Suzanne Morphew Case Timeline

Suzanne Morphew Timeline: Barry Morphew was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with his wife’s disappearance in May 2021. Days before he was set to stand trial in April 2022, all charges were dropped. On June 18, 2025, a grand jury indicted Barry Morphew for the murder of Suzanne.

August 5, 1994

• Suzanne Moorman married Barry Morphew. They eventually have two daughters, Macy and Mallory. Mallory was born July 4, 1999 and Macy on August 28, 2003.

December 1999

• Barry and Suzanne purchased 26040 Cal Carson Road, Arcadia, Indiana. This is the house where he dug a hole in the yard and buried everything he did not want to move to Colorado.

2003

• Barry started a landscaping business, and Suzanne was a schoolteacher before leaving the job to raise their two daughters, Mallory and Macy.

November 2013

• Suzanne inherits $208,000 upon her mother’s passing.

August 2016

• Suzanne inherits $217,000 upon her grandmother’s death.

April 12, 2018

• The Morphews purchased the home at 19057 Puma Path for $1,575,000.

May 2018

• Suzanne’s cancer, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, returned.

June 1, 2018

• Suzanne and Barry Morphew moved to Colorado from Indiana, hoping for a fresh start and to be closer to their oldest daughter.

August 14, 2018

• Barry Lee Morphew started a landscaping business, Sunset Farms, LLC.

September 2018

• Suzanne sends a “Howdy, stranger” message to Jeff Libler, a high school friend.

November 2018

• Suzanne was home with her best friend Sheila Oliver. Suzanne shared intimate details about her failing marriage over text and phone calls. Susan stepped away from her cell phone to use the restroom, and Barry tried calling her several times within a few minutes, then called Sheila, then called Darin. Later, Sheila Oliver and Suzanne noticed alarming activity outside the home late into the evening. Suzanne’s home was secluded by forest, and access to her property was restricted. Suzanne called 911 for assistance in an ongoing urgent situation, someone “scoping out” her home. The call ended when she learned it was Barry Morphew.

December 25, 2018

• Suzanne found Jeff Libler’s LinkedIn account and sent a message: “I’m worried sick about you. Are you ok?” Libler responded, and they began talking again, first platonically, then the relationship progressed. Libler said they communicated through FaceTime but did not physically see each other in 2018.

January 2019

• During the trip to Mexico, Barry took Suzanne’s phone to go through it. Suzanne was on the beach in Mexico listening to music on her phone, and Barry was suspicious of her. She handed her phone over to Barry and told him, “Do whatever you want. Go through it.”

February 11 through 14, 2019

• Suzanne was in New Orleans with Jeff Libler. They met while he was there for a conference.

April 2019

• Suzanne was with Jeff Libler in Indiana.

July 2019

• Suzanne and Libler met in Michigan. Barry called Sheila Oliver while Suzanne was in Michigan, visiting her father and Jeff Libler, to ask why Suzanne was not returning his calls.

September 2019

• Suzanne told Sheila Oliver about leaving her marriage. “I sort of wish he would just get fed up with me and leave,” she wrote of her husband. “I told him I’m done. I need peace.”

October 2019

• Libler and Suzanne were in Dallas. Jeff Libler had a sales meeting in Dallas, and Suzanne was traveling to Phoenix.
• Suzanne left a day early and went through Dallas, staying at the same hotel Libler stayed at, the Galleria in northern Dallas with the ice rink inside. Suzanne and Libler spent two nights at the Galleria.
• Suzanne was going to the Phoenix conference to become a certified fitness instructor with the mindset of, “What am I going to do if I leave him?” She talked to Libler about Barry’s moods and anger, saying, “As long as he gets what he wants, everything’s fine.”

November 30, 2019

• Barry gets a second phone.

December 2019

• Suzanne and Libler stop talking on the phone because she is afraid Barry will find out.
• Suzanne told Libler, “We can’t use the phone anymore.” She said, “He watches everything I do, and I’m afraid he’s gonna find out.”

January 2020

• Sheila Oliver gives Suzanne the spy pen during the trip to Florida. Suzanne sees Libler and records a conversation with him on this trip.
• 9:08 AM – Suzanne takes a call on speakerphone. She stated, “Hi, sweetie. I’m good. How about you?” Suzanne and Jeff discussed her trip to Florida.
  • Suzanne said Barry was flying to Florida, and she thought, “It’s just weird. Weird stuff. This whole Valentine’s Day thing… but I was kind of happy to hear that, because maybe we are in the clear.”
  • Jeff replied, “Well, like I said, I don’t want it to be a stressful thing. I just don’t.”
  • Suzanne stated, “Jeff, come on, I’m the one who started the whole ball rolling… You are not a home wrecker. You are my lover and my sweet friend. And the man I love dearly. Ok?”
  • Jeff stated, “I won’t. I just want you to be happy, that’s all.”
  • Suzanne replied, “I’m looking at the man who makes me happy.”

