Death of Suzanne Morphew

Suzanne Morphew was a 49-year-old mother of two who was reported missing from the area of her home outside Salida, Colorado, on May 10, 2020. Searchers did not find her at the time. Her bicycle and helmet were recovered separately during the early investigation.

Barry Morphew, Suzanne's husband, was first charged in 2021, but prosecutors dismissed that case without prejudice in April 2022 before trial. The dismissal preserved the possibility of a later prosecution but did not establish guilt. Searchers found Suzanne's remains near Moffat in Saguache County in September 2023, and a coroner later ruled her death a homicide.

A grand jury returned a new first-degree-murder indictment against Barry Morphew in June 2025. He pleaded not guilty at his January 12, 2026 arraignment and remains presumed innocent. Allegations contained in the new indictment and in the dismissed first case are identified as prosecution claims, not established facts.

The trial was previously set for October 2026. In July 2026, the Denver Gazette reported that the court continued it to July 2027 after a defense request for additional preparation time. Because the future setting can change, an operative court order and official docket must be checked immediately before publication. The case remains ongoing, and Barry Morphew is represented only by the legally accurate charged role.