Duo suspected in December murders in Park and El Paso counties

A man and woman arrested in Mississippi on local charges have been charged with the murder of a man in Park County, and the man is believed to have died in El Paso County on month last.

In the case of Timmy Huston, who was found dead inside his Hartsel home, Johnny Rankin Morris, 46, and Hailey Cole, 43, are suspected of first-degree murder, robbery, theft first-degree aggravated motor vehicle, conspiracy and forgery. with evidence of a crime, according to a news release from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

Morris is also suspected of first-degree murder, tampering with a corpse and tampering with physical evidence for his alleged role in the death of El Paso County resident Stephen Walker.

El Paso County sheriff’s deputies began investigating Walker’s disappearance on Dec. 19, the same day Morris and Cole were charged with Huston’s murder.

When officers arrived at Walker’s home, which he shared with Morris, they found a large pool of blood in the garage. Investigators then discovered Walker’s body dumped in a wooded area outside the county lines, deputies said.

Park County sheriff’s deputies found Walker’s vehicle with Huston’s body while conducting a welfare check at Huston’s home on December 24.

Huston’s Ford F-250 truck was located by the Lamar County Sheriff’s Office in the two men’s home state of Mississippi four days later, and on December 30, Morris and Cole were arrested in Poplarville, Mississippi, after a person reported a man matching Morris. ‘ description attempting to break into his vehicle.

Both men were booked into custody on outstanding warrants in the state, in addition to charges of commercial burglary and attempted residential burglary, according to the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office.

Morris was awaiting extradition to Colorado Friday morning, El Paso County deputies said.

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