February 2, 2020

• Suzanne and Sheila Oliver met for a girls’ Super Bowl weekend. Suzanne talked with Sheila about getting out of her marriage.

February 4, 2020

• Suzanne was with Libler while visiting her father in Florida.

March 22, 2020

• Suzanne placed her recording pen in Barry’s truck as he took a trip to Pueblo. The pen recorded Barry listening to multiple episodes of Forensic Files, including the murder of Vicki Lynne Hoskinson, who went missing after riding her bike.
• A phone call was recorded between Barry and Suzanne in which Suzanne called Barry “Shirley,” his mother’s name, after he told her how to cook. Barry asked Suzanne why she had to “be so mean” to him.
• Recording: Suzanne told Barry, “This is all I hear every day. This is all I hear every day. What I’m not. What should I think… I am not listening to that anymore!… I have lived for years being told how I should feel, how I should act, how I should look…”
• Later in the conversation, Suzanne and Barry argued about money. Suzanne stated, “It’s all about money,” and added, “Eighty percent of our arguments are because of money.”

April 21, 2020

• Messages between Suzanne and Libler include: “I want to be with you,” “I can only be me with you,” “I love you,” “I need you,” and “You know I was born to love you.”

May 2020

• Suzanne told Libler the girls were going on a camping trip that weekend. Libler said, “Anytime she was alone with Barry, she dreaded it. Didn’t want to be alone with him.” Barry refused to go to counseling, though Suzanne offered. Barry told her, “You just need to be who you were to me, and everything will be fine.”

May 5, 2020

• Suzanne drives Macy to Gunnison, Colorado, to meet her other daughter for a road trip and camping trip through Utah and Idaho with her best friend.

May 6, 2020

• 8:44 AM Suzanne sends a text: “Good morning! I miss you already!”
• 10:17 AM Suzanne let Barry know their marriage was over: “I’m done. I couldn’t care what you’ve been up to for years. We just need to figure this out civilly.” Barry accused Suzanne of having a boyfriend.
• 3:51 AM Barry texted Suzanne: “I promise you are wrong about all the crazy thoughts about me. Only a fool would stray from an angel like you. When I’m dead, which won’t be long, you guys will be taken care of.”

May 7, 2020

• Earlier: Suzanne sent Macy videos of the cat, Lulu, from inside the Morphew house and exchanged messages with her.
• 4:43 PM Suzanne messaged Barry, “Been studying all afternoon. I’m gonna bike now. I’ve got veggie soup on for supper.”

May 8, 2020

• 7:02 AM – Suzanne wrote a list in the Notes app of 50 reasons she wanted to leave the marriage.
• 8:43 AM – Suzanne sent Barry the message, “Sorry I forgot about Rob Mezzell last night. But I will continue to do your invoicing when you need to…”
• 9:28 AM – Suzanne messaged Melinda Baumunk: “It’s hard dealing with the harsh abrasiveness and having to show respect. He’s also been abusive, emotionally and physically.”
• 10:00 AM – Suzanne and Barry had a series of phone calls, which ended when Barry texted, “I love you, Suzanne.”
• 11:30 AM – Barry came home for lunch and left to change the blade on his Bobcat.
• 1:18 PM – Barry texts Salida Stove and Spa to get the hot tub fixed and asks when he can come to the home.
• 6:30 PM – Barry and Suzanne were at Moonlight Pizza. Suzanne took a photo of Barry at Moonlight Pizza and sent it to her daughters via text.
• 7:15 PM – Suzanne Morphew texted Jeff: “He’s gone for a bit.”
• 8:50 PM – Suzanne Morphew’s Facebook codes reset.

