THE family of a missing woman whose case led to the discovery of Suzanne Morphew’s remains say their hopes of finding her alive are fading fast – as they share a warning to anyone who may have harmed her.

Edna Quintana has been missing from her hometown of Saguache, Colorado, since May 3.

The 56-year-old vanished without a trace after reportedly going on a hike with a “male companion” who allegedly failed to report her missing for three days, Quintana’s cousin Augustina Edwards told The U.S. Sun.

Police were searching for Quintana in the area of Moffat in late September when they inadvertently discovered the remains of Suzanne Morphew buried in a shallow grave.

Morphew, 49, had been missing since May 2020, when she disappeared after apparently leaving her home in Maysville for an early morning Mother’s Day bike ride and never returned.

Her husband, Barry Morphew, was charged in May 2021 with first-degree murder and evidence tampering.

Those charges were later dropped as investigators continued efforts to find her body.

He remains a suspect though he has strongly denied having anything to do with his wife’s disappearance.

Edwards said that she was relieved for the Morphews as Suzanne’s loved ones finally have some answers about what happened to the mom-of-two whose story made headlines across the country.

However, Edwards added that Quintana’s disappearance has long been overlooked by the public and she now hopes the coincidental discovery of Morphew’s remains will bring her case out of the shadows and into the spotlight.

“You won’t find a person in the town of Saguache with a bad word to say about Edna,” said Edwards.

“But she unfortunately didn’t keep the best company; it didn’t matter to her what your past was, or what kind of person you are now, she would be your friend because she was just a kind person.

“And maybe someone took advantage of that kindness, we don’t know.

“But she’d never leave her children. She would never and there is simply no good reason for her to disappear like that.”

My message to anyone responsible for hurting her is one taken from the Bible: ‘Everything in darkness will come to light.’

Augustina EdwardsQuintana’s cousin

Edwards says that other family members are torn over what to make of Quintana’s prolonged absence; while her mother and sister hold out hope that she will be found alive and well, Edwards has reluctantly conceded the chances of a happy resolution are slim to none.

She continued: “I’ve accepted that Edna is probably not going to be found alive.

“Her sister and her mother obviously still hold out hope, but, for me, I’m more pragmatic in my thinking.

“I believe that something bad happened to her and she’s no longer with us. That’s my belief.”

Addressing any wrongdoers who may have harmed Quintana, Edwards warned: “My message to anyone responsible for hurting her is one taken from the Bible: ‘Everything in darkness will come to light.’

“The truth will come out soon enough.”

LAST-KNOWN MOVEMENTS

On the day she vanished, Edna had been out hiking with a “male companion” whom she’d been dating on-and-off for a few years, according to Edwards.

The companion – whom The U.S. Sun is choosing not to name at this time because he has not been listed as a suspect – has referenced the hiking trip in posts on Facebook.

According to Edwards, and Edna’s sister Marilyn, the male companion told police Edna was not able to “keep up” on the hike and headed back in the direction of their car.

When the companion returned to the car later that day, there was reportedly no sign of Edna and he was still in possession of her purse and cellphone.

Edna wouldn’t be reported missing for another three days.

It was a family member who raised the alarm.

Edna’s disappearance was eventually reported to the local sheriff’s office after she missed consecutive visits to Marilyn and her mother’s home – visits she’d typically make every day or at least every other day.

“The red flag for our family is that she was not a hiker, she wasn’t a fisherman, and she wasn’t really even an outdoorsy person,” said Edwards.

“Hiking is not a typical activity that Edna would’ve done.

“And she wasn’t immediately reported missing to the sheriff’s office, to local search and rescue, or even her family, until three days later.

“She has not been seen or heard from since, and I think that’s very suspicious.”

TAKING COMFORT IN ‘PURPOSE’

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been contacted for comment.

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Edwards knows little of Edna’s partner but said she has heard a number of rumors about him and their relationship since she vanished.

