Barry Morphewseen out with new girlfriend for the first time since he was released on $500k bond

Publish date: 2024-05-18

Loading tubs of men's clothing into the back of his truck at a Salida storage unit, this is Barry Morphew pictured with alleged girlfriend Shoshona Darke for the first time. 

Morphew, 53, was seen stepping out in a black t-shirt and jeans on Monday, three weeks after being released from jail on a $500,000 bond, while mom-of-one Darke, 51, was casual in a black top and brown shearling-lined boots.  

The outing marks the first time the two are seen together in public after previously denying reports that they are in a romantic relationship.

The exclusive DailyMail.com photos were taken as prosecutors demanded Morphew leave the property where he has been staying since he was set free in September – and move into Darke's modest downtown Salida home where they say he is paying the $2,000-a-month rent.

Morphew was accompanied by his alleged new girlfriend, Shoshona Darke, 51, during his trip to the storage unit

Barry Morphew was seen for the first time with his alleged new girlfriend, Shoshona Darke, 51, during a trip to a storage unit in Salida, Colorado 

The 53-year-old, who is charged with first-degree murder, evidence tampering and other charges in connection to his wife Suzanne's disappearance, was seen loading bins of clothing onto the back of his truck on Monday

The 53-year-old, who is charged with first-degree murder, evidence tampering and other charges in connection to his wife Suzanne's disappearance, was seen loading bins of clothing onto the back of his truck on Monday

Morphew was allowed to await trial from home last month after a judge ruled he would have to be monitored by the police and to be forced to surrender his guns

Morphew was allowed to await trial from home last month after a judge ruled he would have to be monitored by the police and to be forced to surrender his guns

The two-bedroom home is also closer to the Chaffee County Courthouse, where Morphew is due to go on trial in May, and allows for easier GPS tracking according to the prosecution motion.

Shoshona Darke, 51, pictured in her booking photo after she was arrested for trespassing last month

Shoshona Darke, 51, pictured in her booking photo after she was arrested for trespassing last month

Morphew is currently staying at a four-bedroom luxury Airbnb rental located just a few yards from end of the driveway of the Colorado home he shared with missing wife Suzanne.

The two-story property, which sits in a remote wooded area and has patchy satellite reception, comes complete with a glass-fronted balcony and manicured grounds that overlook the former Morphew home.

According to the papers, which were filed on September 21, Morphew's new residence is too close to his former home, and that of former neighbor and trial witness Jean Ritter – who he is banned from contacting.

It was Ritter, 73, who reported Suzanne, 49, missing on May 10, 2020 after being contacted by her daughters Mallory, 21, and Macy, 18, when they were unable to get hold of her to wish her a happy Mother's Day. 

He has been staying at a luxury Airbnb in nearby Maysville three weeks after posting $500,000 cash bond ahead of his May 2022 murder trial

He has been staying at a luxury Airbnb in nearby Maysville three weeks after posting $500,000 cash bond ahead of his May 2022 murder trial

Darke, a mom-of-one Darke, was dressed casual in a black top and brown shearling-lined boots

Darke, a mom-of-one Darke, was dressed casual in a black top and brown shearling-lined boots

Morphew wore a black t-shirt and jeans as he loaded tubs of men's clothing into the back of his truck

Morphew wore a black t-shirt and jeans as he loaded tubs of men's clothing into the back of his truck

Prosecutors are demanding Morphew relocate to his girlfriend's home in Salida that he allegedly pays for. The two-bedroom property is also closer to the Chaffee County Courthouse, where Morphew is due to go on trial in May, and allows for easier GPS tracking according to the prosecution motion

Prosecutors are demanding Morphew relocate to his girlfriend's home in Salida that he allegedly pays for. The two-bedroom property is also closer to the Chaffee County Courthouse, where Morphew is due to go on trial in May, and allows for easier GPS tracking according to the prosecution motion

Ritter also told cops she had shared a coffee with Suzanne on May 6 – three days before she was last seen alive – and that the mom-of-two had seemed cheerful.

After Suzanne vanished, Morphew initially claimed his wife could have been taken by a mountain lion and issued a tearful video pleading for her to come home.