Timeline: The Disappearance

May 09, 2020

• 12:02 AM – Incoming call on Suzanne’s phone.
• 2:17 AM – Outgoing call on Suzanne’s phone.
• 6:00 AM – Barry’s phone received a call.
• 6:46 AM – Barry’s phone registered “Power On” and came out of airplane mode.
• 7:19 AM – Barry’s cell received a signal.
• 7:22 AM – 07:39 AM – Barry was at the “Tailwinds” worksite near Poncha Springs.
• 7:35 AM – Suzanne was texting Sheila Oliver about Sheila’s daughter’s wedding on Sunday.
• 8:43 AM – Suzanne spoke to Jeff about moving to Arizona.
• 9:50 AM – Barry texted Suzanne: “Want to go on a hike?”
• 11:14 AM – Suzanne received a second password reset message from Facebook. The previous reset was while Barry was down by the river on the evening of May 8.
• 11:15 AM – Barry tells Morgan Gentile he could “bury a body” and it “would never be found.” Gentile said, “He seemed stressed. He definitely seemed weird on Saturday.”
• 11:42 AM – Suzanne sent Libler a message: “Guess who’s alone again??” Libler told agents that the message meant they were free to talk.
• 11:50 AM – Dead turkey hunt. Barry said he was looking for a turkey Mallory had shot previously with a bow, but they had never found.
• 1:35 PM – Barry leaves home again and checks on a job at Kim Gyms.
• 1:40 PM – Suzanne texts Libler: “Guess who is alone again?”
• 1:46 PM – Barry drove by TK’s house to see the backhoe, but did not get back in touch to buy it.
• 1:51 PM – Barry was at DSI replacing the Bobcat blade. He was wearing a blue T-shirt and khaki shorts.
• 2:03 PM – Suzanne sends a sunbathing photo to Libler, last proof of life.
• 2:11 PM – Suzanne sends her last LinkedIn message to Libler: “I’m on wa.” The message meant they were free to talk.
• 2:26 PM – Barry texts Suzanne, “Done, headed back.”
• 2:31 PM – Barry texted Suzanne, “Did you leave?”
• 2:39 PM – Libler messages Suzanne. She does not respond. First unread.
• 2:43 PM – Barry’s phone and F-350, per telematics, arrive at the Morphew residence.
• 2:44 PM – Shooting chipmunks. Barry had a .22 in the moments when Suzanne ceased communicating with everyone she loved in the world.
• 2:46 PM – Libler messages: “Hey … your weather looks great.” Second unread. No response from Suzanne.
• 2:47 PM – Jeff sends another message to Suzanne, but receives no response. Third unread. Jeff sends Suzanne the last message of the day, but receives no response.
• 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM – Barry claimed he was at Salida Stove and Spa, but posted hours show the store closed at 2 PM on Saturday. Telematics show Barry’s truck in his garage during the time he was supposedly at Salida Stove and Spa.
• 4:44 PM – Barry parks his truck in the garage. Barry claims to have been loading his truck and cleaning off his workbench.
• 5:33 PM – Barry attempted to disable the truck’s GPS and SYNC features.
• 6:40 PM – Sheila Oliver sends two Snapchats to Suzanne that were never opened.
• 6:46 PM – Sheila Oliver sends another Snapchat to Suzanne that was never opened.
• 9:25 PM – Barry’s truck goes into reverse and backs 96.8 feet out of the garage and down the driveway.
• 10:17 PM – Barry’s phone exits airplane mode at the Morphew residence.

May 10, 2020

• 3:25 AM – 3:52 AM – Doors of Morphew’s truck were opened and closed repeatedly.
• 3:58 AM – Barry’s phone moves from home to near where Suzanne’s bike was found.
• 4:23 AM – Suzanne’s phone pinged for the last time with a general location about 11.5 miles west of a cell tower in Poncha Springs. The cellphone has never been found.
• 4:30 AM – Barry told investigators he woke up.
• 5:00 AM – Barry told police he left for Broomfield to fix a retaining wall for his landscaping company. He said he left Suzanne sleeping in their bedroom. He was the last known person to see his wife alive.
• 5:38 AM – 6:56 AM – Barry was near Bailey on his way to the Broomfield job. Barry’s phone exits airplane mode while heading toward Buena Vista, Colorado.
• 8:10 AM – Morphew arrived in Broomfield, and soon after, surveillance cameras and truck data showed him disposing of trash at various locations in Broomfield.
• 8:14 AM – 8:20 AM – Holiday Inn Express, Broomfield. Trash Dump #2. Barry said he parked there because he hoped someone would come out, and he could go to the hotel before checking in and get a free breakfast.
• 8:35 AM – Surveillance video from a hotel showed Barry walking through the front doors.
• 8:41 AM – Barry texted Suzanne that he made it to Broomfield and asked her to call him: “You up? Happy Mother’s Day. I love you.”
• 10:10 AM – Barry left the hotel. During the morning, he visited a McDonald’s and threw out something small, which he later said was wrappers. He also visited a car wash and a Men’s Warehouse store, where he threw away more trash. He also visited the worksite for around 20 minutes, but did not follow through because work was prohibited on Sundays.
• 12:42 PM until 5:55 PM – Surveillance video showed that Barry did not leave his hotel room.
• 3:30 PM – Barry texted Suzanne to call him.
• 5:15 PM – Neighbor Jeane Ritter called Barry to let him know Suzanne was missing. Her bicycle was gone, but her Range Rover was in the garage.
• 5:38 PM – District Attorney investigator Alex Walker was informed that Suzanne was missing. Deputies later discovered Suzanne’s bike with colorful pedals down a ravine near the home. The handlebars were twisted.
• 5:45 PM – Morphew received a second call from Ritter.
• 6:00 PM – Barry made several trips to his truck, bringing in tools.
• 6:00 PM – Miles Harden, a friend of Macy’s, was contacted by law enforcement. He drove around and looked for Suzanne with no luck. He told deputies Suzanne had never gone up the trail where her bike was found because the gains are hard and it is a crazy climb.
• 7:10 PM – Detectives spoke to Barry by phone. He said Suzanne “rides her bike regularly and usually leaves between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM.”
• 7:36 PM – Suzanne Morphew’s mountain bike was discovered by sheriff’s deputies on the side of a cliff off a road near the family home.
• 8:46 PM – Barry arrived home in his truck. He asked deputies if they “saw any cats on the road,” referring to mountain lions. They responded that they had not seen one recently.

