Fremont County

December of 2021, Judge Murphy, who has presided over the case, removed himself after defense attorneys complained about a conflict of interest.

February 2022, the murder trial was moved from Chaffee County to Fremont County.

In a statement, officials said the move was made because of the size of the community and the pervasive negative pretrial publicity since Suzanne Morphew's disappearance.

The court finds that a fair trial cannot take place in Chaffee County.

She is in a very difficult spot.

We actually have more than just a feeling, and the sheriff's office is continuing to look for Ms. Morphew's body, Deputy District Attorney Mark Holbert had said at the time.

Meanwhile, Morphew walked out of a Fremont County courthouse a free man, flanked by his two daughters, Mallory and Macy, who stood by him through the pretrial hearings in the case in which he was accused of killing their mother.

The family is in shock, said Morphew's attorney, Iris Itan.

So that's part of my experience and perspective that I bring, uh, into this endeavor.

Um, of course, living in Canyon City, so still out in rural Colorado, living in Fremont County, and, um, I'm a husband and a father and a grandfather of five.

Um, and I have representation experience, uh, with the, the people of Canyon City and Fremont County going back to, uh, days on city council and the state senate and now as a commissioner.

So I have, uh, certainly experience as far as representing folks and as well as in the private sector.

So I guess to answer your question, my, my rural upbringing and, uh, small business background, certainly coupled with that local and, and state government experience, I, I think suits me to, um, being the chief steward of the dollars that are entrusted to the state treasury on behalf of all of the taxpayers of Colorado, those hardworking folks.

Um, and I, I bring an understanding, of course, what it's required, a small business, um, what it takes to thrive in Colorado and, and unfortunately lately, what it takes to survive in Colorado.

Um, I bring an understanding, certainly on the local level, uh, when it comes to the, uh, my representation of the people in, in effectively spending and stewarding their hard-earned dollars.

Um, certainly in, at least in my current role as how it relates to plowing roads and filling potholes, um, the things that matter on a, certainly on a daily basis to, uh, the folks of Fremont County currently.

So that's part of my experience and perspective that I bring, uh, into this endeavor.

Um, of course, living in Cañon City, so still out in rural Colorado, living in Fremont County.

And, um, I'm a husband and a father and a grandfather of five.

Um, and I have representation experience, uh, with the, the people of Cañon City and Fremont County, going back to, uh, days on city council and the state senate and now as a commissioner.

So I have, uh, certainly experience as far as representing folks and as well as in the private sector.

So I guess to answer your question, my, my rural upbringing and, uh, small business background, certainly coupled with that local and, and state government experience, I, I think suits me to, um, being the chief steward of the dollars that are entrusted to the state treasury on behalf of all of the taxpayers of Colorado, those hardworking folks.

Um, and I, I bring an understanding, of course, what it's required of small business, um, what it takes to thrive in Colorado and, and unfortunately lately, what it takes to survive in Colorado.

Um, I bring an understanding, certainly on the local level, uh, when it comes to the, uh, my representation of the people in, in effectively spending and stewarding their hard-earned dollars.