In a renewed turn of events, Barry Morphew has arrived in Colorado to face a first-degree murder charge concerning his wife’s death for a second time. Morphew, who had been held in Alamosa as noted by the 12th Judicial District Attorney, was apprehended on June 20 in Arizona. This arrest followed a fresh indictment, occurring three years after the original charges were dropped due to issues related to evidence handling. Opting not to contest his extradition, he awaited transfer from a Phoenix jail to Colorado, where he is slated to make his new case debut in court.
The latest autopsy report from 2024 declared Suzanne Morphew’s death a homicide, categorizing it as death by “unspecified means.” Although her remains bore no trauma signs, investigators discovered her bone marrow contained a wildlife tranquilizer drug cocktail for which Barry Morphew had a prescription. Despite this, Morphew has consistently asserted his innocence since Suzanne’s disappearance. His attorney, David Beller, dismissed the recent indictment, emphasizing the case’s persistence and its anticipated unchanged outcome, yet inquiries for additional comments from Beller on the recent developments went unanswered.
The case’s complexity traces back to Mother’s Day 2020, when 49-year-old Suzanne Morphew vanished from her Salida, Colorado home. Her mountain bike and helmet, found separately and suggesting a staged accident, hinted at foul play. Barry Morphew broadcasted a video plea shortly after her disappearance, drawing significant public and media attention. By May 2021, prosecutors advanced a murder charge against him, which was later withdrawn in 2022, right before the trial. Prosecutorial missteps, such as barring key witnesses due to evidentiary issues, led to the dropping of charges, with the possibility of future re-filing left open.
Following the first round of legal turmoil, Barry Morphew sought a $15 million lawsuit against local officials, accusing them of infringing on his constitutional rights. His defense also pushed for disciplining the prosecutors over alleged evidence withholding. Complications in the case further intensified with the eventual disbarment of Linda Stanley, the initial prosecuting attorney, due to the mishandling of Morphew’s case and inappropriate public statements.
The mystery deepened when Suzanne’s skeletal remains were discovered in September 2023 by Colorado Bureau of Investigation agents during an unrelated search near Moffat. Most of her bones, found in a shallow grave and largely bleached, were recovered. Her remains were accompanied by apparel she typically wore and a port for cancer treatment medication. Forensic analysis suggested dislocation and decomposition elsewhere before reaching the discovery site.
Linking Barry Morphew to the wildlife sedative found in Suzanne’s system was pivotal. Toxicology indicated the presence of butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine, components of “BAM,” a sedative used for wildlife. This connection was corroborated by Barry’s history of prescriptions for BAM during his Indiana residency and subsequent Colorado relocation. Moreover, prescription documentation established Barry as the sole private individual in the region with BAM access during the timeframe of Suzanne’s disappearance, reinforcing prosecutorial claims and complicating Barry’s defense narrative.