Suzanne Morphew Body Cam Footage

Suzanne Morphew Investigation Timeline

May 11, 2020

• 7:00 AM – Barry called Morgan to say Suzanne was missing and that he thought a mountain lion might have attacked her. Morgan explained that Barry was initially crying, but then abruptly shifted to specifics about the Broomfield job.
• 2:47 PM – Libler sends last message to Suzanne, wishing her well for her scheduled final cancer treatment that day.

May 11, 2020

• Detectives spoke to Mallory, who confirmed that Suzanne kept a journal for religious devotionals and described her bedding as light blue sheets and pillowcases with a brown-and-red comforter.
• Sergeant Hysjulien spoke with Macy, who admitted her parents argued frequently, were “not doing well,” and might be better off separating. Macy expressed that both Barry and Suzanne had been in an unsafe place emotionally and confirmed that they had discussed divorce.
• Detectives obtained a search warrant. They located what appeared to be Barry Morphew’s blood on the apron of the garage near the east side of the three-car garage.

May 12, 2020

• 8:00 PM – Barry was found digging in the trash at Poncha Market. “He went to write down a description of maybe what she was wearing,” Butala said. “I just thought it was weird because he didn’t explain what the color of her eyes were or her hair or anything about her, like how tall she was or anything.”

May 13, 2020

• Detectives took photos of scratches on Barry’s left arm and hands. These injuries appeared to be healing, several days-old scratches.
• The search team found what they believed to be Suzanne’s bicycle helmet, identifiable by its teal color in a prior photo. The helmet was located at GPS coordinates 38.55008, -106.2575, about 0.84 miles northwest of the bike site, ten meters south of Highway 50, and about 1.52 miles from the Morphew residence. Inside, investigators found a paper listing Suzanne’s name, address, and contact numbers for Barry, Mallory, and Macy. The helmet was collected as evidence.

May 14, 2020

• Search teams located tire impressions in the area where Suzanne’s helmet was located. The GPS coordinates are 38.54954, -106.25787. The tire impressions were cast by agents with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for possible comparisons.

May 17, 2020, 11:13 AM

• Barry’s plea video was released on Facebook. “Oh, Suzanne, if anyone is out there and can hear this, that has you, please, we’ll do whatever it takes to bring you back…”

May 19, 2020

• A plastic needle cover was located in the dryer drum. It was recovered with sheets from Mallory’s bed inside the dryer.

May 20, 2020

• Spy pen found. Detectives located a writing pen that appears to be the spy pen Sheila Oliver referenced. The pen was located in a cloth bin among women’s bras inside the walk-in closet in the master bedroom.

May 24, 2020

• Detectives gathered audio from the recording pen. Suzanne communicated with two different male voices, one self-identified as Barry and the other as Jeff. One conversation between Suzanne and Jeff sounded intimate. The conversation between Suzanne and Barry was confrontational, and their voices were raised.

June 1, 2020

• Barry files for guardianship. Within a month of Suzanne’s disappearance, Barry began to liquidate assets.
• TD interviews Barry on camera. Barry described the daughters’ return from a trip and said he had a job in Denver he wanted to start on Sunday.

June 6, 2020

• Barry closes on the Indiana home and pockets $750,000.

June 25, 2020

• Barry purchases the Longhorn Ranch property for $165,000, property address 8366 Longhorn Drive.

July 13, 2020

• Barry sells Suzanne’s Range Rover and leaves Suzanne’s sunglasses in the car.

August 20, 2020

• Lauren Scharf interviews Barry. Barry says, “People don’t know the truth, so they’re gonna think what they’re gonna think.”

October 05, 2020

• Barry lists the Puma Path home for sale, originally listed for $1,759,000.

November 2020

• Barry commits voter fraud. Barry filled out Suzanne’s ballot and mailed it in.

November 11, 2020

• Suzanne’s father died at age 87, with a broken heart from Barry’s betrayal.

February 17, 2021

• Barry sells the Longhorn Ranch property for $150,000, resulting in a $15,000 loss. The same property was sold on April 21, 2021, for $175,000, indicating Barry needed the money fast.

March 3, 2021

• 19057 Puma Path sells for $1,625,000. Barry and Suzanne Morphew purchased the home on April 12, 2018, for $1,575,000.

May 4, 2021

• A warrant was issued for the arrest of Barry Lee Morphew for murder in the first degree, tampering with physical evidence, and attempting to influence a public servant.

