Colorado Man Re-Indicted in Wife's Death After Remains Discovery
Barry Morphew arrested again following 2023 discovery of Suzanne Morphew's skeletal remains and autopsy findings of wildlife tranquilizer in her bones
Quick Facts
Barry Morphew, 49, was arrested in Arizona on June 20, 2025, following a grand jury indictment in connection with the death of his wife, Suzanne Morphew. The indictment marks the second time Morphew has faced first-degree murder charges in the case, which has stretched across five years since Suzanne's disappearance.
Suzanne vanished on May 10, 2020—Mother's Day—while on a bike ride in Chaffee County, Colorado. Her bicycle was discovered that same day along a ravine near Highway 50 and County Road 225. At the time, Barry was working in Broomfield, approximately 50 miles away. The case went cold for over three years until September 2023, when Suzanne's skeletal remains were located in a shallow grave near Moffat during an unrelated search operation.
Autopsy results released in 2024 proved decisive in the renewed investigation. Medical examiners determined Suzanne's death was a homicide caused by undetermined means, but critically, they identified the presence of BAM chemicals—a wildlife tranquilizer comprising Butorphanol, Azaperone, and Medetomidine—in her bone marrow and bones. According to prosecutors, BAM is a prescription drug used to sedate and transport large animals. Records indicate Barry Morphew was the only private citizen in the area with authorized access to these chemicals, having admitted to using them to tranquilize deer on his property in April 2020—just weeks before Suzanne disappeared.
The physical condition of Suzanne's remains provided additional evidence of foul play. Her bones were significantly bleached, inconsistent with natural decomposition at the burial site. Investigators determined her body had been moved at least twice after death, suggesting deliberate concealment.
This second prosecution follows the dramatic collapse of the initial case. In May 2021, Barry was first arrested and charged with first-degree murder, tampering with a human body, and other offenses. However, in April 2022—before trial—prosecutors dismissed all charges without prejudice. The decision came after prosecutors acknowledged they had failed to disclose exculpatory evidence to the defense, including unknown male DNA recovered from Suzanne's SUV and other materials. The prosecution also cited the absence of Suzanne's remains, stating they needed additional time to locate her body.
