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DA Linda Stanley to be disbarred over misconduct during Barry Morphew prosecution, state board rules

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DA Linda Stanley to be disbarred over misconduct during Barry Morphew prosecution, state board rules


Eleventh Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley will be disbarred for ethical violations on the job, a Colorado disciplinary board ruled Tuesday.

State disciplinary authorities found Stanley made inappropriate comments to the media during the high-profile prosecution of Barry Morphew, did not adequately supervise the prosecution of the case, caused numerous discovery violations, initiated a baseless investigation into the judge on the case and made inappropriate comments to the media in an unrelated case.

“Taken in totality, a majority of the Hearing Board concludes that these ethical violations warrant respondent’s disbarment,” the 83-page disciplinary order, published Tuesday, says.

The decision comes three months after Stanley faced allegations of professional misconduct during a two-week disciplinary hearing in June.

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State regulators accused Stanley of making inappropriate comments to members of the media and on a YouTube true-crime show when she prosecuted Morphew for the murder of his wife in 2020, among other misconduct.

Stanley argued her conduct was within the bounds of ethical rules and that the allegations against her were baseless.

The Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel, which handles attorney discipline for professional misconduct, brought the allegations against Stanley in October, and the case proceeded all the way to a public disciplinary hearing, which is highly unusual for a sitting district attorney.

Much of the disciplinary hearing centered on Stanley’s handling of the case against Barry Morphew, who she charged with murder in 2021, a year after his wife, Suzanne Morphew, 49, disappeared from the family’s Chaffee County home on May 10, 2020.

Stanley dropped all charges against Morphew in 2022. He has maintained his innocence and is not facing any charges in connection with his wife’s death. State attorneys argued during the disciplinary hearing that the prosecution was a “debacle” because of Stanley’s poor leadership.

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Investigators in September discovered Suzanne Morphew’s body in a shallow grave near Moffat, and a coroner later determined her death to be a homicide, finding she died with a cocktail of animal tranquilizers in her body. The investigation into Suzanne’s killing is now being handled by 12th Judicial District Attorney Anne Kelly, since her body was found in that jurisdiction.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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Denver, CO

American Airlines flight attendant from Phoenix killed in Denver stabbing: What to know

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American Airlines flight attendant from Phoenix killed in Denver stabbing: What to know


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A Phoenix-based flight attendant is one of two people who died over the weekend following a seemingly unprovoked stabbing spree in downtown Denver.

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Celinda Levno, 71, is being remembered by loved ones and members within her industry for a career that spanned decades serving flight passengers. Efforts are underway to fund a funeral for Levno.

Authorities have arrested a man as a murder suspect in the fatal attacks that left two survivors as the investigation continues. Here is everything we know about the attacks and the Arizona woman who lost her life.

How did the stabbing unfold?

A woman died Saturday in a stabbing attack near 16th Street Mall, a shopping center in downtown Denver, according to Denver police. There were also three men assaulted, leading to the deaths of two. The first three stabbings took place Saturday, while the fourth stabbing, which was also fatal, happened Sunday.

The fourth stabbing victim was pronounced dead at a hospital, while the surviving stabbing victims suffered serious injuries or injuries that were not life-threatening.  

Who is the suspect?

Elijah Caudill, 24, is charged on suspicion of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder in connection with the four stabbings and was jailed as of Monday, police said. The area of 16th and Wynkoop streets was searched by police, who found Caudill with a knife and matching the suspect’s description, the Denver Police Department said.

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Police said the attack appeared to be random. A potential motive was being investigated, police added.

The suspect was described by Denver Mayor Mike Johnston as a Colorado-born white male with a criminal history who was released from jail in November 2024. 

Who was Levno?

The woman killed in the stabbing was Levno, an American Airlines flight attendant, according to an Association of Professional Flight Attendants spokesperson on Tuesday. Levno, who was on a layover in Denver, started more than three decades ago at America West before its merger with American Airlines, the APFA said.

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American Airlines confirmed Levno’s death was a result of a “senseless crime,” offering condolences and assuring its cooperation with law enforcement in the investigation.

A GoFundMe page was created by Jessica Dale, a friend of Levno, to help pay for funeral expenses.

Levno is survived by her husband, John, and her sister, Melanie, according to the GoFundMe page. Her Facebook page reveals she was a concert flutist, and the GoFundMe page mentioned she was deeply involved in the Arabian horse industry.

“She will now be with us every stride, and her love for horses will be carried on through all of us,” Dale told The Arizona Republic in a statement. 

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Denver, CO

Broncos let 4 players walk following 2024 season

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Broncos let 4 players walk following 2024 season


Following the conclusion of the 2024 season, the Denver Broncos signed 13 members of their practice squad to reserve/future contracts.

Four other veteran members of the practice squad were not given new deals ahead of the 2025 offseason. The Broncos are not re-signing wide receivers Michael Bandy or David Sills, tight end Donald Parham or offenisve tackle Cam Fleming, at least not at the moment.

Parham is perhaps the most intriguing player not re-signed. The 6-8 tight end with 11 career touchdowns spent the entire season on Denver’s practice squad.

Players that are not on an active roster at the end of the season are eligible to sign reserve/future deals. After signing reserve contracts, players officially join the 90-man offseason roster when the new league year begins in March.

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Broncos practice squad players not re-signed

  1. WR Michael Bandy
  2. WR David Sills
  3. TE Donald Parham
  4. OT Cam Fleming

Meanwhile, here’s the list of players that were given reserve deals:

Broncos reserve/future signings

  1. WR A.T. Perry
  2. TE Thomas Yassmin
  3. OL Nick Garguilo
  4. OL Will Sherman
  5. OL Calvin Throckmorton
  6. DL Matt Henningsen
  7. DT Jordan Miller
  8. LB K.J. Cloyd
  9. OLB Andrew Farmer
  10. DB Quinton Newsome
  11. DB Keidron Smith
  12. DB Tanner McCalister
  13. CB Reese Taylor

The Broncos signed 14 players to reserve/future deals last year, including running back Tyler Badie.



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Denver city leaders respond after stabbings on 16th Street Mall

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Denver city leaders respond after stabbings on 16th Street Mall


Denver city leaders respond after stabbings on 16th Street Mall – CBS Colorado

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Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas spoke to reporters after a suspect wanted in a series of stabbings downtown was arrested.

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