May 5, 2021,

• 9:15 AM Barry Lee Morphew was arrested for the murder of Suzanne Renee Moorman Morphew. Barry was arrested on the side of the road near his home in Poncha Springs.

September 20, 2021

• Barry was released on a $500,000 cash-only bail. The two daughters he shares with Suzanne, Mallory and Macy Morphew, were by his side.

April 19, 2022

• The case against Barry was dismissed, but prosecutors could choose to pursue the same charges again in the future, a judge ruled. Prosecutors believed investigators were close to locating Suzanne’s body.

May, 2022

• The special prosecutor publicly stated that the investigation into Suzanne Morphew’s disappearance and death remained active despite the dismissal.

May, 2023

• Barry Morphew’s federal civil rights lawsuit against investigators and prosecutors continued moving through federal court.

September 22, 2023

• Investigators conducting an unrelated search discovered human remains in a remote area of Saguache County, Colorado, approximately 45 miles south of the Morphew residence.

September 27, 2023

• The remains were positively identified as Suzanne Morphew. The discovery immediately renewed the homicide investigation. Source

• The autopsy determined that Suzanne Morphew’s death was a homicide. Toxicology testing identified chemicals associated with a wildlife tranquilizer mixture known as BAM (Butorphanol, Azaperone, and Medetomidine). Investigators noted Barry Morphew had experience using BAM while working with deer.

April 2024

• Suzanne Morphew’s remains were authorized for release to the family.
• No one had yet been charged with her murder.
• Family members did not take possession of the remains.

June 18, 2025

• Barry Morphew was indicted for first-degree murder. Morphew was taken into custody in Gilbert, Arizona, and will be extradited to the San Luis Valley. Source
  • During a preliminary hearing in January 2022, prosecutors said that on the afternoon of May 9, 2020, Barry Morphew loaded a syringe with a tranquilizer dart, put his phone on airplane mode, and then shot Suzanne with the dart.
  • Prescription records show that when Suzanne disappeared, only one private citizen living in that entire area of the state had access to BAM: Barry Morphew.
  • Barry used BAM to hunt deer while in Indiana.
  • They moved to Colorado from Indiana in 2018 and were having severe marital difficulties at the time of Suzanne’s disappearance. Source
• 5:15 PM, detectives located Morphew’s vehicle parked at SanTan Village Mall at 2218 E. Williams Field Road in Gilbert, Arizona.
• Morphew was located inside Blue Wasabi Sushi and Martini Bar, where he was seated with a group of people eating dinner.
• 6:49 PM, Morphew walked out of the restaurant with an adult female, later identified as Leah Pettyjohn. Both entered Morphew’s F-350 pickup truck and drove to a residence. Morphew parked in the driveway, and both entered the home.
• 7:12 PM Agent Slater contacted Detective Russ and provided a copy of a Colorado grand jury warrant for Morphew’s arrest.
  • The warrant was signed by Chief Judge Amanda Hopkins of the Twelfth Judicial District Court in Colorado.
  • The warrant was for Morphew’s arrest on charges related to the murder of Suzanne Morphew. The report states the warrant carried a $3 million bond and nationwide extradition.
• Detective Russ authored a GPS-tracking warrant for Morphew’s black Ford F-350 so that authorities could safely apprehend him later, when he was away from the residence.
  • The GPS tracking warrant was reviewed and granted by Judge Richard Baek of the Maricopa County Superior Court.
• 8:15 PM, Detective Russ placed a GPS tracking device on Morphew’s truck while it was parked in the driveway of the residence.