But in May, he was arrested and charged with her first degree murder and was told he would face trial late last month following a four-day preliminary hearing.

During the hearing, it emerged that Suzanne had been having a two-year affair with married dad-of-six Jeff Libler while Morphew had been caught visiting porn site Celebrity Jihad and notorious dating website Ashley Madison.

Prosecutors said the landscaper had murdered his wife using animal tranquilizer before covering his tracks and disposing of her body – possibly in the remote Garfield Mine.

They also pointed to Morphew's phone being placed in airplane mode repeatedly over the weekend of May 9 and 10 and cited data from his truck which showed he had repeatedly opened and closed the doors in the early hours of May 10. 

The prosecution also noted that he had left a Holiday Inn hotel room in Broomfield, Colorado, reeking of chlorine – a development first reported by DailyMail.com in September 2020. 

This is the luxury Airbnb rental Morphew has been staying in since his release. Prosecutors are now demanding he leave the property due to its proximity to his former marital home with missing wife Suzanne and neighbor and trial witness Jean Ritter

This is the luxury Airbnb rental Morphew has been staying in since his release. Prosecutors are now demanding he leave the property due to its proximity to his former marital home with missing wife Suzanne and neighbor and trial witness Jean Ritter 

Prosecutors say Morphew should relocate to Darke's modest downtown Salida home where he is alleged to be paying the $2,000-a-month rent. Pictured: The driveway to the two-story Airbnb property which sits in a remote wooded area

Prosecutors say Morphew should relocate to Darke's modest downtown Salida home where he is alleged to be paying the $2,000-a-month rent. Pictured: The driveway to the two-story Airbnb property which sits in a remote wooded area

The father of two was arrested and charged with first degree murder in May and was told he would face trial late last month following a four-day preliminary hearing Barry Morphew

The father of two was arrested and charged with first degree murder in May and was told he would face trial late last month following a four-day preliminary hearing

Barry and Suzanne Morphew are pictured together. Barry is accused of murdering Suzanne who vanished Mother's Day 2020

Barry and Suzanne Morphew are pictured together. Barry is accused of murdering Suzanne who vanished Mother's Day 2020

Meanwhile, the arrest affidavit released last month laid bare the extent of Morphew's relationship with housekeeper Darke which began in late 2020.

According to the affidavit, cops were first tipped off about his new squeeze in December 2020 but were unable to catch them together so mounted a camera on a telegraph pole outside her home.

In early February, DailyMail.com witnessed Morphew visit the property on consecutive nights – staying until the following morning – but was unable to verify the identity of the occupant or their relationship with Morphew.

Police were later able to obtain security footage from Antler's Hotel in Colorado Springs taken on Valentine's Day which showed the pair checking in together. 

Darke has refused to speak about her relationship with Morphew, despite being repeatedly approached by DailyMail.com, and maintained a low profile during his stay in jail.

She also denied being in a relationship with him when confronted by the cops but later admitted to meeting him in October 2020.

The Morphew family home is seen above. Morphew sold the home to new owners in March

The Morphew family home is seen above. Morphew sold the home to new owners in March 

This is the much more modest home Darke is reportedly currently living in downtown Salida

This is the much more modest home Darke is reportedly currently living in downtown Salida

According to the papers, which were filed on September 21, Morphew's new residence is too close to his former home, and that of former neighbor and trial witness Jean Ritter – who he is banned from contacting

According to the papers, which were filed on September 21, Morphew's new residence is too close to his former home, and that of former neighbor and trial witness Jean Ritter – who he is banned from contacting

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But since his release, she has been a constant presence in his life and, on September 28, was arrested after being caught trespassing at the former Morphew home.

Darke is understood to have been staying with Morphew at the Airbnb and was caught on security camera walking up the drive and picking up a package that had just been left by a Fedex van on the front porch of the home.

Last month, she was charged with one count of third-degree criminal trespass and was released from the Chaffee County Jail on a $500 bond, after telling cops her sole income is a $1,800-a-month veteran's disability allowance.

She now faces a virtual procedure hearing on Wednesday and an in-person hearing on October 18 which will decide whether a restraining order that bans her from going near Suzanne's former home and Morphew's Airbnb will be upheld. 

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