Barry Morphew accused of using missing wife’s ballot to vote for Donald Trump

SALIDA, Colo. (KRDO) -- Barry Morphew, the man accused of murder in the disappearance of his wife, is now accused of using his missing wife's ballot in the 2020 presidential election to vote for Donald Trump.

Morphew, who's already in custody for first-degree murder and several other charges in connection with Suzanne Morphew's disappearance, faces new charges, according to court records updated this week. Those charges include forgery and "offenses relating to mail ballots."

According to an affidavit filed in Colorado Court, Chaffee County Clerk Lori Mitchell reported on Oct. 22 that the office had received a ballot that was "predesignated for a missing person, identified as Suzanne Morphew." Morphew has been missing since last Mother's Day.

The County Clerk gave the ballot to a Chaffee County Sheriff's Office sergeant as evidence, and the ballot had an address listed as 19057 Puma Path in Salida, which is where the Morphews resided. 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," according to the affidavit.

A detective got the evidence, and on April 22, 2021, FBI agents met with Barry Morphew in person near the Franz Lake area. This was before Morphew was taken into custody for a first-degree murder charge.

During the interview, the agents asked Barry why he submitted Suzanne's election ballot.

According to the affidavit, Barry replied, "Just because I wanted Trump to win ... I just thought, give him another vote, I figured all these other guys are cheating."

Barry 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."

The arrest affidavit for the murder charge that Morphew is facing is still sealed, and opposing parties have until May 27th to submit documents in response. Few other details have been released in the alleged murder.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.