Homicide cases filed against duo connected to Colorado missing persons case, death
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) - KRDO13 has confirmed through online court records that two different felony homicide cases are filed against Johnny Rankin Morris, listing him as a defendant in El Paso County and in Park County. Similarly, Hailey Cole has been listed as a defendant in her own felony homicide case in Park County.
KRDO13 has not been able to confirm the specific charges. However, El Paso County Sheriff's Office says they expect to release more details later this week.
Johnny Rankin Morris and Hailey Cole were sought after as people of interest after deputies said it was believed he and Cole had connections to a missing persons case in El Paso County and a separate homicide investigation in Park County.
As of publication, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office has yet to officially announce Morris or Cole "suspects" in the disappearance of an El Paso County man and death of a Park County man. The office, so far, has only officially called them "persons of interest."
It is unclear at this time if, or how, the homicide cases might tie into Colorado's missing persons case for 37-year-old Stephen Walker, or the death of 65-year-old Timmy L. Huston. KRDO13 is working to learn more.
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Cole and Morris were located in Mississippi and arrested on existing warrants out of the southern state. They also faced new charges, like commercial burglary and attempted residential burglary after deputies said they were camping out in someone's shed.
On Dec. 19, Stephen Walker was reported missing from his sober living home after deputies said large amounts of blood were found inside.
Days later, Park County deputies found the body of a 65-year-old man inside a home off Campfire Road. Deputies say only 1/2 a mile away they found a black Audi, which family said matched the description of Stephen Walker's car.
As of publication, law enforcement has not announced any news about Stephen Walker. As of last check, he was still listed as "missing under suspicious circumstances."
