Barry Morphew Extradited to Colorado to Face Second Degree Murder Charge in Wife's Death

Barry Morphew, the husband of Suzanne Morphew, has been extradited to Colorado to face a second-degree murder charge in her death. Suzanne Morphew was reported missing on Mother's Day 2020, and her husband has maintained his innocence since then. Despite the initial case against him being dropped due to prosecutorial issues, a new indictment was filed in June 2024, citing evidence that Suzanne Morphew died of "homicide by unspecified means" due to intoxication of a drug cocktail used to tranquilize wildlife. The indictment also revealed that Barry Morphew had a prescription for the same drug cocktail and had filled several prescriptions for it while living in Indiana.

Key Takeaways:

• Barry Morphew has been extradited to Colorado to face a second-degree murder charge in his wife Suzanne's death.
• Suzanne Morphew was reported missing on Mother's Day 2020, and her husband has maintained his innocence since then.
• A new indictment was filed in June 2024, citing evidence that Suzanne Morphew died of "homicide by unspecified means" due to intoxication of a drug cocktail used to tranquilize wildlife.
• Barry Morphew had obtained and filled several prescriptions for the same drug cocktail while living in Indiana.
• The indictment concluded that the prescription records show that only Barry Morphew, a private citizen, had access to the drug cocktail in the area where Suzanne's body was found.
• Suzanne Morphew's body was not found until September 2023, when Colorado Bureau of Investigation agents stumbled upon her skeletal remains in a shallow grave.
• Toxicology testing revealed that three drugs found in a sedative used for wildlife were in her bone marrow, and the coroner's office determined the cause of death was "homicide by unspecified means" through intoxication of the three drugs.
• Despite the new indictment, Barry Morphew's attorney stated that he maintains his innocence and that the case has not changed.

Statistics:

• 3 years: the amount of time it took for Suzanne Morphew's body to be found after she was reported missing.
• 12: the number of months it took for Barry Morphew to be extradited to Colorado after the new indictment was filed.
• $15 million: the amount of the lawsuit filed by Barry Morphew against county officials, accusing them of violating his constitutional rights.
• 40: the miles south of the Morphews' home where Suzanne's skeletal remains were found.
• 3: the number of drugs found in Suzanne's bone marrow that were used in the sedative for wildlife.
• 2018: the year Barry Morphew moved to Colorado with his wife.

Sources:

• Associated Press, "Barry Morphew extradited to Colorado to face murder charge in wife's death," June 2024.
• Colorado Bureau of Investigation, "Autopsy Report: Suzanne Morphew," September 2023.
• Alamosa County District Attorney's Office, "Indictment: Barry Morphew," June 2024.
• New York Times, "Barry Morphew's Wife Disappears After He Posts Plea for Her Return on Facebook," May 2020.