June 20, 2025

• 10:00 AM, Arizona DPS detectives, CBI Agent in Charge Slater, and FBI Special Agent Harris completed an operational briefing regarding Morphew’s arrest.
  • Detectives conducted surveillance on Barry Morphew at the residence.
  • Morphew was observed entering the Ford F-350 pickup truck and driving northbound on Gilbert Road from the residence.
  • Arizona DPS Detective J. Spooner and Detective S. Cronkhite followed Morphew while riding as a two-person uniformed law enforcement unit to assist with a traffic stop.
  • At approximately 10:53 AM, Detective Spooner was informed that Barry Lee Morphew had entered his 2013 Ford F-350 truck. The truck traveled north on Gilbert Road.
  • Detective Spooner activated the emergency lights and siren on an unmarked Arizona DPS Chevrolet Tahoe. The F-350 traveled north to East American Heroes Way and turned east before stopping on the south shoulder.
• 10:55 AM, Detectives Spooner and Cronkhite initiated a traffic stop on Morphew at Gilbert Road and Civic Center Drive in Gilbert, Arizona.
  • Detective Russ pulled in behind the detective’s enforcement vehicle. Morphew was contacted and asked to step out of his vehicle.
  • Detective Russ placed Morphew in handcuffs and informed him of the arrest warrant.
  • Morphew was arrested without incident.
  • Morphew was transported to Arizona DPS Metro Booking by Detectives Spooner and Cronkhite.
  • During the traffic stop, Morphew’s vehicle was searched and inventoried.
  • Detective Russ and Sergeant Vasey removed two iPhones from Morphew’s vehicle. The phones were placed in a Faraday bag and given to Agent Slater for transport to Colorado for further investigation.
  • Detectives also found a pill bottle with no label. The bottle contained several white oval pills suspected of being a prescription-only drug. The pills were seized as evidence and submitted to Arizona DPS Property and Evidence.
  • Morphew’s vehicle was towed to the Arizona DPS Property and Evidence storage lot.
• 11:23 AM, Agent Slater, FBI Special Agent Harris, and Detective Russ arrived at 55 W. Gail Drive in Gilbert, Arizona to interview Leah Pettyjohn.
  • Leah Pettyjohn told investigators she met Morphew on December 28, 2024, in Cave Creek, Arizona.
  • Leah stated that when Morphew introduced himself to her, he used the name “Lee Moore.”
  • Leah said that up until June 15, 2025, she knew Morphew as “Lee Moore.”
  • According to Leah, on June 15, 2025, Morphew told her his real name and said his wife had been abducted in Colorado.
  • Leah said that from December 28, 2024, to approximately May 1, 2025, Morphew was not living with her at her home and was living in other states or other areas of Arizona.
  • On or about May 1, 2025, Leah said Morphew began living with her and had moved in personal property, including a safe.
  • Leah reported that Morphew kept cash and other unknown items in the safe, including an envelope containing $1,000 that belonged to her.
  • Leah said she did not know the combination to the safe or what else was inside.
  • Leah described the safe as a black portable safe located in the master bedroom closet, with the brand name “Longhorn” stamped on the front door.
  • Following the interview, Detective Russ authored a search warrant to retrieve the Longhorn safe and search its contents as part of the Colorado homicide investigation.
  • The search warrant was reviewed and granted by Judge Genene Dyer of the Maricopa County Superior Court.
• 7:47 PM, Agent Slater, Special Agent Harris, Detective Szczepaniec, and Detective Russ arrived at the residence and met with Leah.
  • Detective Russ served Leah with the search warrant. Leah took the investigators to the master bedroom closet where the Longhorn safe was located.
  • Investigators observed Morphew’s clothing and shoes in a portion of the closet.
  • Detective Russ photographed the closet and the safe before removing the safe from the home.
  • No other portion of the home was searched.
  • Detectives did not have a key or combination to the safe and were unable to open it at the residence.
  • The safe was transported to the Gilbert Police Department, where SWAT operators assisted in opening it by cutting into it with an electric saw.
  • The safe was destroyed during the process and was determined to have no evidentiary value after photographs were taken.
  • The following items were taken from the safe:
    • Two SD memory cards were turned over to Agent Slater.
    • A United States passport belonging to Morphew was turned over to Agent Slater.
    • A wallet containing Morphew’s identification and credit cards.
    • A blue bank bag containing vehicle titles and other paperwork belonging to Morphew.
    • A credit card bearing Suzanne’s name.
    • A folder containing several Indiana and Arizona vehicle titles with Morphew’s name.
    • A plastic bottle containing white, round pills with no label.
    • A black bag, boxes of rifle ammunition, two pairs of binoculars, a bag of pennies, a can containing foreign coins, and bags containing miscellaneous keys.
    • A tan American Resistance AR-15 style rifle with a folding stock, Nikon scope, sling, and two barrels, appearing to be chambered in .223 caliber and 300 BLK caliber.
    • A black SilencerCo .300 caliber suppressor and an ATF tax stamp for the suppressor, showing Morphew as the owner.
    • A red envelope containing cash with Leah’s name on it, which was later returned to Leah along with a copy of the property receipt.
• Leah did not want to take possession of Morphew’s personal property or the destroyed safe and gave permission for the safe to be discarded.
• Items collected from the safe were submitted to Arizona DPS Property and Evidence, except for the items turned over to Agent Slater.
• Barry Morphew was later booked into the Maricopa County Jail while awaiting extradition on the warrant.

June 27, 2025

• Property and evidence entries were documented during the investigation.
• Evidence listed in the report included paperwork, wallet, cards, identification, vehicle titles, miscellaneous paperwork, prescription pills, miscellaneous items, binoculars, duck call keys, magazines, ammunition, a firearm, a suppressor, a Ford key, metformin, two Apple iPhones, SD memory cards, and a United States passport.

July 1, 2025

• The Arizona DPS report lists the case disposition date as July 1, 2025.

September 2, 2025

• Bond Hearing. In Alamosa, 12th District Judge Amanda Hopkins denied the defense request to reduce Barry Morphew’s bond from $3 million to $500,000, but modified it from cash-only to cash or surety.
• Judge Hopkins explained that if Morphew posts surety, he would have $300,000 on the line with a bail bondsman tracking him. If posted in cash, he would have $3 million at stake.
• Bond conditions if posted: prohibited from leaving Colorado, GPS monitor required, may leave home only for medical or court purposes, must surrender passports, must use only his legal given name, must use properly registered vehicles, and must comply with the mandatory protection order.
• The judge noted the victims are Morphew’s two daughters and allowed continued contact with them.

