LISBON — A statement made by Christopher Morrison to investigators on the day his wife’s remains were found will remain part of the evidence in the aggravated murder case against him.

Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Megan Bickerton denied the motion to suppress filed by defense attorneys Joe King and Terry Grenga on their client’s behalf.

Bickerton found that the statement made to Investigator Darin Morgan of the county Prosecutor’s Office and Liverpool Township Police Chief Jared Kinemond during a video recorded and audio recorded interview on Dec. 20, 2023 at the Liverpool Township police station was voluntary.

According to the judgment entry, based on testimony by Morgan during a recent suppression hearing, Morrison was in plain clothes and had no restraints. He also signed a Miranda waiver of his rights.

A final status hearing in the case remains set for 9 a.m. Aug. 30, with a jury trial still set for 9 a.m. Sept. 17.

Morrison, 35, Shadyside Road, has remained in custody since Dec. 20, 2023 when Liverpool Township police discovered his wife Tiffany’s remains after being notified about a possible homicide. The death of the 34-year-old mother was ruled a homicide and Morrison was charged with aggravated murder and murder, both unclassified felonies, fifth-degree felonies of gross abuse of a corpse and possessing criminal tools, two counts of third-degree felony tampering with evidence, along with two three-year firearm specifications for allegedly using a gun. He remains jailed under a $1.5 million cash or surety bond.

During the recent suppression hearing, Morrison took the stand. During cross-examination by county Assistant Prosecutor Steve Yacovone, Morris admitted to knowing where his wife was and what had happened to her in the way he answered Yacovone. During the interview with police, he had claimed he didn’t know where his wife was.

“So you knew where she was. You shot her, chopped her up and left her in the shed,” Yacovone said.

“Yes,” Morrison replied.

The apparent admission occurred after several questions by Yacovone about why Morrison was under stress and referenced the shed and the death of Tiffany.

Yacovone talked about how Morrison went through a lengthy narrative during the interview with police and Morrison said that he was under a lot of stress.

“Were you under a lot of stress because Tiffany Morrison was chopped up in your home?” Yacovone asked, prompting an objection from King. Yacovone said he was just trying to find out why he was under stress.

Morrison answered that he had a small business, three kids and was going through a rough patch in his marriage and other things.

“What are the other things?” Yacovone asked. “I don’t know,” Morrison said. “So the fact that Tiffany Morrison was dead in your shed at your home, that wasn’t a stressor for you?”

Morrison said it was.

Yacovone went on to note that during his interview, Morrison said he didn’t know where his wife went. The interview was done in two segments, one over an hour long and the second session shorter, about 15 minutes, according to Morgan.

“It’s only when they brought up the shed that you didn’t want to answer questions,” Yacovone said. “I believe so,” Morrison replied.

Still pending is a decision on a defense motion to suppress evidence secured through a search warrant at the Morrison property and a defense motion to suppress DNA evidence.