What Happened To Suzanne Morphew?

The disappearance and suspected murder of Suzanne Morphew is a haunting true crime story that captivated the nation and sent shockwaves through the small community of Salida, Colorado. Suzanne, a 49-year-old mother of two, vanished on Mother’s Day, May 10, 2020, sparking a massive search effort, a complex investigation, and a case that remains mired in controversy and mystery.

The Disappearance

Suzanne Morphew was last seen on the morning of May 10, 2020, when she reportedly went for a bike ride near her home in the Maysville area, just outside Salida. When she didn’t return, her husband, Barry, who was away on a landscaping job in Denver, raised the alarm. A neighbor found Suzanne’s bike and helmet abandoned on a trail, but there were no immediate signs of a struggle or foul play.

The search for Suzanne quickly escalated into one of the largest in Colorado history, involving local law enforcement, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the FBI. Despite extensive efforts, including searches by air, ground, and water, no significant clues were found in the days and weeks following her disappearance. The case gripped the local community and drew national media attention, with many fearing the worst.

The Investigation and Barry Morphew’s Arrest

As the investigation progressed, attention increasingly turned to Barry Morphew. Although he initially portrayed himself as a distraught husband desperate to find his wife, inconsistencies in his statements and behavior began to raise suspicions. He publicly offered a $100,000 reward for Suzanne’s safe return and made emotional pleas for her to come home.

In the months following Suzanne’s disappearance, investigators uncovered a series of troubling details. Digital evidence, including data from Barry’s truck, phone, and surveillance cameras, suggested that his movements on the day Suzanne disappeared did not align with his account: Barry’s cell phone was turned to airplane mode during the time Susan went missing and was last pinged by the home. Two hours later, it was turned back on; a needle cap of a tranquilizer dart was found in the Morphew’s dryer which Barry admitted using to hunt deer but didn’t know how it ended up in his clothes. Finally, authorities discovered that Suzanne had been having an affair, which she had kept secret from Barry. This revelation, coupled with the tensions in their marriage, led investigators to consider the possibility that Barry had a motive to harm his wife.

In May 2021, a year after Suzanne’s disappearance, Barry Morphew was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and attempting to influence a public servant. The arrest affidavit, which was later released, detailed the extensive evidence gathered against Barry. This included testimony from friends who said Suzanne had expressed fear for her safety, Barry’s suspicious behavior in the days before and after her disappearance, and forensic evidence that suggested a violent confrontation had occurred in the Morphew home (Suzanne’s blood in the home and in her Chevy truck).

Despite the circumstantial nature of much of the evidence, prosecutors believed they had enough to convict Barry of Suzanne’s murder, even though her body had not been found. The case was set to go to trial.

The Trial and Its Challenges

As the trial approached, the prosecution’s case faced significant challenges. The lack of a body, definitive forensic evidence, and a clear motive complicated the effort to prove Barry’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. It didn’t help that the prosecution failed to disclose all evidence with the defense team and therefore, the judge throughout most of the evidence—the prosecutor is currently under investigation for misconduct. Barry’s defense team aggressively countered the charges, arguing that the evidence against him was weak and that investigators had unfairly targeted him without considering other possible suspects. 

In a surprising turn of events, in April 2022, just weeks before the trial was set to begin, prosecutors moved to dismiss the charges against Barry Morphew without prejudice, meaning they could potentially refile them in the future. They cited the need for more time to pursue new leads and gather additional evidence. Barry was released from custody, and the case was left in a state of limbo.

Aftermath and Ongoing Mystery

The decision to drop the charges shocked many and left Suzanne’s family and friends devastated. They pledged to never stop looking for Suzanne’s remains and the person responsible for taking her life. As for Barry Manilow, he went on to file a $15 million lawsuit against the county saying he was wrongfully charged in his wife’s disappearance and presumed death. But the story wasn’t over yet. On September 22, 2023, while working on another crime scene, investigators found Suzanne’s remains in the forests of Moffat in Saguache County, three years after her strange disappearance. The family was grateful to have her back home but the question of what happened on that fateful afternoon still loomed as charges hadn’t been filed. When Suzanne’s autopsy report came back, it was revealed that her cause of death was homicide and animal tranquilizers were in her bones—the same ones found in Barry’s laundry room.