September 18, 2025

• Barry Morphew posted bail.
• Morphew was signing paperwork and being fitted with a GPS ankle monitor. He was ordered to be monitored at all times and was not allowed to leave Colorado.
• A protection order was issued, prohibiting contact with the victims in the case. Hopkins did not limit contact with his daughters. The order prohibits Morphew from possessing firearms and ammunition and consuming alcohol and controlled substances. Source

September 19, 2025

• Barry Morphew’s defense team filed a motion requesting relief. Source
• The motion requested that the public, unmonitored live stream of hearings be stopped.
• The motion requested remote access only through verified WebEx accounts so viewers are identifiable, and IP addresses are traceable.

November 3, 2025

• 1:30 PM – Next status conference.

January 12, 2026

• The court scheduled a motions hearing for July 6, 2026, and a jury trial for October 13, 2026.

January 29, 2026

• Barry Morphew signed paperwork authorizing the release of Suzanne’s remains to a funeral home.

February 11, 2026

• Documents signed by Barry Morphew authorized the cremation of the remains.

February 17, 2026

• The coroner notified law enforcement that the funeral home had arrived to collect the remains.

February 18, 2026

• Prosecutors sought and obtained a search warrant to seize the remains as evidence.

February 19, 2026

• Law enforcement learned the remains were scheduled to be cremated on February 20.

February 24, 2026

• A second search warrant was issued for documents related to the remains and cremation authorization forms.

March 4, 2026

• Prosecutors filed “People’s Response to Intervenors’ Motion Regarding Suzanne Morphew’s Remains,” opposing a request to release Suzanne Morphew’s remains to family members before trial. Source
• The filing states Suzanne Morphew’s skeletal remains were discovered on September 23, 2024, and forensic testing detected BAM, a rare animal tranquilizer mixture that requires a prescription and is allegedly linked to Barry Morphew.
• Prosecutors disclosed Barry Morphew signed documents on February 11 and February 13, 2026, authorizing cremation of Suzanne Morphew’s remains.
• On February 17, 2026, law enforcement learned that a funeral home had arrived to collect the remains from the El Paso County Coroner’s Office.
• Investigators obtained a search warrant on February 18, 2026, to seize the remains as material evidence.
• Authorities were informed that the remains were scheduled to be cremated on February 20, 2026, prompting law enforcement to secure them to prevent the destruction of evidence.
• Prosecutors argued that the remains must remain in government custody because they constitute material evidence that may require further forensic testing, expert review, and potential use at trial or in post-conviction proceedings.
• The filing states Suzanne Morphew’s sister, Melinda Balzar, and brother, David Moorman, strongly object to releasing the remains before a verdict is reached in the case.
• Prosecutors asked the court to deny the motion to release the remains, stating that preservation of evidence is necessary to maintain the integrity of the murder prosecution against Barry Morphew.

March 9, 2026

• A brief virtual status conference was held in the case. Source
• Defense attorney David Beller informed the court that the defense is reviewing approximately six terabytes of discovery.
• Additional discovery is still being produced by the district attorney’s office.
• The issue regarding Suzanne Morphew’s remains and the daughters’ motion to intervene remains pending before the court.
• District Attorney Anne Kelly indicated the matter could potentially be resolved without a full hearing.
• The case remains on track for a scheduled trial in October 2026.

March 30, 2026, Scheduled Hearing

• A hearing is scheduled before 12th Judicial District Chief Judge Amanda Hopkins regarding the daughters’ motion to intervene.
• Issues to be addressed include whether Malory and Macy Morphew have legal standing to intervene in the criminal case and whether Suzanne Morphew’s remains should be released to the family or retained as evidence.
• District Attorney Anne Kelly argues Suzanne Morphew’s remains are “material evidence in this case lawfully obtained by a search warrant.”
• The prosecution maintains the remains are critical due to anticipated defense challenges to forensic testing.
• Barry Morphew’s attorney, David Beller, states the defense takes no formal position on the motion and indicates Barry supports his daughters’ wishes.
• Judge Hopkins has indicated the court will determine whether the daughters have legal standing to intervene and has acknowledged that, as victims, they have a right to be heard.
• Case status: trial remains scheduled for October 2026. Defense is reviewing approximately six terabytes of discovery, with additional materials still being produced by the district attorney’s office.

April 6, 2026

• The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of Barry Morphew’s civil lawsuit against prosecutors, investigators, and officials connected to the first prosecution. The lawsuit stemmed from the original murder case that was dismissed in 2022.

