A Colorado grand jury indicted Barry Morphew earlier this week on a first-degree murder charge in connection with the 2020 disappearance and death of his wife, Suzanne Morphew, according to court records reviewed by Newsweek.
Barry Morphew, 57, was arrested in Arizona just days after the indictment and is being held on a $3 million cash-only bail as prosecutors seek his extradition to the San Luis Valley, court records show.
Suzanne Morphew, 49, disappeared from the couple's Chaffee County home in May 2020, and her remains were not discovered until September 2023, Newsweek previously reported.
Why It Matters
This case has drawn nationwide attention, fueled by multiple failed prosecutions, the unusual circumstances of Suzanne's disappearance, and renewed debate over law enforcement accountability.
The saga underscores the challenges of investigating and prosecuting cold cases in the United States, especially when initial proceedings are marred by procedural errors as seen in this case.
What To Know
Suzanne disappeared on May 10, 2020, from her family home in Colorado's Rocky Mountains. Her remains were ultimately found in a shallow grave near Moffat, Colorado, in September 2023 while officials investigated an unrelated matter.
The autopsy concluded her death was a homicide "by undetermined means in the setting of butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine [BAM] intoxication," The Washington Post reported.
Barry was initially charged in 2021, before his wife's remains had been found, but the case was dismissed in 2022.
A judge found significant prosecutorial misconduct, including failure to release potentially exculpatory evidence -- such as unknown male DNA discovered in Suzanne's SUV -- resulting in the disbarment of former District Attorney Linda Stanley, according to the Associated Press.
After charges were dropped, Barry sued police and prosecutors for $15 million for wrongful prosecution, as previously reported by Newsweek. That lawsuit was dismissed in 2024 and Barry, along with his legal team, have maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.
The new indictment draws on forensic evidence from Suzanne's remains, location data, and prescription records. According to prosecutors, no one apart from Barry purchased BAM in the relevant region of Colorado for years leading up to Suzanne’s disappearance. Investigators found a tranquilizer dart gun and associated paraphernalia at the Morphew home, according to The Denver Post.
The Washington Post reported that phone records cited in the indictment suggest that after sending a selfie to her extramarital partner on May 9, 2020, Suzanne did not use her phone further, and Barry placed his own phone in airplane mode around the same time. Surveillance and cellphone data reportedly tracked Barry disposing items in multiple trash containers on the morning following his wife’s disappearance.
What People Are Saying
Anne Kelly, the district attorney in Colorado's 12th Judicial District, said during a Friday press conference: "Law enforcement, the Chaffee County community and Colorado as a whole has never stopped fighting for justice for Suzanne."
David Beller, Barry Morphew's attorney, told The Denver Post in a statement: "Yet again, the government allows their predetermined conclusion to lead their search for evidence. Barry maintains his innocence. The case has not changed, and the outcome will not either."
What Happens Next
Barry is expected to be extradited from Arizona to Colorado to face trial on the new charges. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment without parole.
Proceedings, meanwhile, will continue in the San Luis Valley. Further hearings and motions are anticipated as both prosecution and defense prepare for trial.