Edna’s family has received few updates from police over the last few months, but Edwards said she takes encouragement from the fact that officers are actively out searching for her.

Immediately after she disappeared, Edwards said she created fliers to alert the public about her case and sent them out to local media but received little-to-no response.

Instead, she turned to social media in an effort to keep her cousin’s name in the spotlight, but it has led to few leads so far.

“I don’t know what makes a case newsworthy and what doesn’t,” said Edwards, “but Laci Peterson in the 2000s got national attention, Suzanne Morphew got national attention […] but here is a Hispanic female from a very poor community that gets zero attention.

“It was not until Suzanne’s remains were found in the search for Edna that her case got any attention whatsoever – and that’s hugely disappointing for our family.

“We hope she won’t be forgotten now […] she matters just as much as anyone else.”

After Morphew’s remains were discovered, authorities initially stated they had been found during an “unrelated search.”

It was the attorneys for Barry Morphew, Suzanne’s husband, that first revealed it was Edna they were looking for.

In part, the statement read: “It was the Saguache County officials that fortunately stumbled onto Suzanne’s remains last week while looking for another missing woman, Edna Quintana.

“What needs to be done, instead of pointing fingers at Barry Morphew, is asking the officials about the number of missing people and number of human remains that have been recovered in or from Saguache County in the recent past.”

The remains of another person, Lakewood resident James Montoya, were found in Saguache County in July while the Colorado Bureau of Investigation was also investigating Edna’s disappearance.

Angered at local authorities’ refusal to acknowledge Edna, Edwards contacted every news agency that published the “unrelated search” statement and demanded they include her name in any story about Morphew.

Though frustrated and upset by the lack of attention Edna’s case has received over the last five months, Edwards is hopeful that the coincidental discovery of Morphew’s remains could breathe new life into the search for Edna.

“I think I speak on behalf of the family that Edna had a purpose in life, and if this was her purpose, you know, God bless these two families that can finally get some closure – we’re happy that they have some closure. 

“It’s our hope someone knows where she’s at. Whether she’s alive or not, the lies can’t continue on forever. Somebody knows something.

“And with the increase in media attention to her case, it’s our hope that somebody will come forward, and the pressure will be on them, and they will see her face and they will see her name and somebody will come forward due guilt or just the mere pressure, that this case is now getting attention.”

‘LET’S HELP EDNA’S FAMILY’

The Quintana family’s quest for increased pressure and attention was aided by Suzanne Morphew’s sister, Melinda Moorman, last week in a statement reflecting on the missing mom’s confirmed death.

“My heart continues to feel a quiet relief and peace with the settled knowing that my beautiful sister, Suzanne Morphew, was recently found on Friday, September 22,” began the statement.

Moorman later added: “Today I choose to turn my thoughts and heart to the family of Edna Quintana whose search was the catalyst for my miracle; Suzanne being found.

“I am asking the same loving social media community who kept Suzanne alive to now turn their heart of care to the family of Edna Quintana [in] their time of need.

“They wait in the anguish of uncertainty for the discovery of their beloved Edna. Please take a few moments each day and do what you can to keep Edna’s story alive.

“Pray for those in authority. Pray for Edna’s return. Thank you for all who believed that Suzanne would someday be found. We are forever grateful!

“Now it’s Edna who needs your thoughts and prayers. Keep her alive in the social media world. Don’t forget Edna Quintana…she needs you.

“May the God of all mercy grant a miracle for the Quintana family in the discovery and safe return of their beloved Edna.”

Edwards said she was deeply moved by Moorman’s remarks, providing her with a much-needed lift after months of emotional turmoil.

“I was actually overcome with emotion that, in this very deep dark time in their life, they chose to give Edna’s case some light,” she said.

“I was so moved by it when I saw the statement and I’m sure the rest of my family has been as well.

Addressing Edna directly, she added: “Your family misses you, your family needs you. Come home, no questions asked.

“We just want you home.

“We want you safe, we love you, and miss you.”