May 19, 2026

• During a status conference, the court noted that Barry Morphew’s defense team had filed 31 motions dated April 13, 2026. The defense asked the court to exclude certain testimony, including witness comments that Morphew “looked guilty,” “looked untruthful,” or “looked suspicious.” The defense also asked to exclude statements attributed to Suzanne Morphew from the trial. Prosecutors stated they planned to file responses to many of the defense motions.

June 24, 2026

• 3:00 PM: A status conference was scheduled in People of the State of Colorado v. Barry Morphew. The Colorado Judicial Branch listed the hearing for June 24, 2026, at 3:00 PM.
• During a status hearing, Barry Morphew’s murder trial was delayed until 2027. The trial had previously been scheduled to begin on October 13, 2026.
• Morphew’s defense argued it needed additional time to review a large volume of discovery and prepare for trial.
• Prosecutors objected to a lengthy delay, but the court postponed the trial. The trial is now expected to take place sometime in the first half of 2027.

Barry Morphew Arrested

June 18, 2025 – Barry Morphew indicted for first-degree murder. Morphew was taken into custody in Gilbert, Arizona. He will be extradited to the San Luis Valley to face charges. Document

Barry Morphew was arrested again in connection with the death of his wife, Suzanne Morphew, more than five years after she disappeared on Mother’s Day in 2020. A Colorado grand jury indicted him on one count of first-degree murder on June 18, 2025, and he was taken into custody in Arizona on June 20, 2025. Suzanne’s remains were found in 2023 near Moffat, Colorado, and her death was later ruled a homicide by unspecified means.

Suzanne Morphew Remains Found Timeline

On September 22, 2023, Suzanne Morphew’s remains were discovered in a shallow grave.

September 22, 2023

• Remains were discovered in a shallow grave and surrounding high-desert prairie outside Moffat in Saguache County, Colorado. Investigators reportedly stumbled upon the remains while searching for another missing woman, though the cases were unrelated.
• Suzanne Morphew’s skeletal remains and part of her clothing were submitted for examination. The coroner found no indication of trauma to her body at the time of death.
• The autopsy also said a weathered bullet was found along with her remains and is in the custody of CBI.

September 25, 2023

• The El Paso County coroner confirmed the remains found three days earlier belonged to Suzanne. Attorney Iris Eytan said Barry and Barry’s daughters were struggling with shock and grief after learning their mother and wife was found deceased.
• Suzanne Morphew’s death was ruled a homicide by undetermined means in the setting of butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine intoxication.
• Butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine are used by biologists, wildlife officers, and hunters to anesthetize large animals such as deer, bear, moose, and horses. Autopsy

The Morphew Case: Key Facts in Review

• Disappearance: Suzanne Morphew reportedly went missing during an alleged bike ride, which no one witnessed. Her bike was found with no evidence of damage or an accident, and her belongings, including her car, helmet, and sunglasses, were left at home.
• Marriage Tensions: Suzanne had told Barry she wanted to end the marriage and handle matters civilly. She also suspected Barry of monitoring her, prompting her to disable the home’s security cameras.
• Barry’s Trip: Barry hastily planned a work trip to Broomfield, Colorado, scheduled it last minute and brought inadequate tools. He made multiple stops, including five trash runs, and was observed resting and changing outfits in his hotel room.
• Inconsistent Timeline: Barry initially claimed he set out at 5:00 AM, yet phone and vehicle data indicate he was active around 3:30 AM. During this period, his phone entered airplane mode multiple times.
• Unexplained Behavior: Upon learning Suzanne was missing, Barry asked neighbors to search for her bike rather than immediately contacting authorities. He later suggested a mountain lion might have taken Suzanne, a theory with no supporting evidence.
• Contradictory Statements: Barry claimed he and Suzanne had a perfect marriage, contradicting other accounts of marital strain.
• Suspicious Items: Investigators found that the cutting edge of Barry’s Bobcat SkidSteer had been recently replaced, and multiple scent-detection K-9 Units alerted to human remains near his equipment.
• Financial and Personal Moves: Following Suzanne’s disappearance, Barry liquidated over $2 million in marital assets, sold Suzanne’s car, and initiated a relationship with Shoshona Darke.
• Questionable Search Efforts: Barry stated he searched mines for Suzanne, yet his efforts reportedly ceased after a few months.
• Polygraph and Cooperation: Barry refused to take a polygraph and was evasive with investigators.
• Interviews and Admissions: Barry repeatedly stated, “I don’t recall” when questioned on specific details. He acknowledged being the last person to see Suzanne alive.
• Lack of Urgency: Barry did not attempt to call Suzanne during his trip or upon learning she was missing.

In conclusion, Barry Morphew’s actions, contradictory statements, and unusual behavior following Suzanne’s disappearance raised significant suspicions. The FBI investigation gathered circumstantial evidence pointing to Barry’s involvement, culminating in his arrest on charges related to Suzanne’s presumed death. The case remains complex as authorities continue preparing for trial.

Case Records