeared.