CO - BARRY ARRESTED AGAIN - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee Co, 10 May 2020 *Case dismissed w/o prejudice* *found in 2023* #119

[Seattle1]

Suzanne Morphew's autopsy reveals she died by homicide

Suzanne Morphew, 49, went missing on Mother's Day in May 2020. Authorities found her remains in Saguache County in September 2023.

www.9news.com

4/29/24

CHAFFEE COUNTY, Colo. — Seven months after the remains of Suzanne Morphew were discovered in a shallow grave in a remote area of Saguache County, her autopsy has been completed.
The manner of death is listed as "homicide by undetermined means in the setting of butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine intoxication," according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

[...]

In an interview with 9NEWS on Monday, an attorney representing Barry Morphew argued the autopsy results do not incriminate her client.

"Barry Morphew is innocent and he could not have killed his wife," said Jane Fisher-Byrialsen, one of Barry's attorneys. "She got up the morning of Mother's Day, had her cup of coffee, that is now confirmed with the autopsy report. Also confirmed with the autopsy report is that she put on her bike clothes. She was on a bike ride and abducted. The tranquilizer that was found in her bones, allegedly, is a very common animal tranquilizer that could be used on farms or by hunters, which are people who are very prevalent in that area of Salida."

[...]

"Despite the fact that unknown male DNA was found in Suzanne’s car, where her bike was parked, on her bike grips, handlebars, and bike seat, the authorities will not tell the Morphew family whether Suzanne's bike clothes, collected seven months ago with her remains, have been tested for DNA," a statement released Monday by Barry Morphew's attorneys read. "DNA left on her clothing by the murderer could bring justice for Suzanne, her family and the community. The authorities will also not provide the Morphew’s any information regarding whether they have performed any testing on the bullet that was collected with Suzanne’s remains."

[..]

Iris Eytan, released the following statement on behalf of Barry and his two daughters:

Barry is with his daughters and they are all struggling with immense shock and grief after learning today that their mother and wife whom they deeply love was found deceased. They had faith that their wife and mom would walk back into their lives again. The news is heartbreaking.

[..]

From what we know, Barry is as innocent as he was from Day 1. DA Stanley and law enforcement got it wrong. We hope the authorities will quickly admit their wrongful persecution of Barry, an innocent man, to treat the Morphews like the victims they are, and charge the person(s) responsible for Suzanne’s killing.

Barry Morphew filed a civil rights lawsuit in May of this year against Chaffee County, prosecutors, CBI employees and FBI employees asking for $15 million in damages.

[..]

Fisher-Byrialsen said investigators gave Barry Morphew and his daughters the opportunity to pick up Suzanne's remains earlier this year, but on advice from their attorneys, did not collect the remains. Fisher-Byrialsen says prosecutors have not told Barry Morphew whether he is still a suspect in this case. She said Suzanne's remains are still at the El Paso County Coroner's Office where the autopsy was performed.

SM's Autopsy (# 23-1011) dated 9/27/23, available at MSM link. above. (Excludes anthropology and toxicology reports).

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

Article with some quotes from one of Barry's attorneys:

His attorneys are preparing for a forensic courtroom showdown.

“The claim that Suzanne Morphew had BAM in her system is not true,” said David Beller, who has been representing Barry Morphew since he took over from Denver attorney Iris Eytan last summer.

Beller and his cocounsel, Jane Fisher-Byrialsen, contend that of three labs consulted, only the El Paso County Coroner’s Office, a lab they say is certified only for DUI testing, found the three substances that make up BAM in Suzanne Morphew’s femur bone. The attorneys plan to attack the credibility of the El Paso County lab. “The scientific ‘evidence’ does not hold up,” Beller said in a text.

Neither the El Paso County Coroner’s Office nor NMS Labs, a private nationally accredited Pennsylvania lab which was consulted on the case, would comment on their involvement with it.

The third lab that consulted on the case, the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, also declined comment for this article.

- Morphew’s attorneys call the BAM theory “junk science” and during trial, will question the lab work.

In an interview with The Sun, Morphew’s attorney, Beller, referred to a “prosecution-sided narrative of what law enforcement wants the public to believe.”

He described the science developed by detectives and toxicologists as “incomplete” adding that they ignored evidence that points to Morphew’s innocence.

Battle over a little-known wildlife sedative at center of murder case against Barry Morphew

An October murder trial promises to center around a mix of potent chemicals the autopsy revealed were discovered in Suzanne Morphew's remains.

coloradosun.com

Looks like they forgot about this order.

Order Limiting Pre-Trial Publicity.pdf

I also think I remember early on them complaining about the prosecution arguing the case in the media.

 

[Seattle1]

SM's Autopsy (# 23-1011) dated 9/27/23, pgs 1-4, linked above. (Excludes anthropology and toxicology reports):

E. Postmortem toxicology of femoral trabecular bone identified butorphanol, butorphanol metabolites, azaperone, and medetomidine. (See toxicology reports). Ref Autopsy pg 1/4.
The right femoral head (femur fragment and femur head) is retained for toxicology testing prior to release for forensic anthropology examination. Ref Autopsy pg 3/4.

The skeletal remains are released to Dr. Diane France for forensic anthropology examination on 10/3/23 and returned to El Paso County Coroner's Office on 12/27/23. Ref Autopsy pg 4/4.

On 1/17/24, the femurs are sectioned at the proximal and distal metaphyses for toxicology and DNA samples (right femur proximal, right femur distal, left femur proximal, left femur distal).

Distal femurs (right femur distal and left femur distal) are released to CBI on 1/22/24 for DNA testing, returned to El Paso County Coroner's Office on 4/3/24, and re-released to CBI on 4/5/24.
_____________________________________

Forensic toxicology using bone samples, such as femur fragments and femoral heads, is a specialized, highly sensitive method used to detect drug intoxication in cases of advanced decomposition, skeletonization, or when traditional fluids (blood, urine) are unavailable. Bone marrow, particularly in the femur, acts as a reservoir for certain drugs.

Recent investigations have highlighted the ability to detect specialized drug compounds, including wildlife sedatives like butorphanol, within bone marrow.

Forensic Analysis of Femur Samples for Drug Detection:

• Sample Type: The femur is an ideal specimen due to its density, size, and the presence of significant marrow. The femur head and surrounding marrow can contain high concentrations of substances, sometimes higher than blood in postmortem studies.
• Preparation Method: Bones are cleaned of soft tissue, and the bone marrow is extracted. The sample is typically ground into a fine powder and subjected to solvent extraction (e.g., using methanol).
• Analytical Techniques: High-sensitivity instruments, such as liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), are used to detect and quantify trace levels of analytes (often at picogram per gram levels).

Detecting Butorphanol Intoxication: Butorphanol is a synthetic opioid agonist-antagonist that is heavily metabolized in the liver.

• Evidence in Bones: In cases of suspicious death, toxicological analysis has identified butorphanol—along with companions like medetomidine and azaperone (together known as "BAM")—within the bone marrow.
• Metabolites: While butorphanol is metabolized to hydroxybutorphanol and norbutorphanol, forensic analysis in bone targets both the parent drug and metabolites for detection.
• Interpretation: While bone analysis can prove exposure to the drug, it is challenging to definitively determine the exact time of ingestion or correlate the concentration directly with an acute fatal dose, making context from a full autopsy necessary.

Advantages and Limitations

• Advantages: Bone provides a stable environment, protecting drugs from rapid degradation.
• Limitations: Standardization is difficult, as drug concentration in bones can be affected by the burial environment, soil pH, and moisture. Additionally, not all drugs detected in blood are equally detectable in bone, requiring advanced, specialized laboratory protocols.

Skeletal tissue, a viable option in forensic toxicology? A view into post mortem cases

Blood analysis is the golden standard in the field of forensic toxicology. However, when extended decomposition of the remains has occurred, alternati…

www.sciencedirect.com

Battle over a little-known wildlife sedative at center of murder case against Barry Morphew

An October murder trial promises to center around a mix of potent chemicals the autopsy revealed were discovered in Suzanne Morphew's remains.

coloradosun.com

Diane France Uncovers the Stories Behind the Bones | American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

www.aaas.org

 

[girlhasnoname]

Wealthy family of murdered Colorado mother Suzanne Morphew left her body in morgue for TWO YEARS after investigators said they could collect it​

The family of a Colorado mom who was murdered left her body in a morgue for two years despite being told they could collect her remains, court papers revealed.

Suzanne Morphew's family were told they could collect her body in April of 2024 after it was found in a field in September of 2023, more than three years after she vanished from her $1.5m home in Maysville, on Mother's Day 2020.

Yet for two years it remained with the El Paso County Coroner's Office after the family failed to claim it.

[…]

At the time the family were told to collect her remains in 2024 no one was charged with her murder.

Her daughters Mallory and Macy are now in a legal battle with the state for her body after prosecutors took it back into custody the day before Suzanne was to be cremated.

It was her suspected killer husband who signed off on her body being released to Swan-Law Funeral Home in Colorado Springs in late January.

Law enforcement were notified of its release on February 17, the courts issued a search warrant for her body on the 18th, on the 19th her body was handed back over. Her remains were to be cremated on the 20th according to filings uncovered by Denver Gazette.

[…]

Swan-Law Funeral Directors said in a statement: 'Not being able to memorialize a loved one in a timely manner is truly heartbreaking, and we feel for Suzanne’s family members.

'At the same time, we will always comply with the law, just as we’ve done in this case. It is our sincerest hope that Suzanne’s daughters will be able to celebrate the life of their mother very soon.'
[…]

More at link:

Family of murdered mom left her body in morgue for TWO YEARS

Suzanne Morphew's family were told they could collect her body in April of 2024 after it was found in a field in September of 2023, but for two years it stayed with the El Paso County Coroner's Office.

www.dailymail.co.uk

As sad as it is, I'm glad the real story is getting out to the masses. Poor Suzanne, left alone throughout much of her life and during her second round of chemo by the lying, cheating, pitiful excuse of a man, and left alone on a shelf once her precious remains were found. Didn't they all swear to find her and the killer(s) from the Courthouse steps???

It makes me so violently ill towards all of them trying to play this sudden "Oh we want Suzanne's remains for a family burial" NOW. WTH have you classless, circus clowns been doing for the last 2 years? So very, very, sad and wrong.

Suzanne will have the last words with her remains and the DA/State of CO speaking on her behalf. Absolutely divine intervention IMO.

#Justice4Suzanne

 

[GOBliaison]

Remind me, who originally said that the family decided to leave the remains there for future testing? I think it was Jane in that podcast interview, wasn't it?

Y E S !! Fab rebound @MassGuy!
And this was her near-interminable sitdown from Sweden... where almost every day is a slow news yawn.
Memory triggered as I recall searching for a "Swedish Chef" meme to work into some snarky reply!

Swedish Chef Chef GIF - Swedish Chef Chef Swedish - Discover & Share GIFs

Click to view the GIF

tenor.com

 

[Megnut]

And why didn't the Defense send out Suzanne's remains for re-testing? That was their explanation for why BM & Co weren't claiming them. Guess that wasn't true.

And once again, we see a familiar Defense tactic. Misrepresent. Make claims that evidence isn't what it is. Mystery DNA, tracking dog, static drift, spa store, BAM in the bones.

Hocus pocus.

JMO

 

[katydid23]

Yes why wouldn’t they be compatible? It’s quite common and has been for Christian doctrines.

My point was a Christian burial meant a body was buried in a grave. When I was growing up , we were told by our church leaders that cremation was not the way to go, but that was 60 or 70 years ago, so please ignore ....

 

[osu]

Why is Mallory and Macy’s attorney telling the judge that they’re unable to hold a memorial service for their mother? When Mallory and Macy already organized and held a memorial service for their mother at their church in Indiana, one month after their mother’s remains were made available to them? They chose NOT to take possession of Suzanne’s remains for their memorial service in May 2024.


Bert Nieslanik, an attorney representing Mallory and Macy Morphew, asked a judge to weigh in on the matter last week, calling the fact that Morphew’s remains were removed from Swan-Law Funeral Directors before the daughters could hold a memorial service “outrageous, cruel and shocking to the conscience.”
DA asks judge to deny request for Suzanne Morphew’s remains


‘In April of 2024, the remains of Suzanne Morphew were made available for release to her family. Notably, at that time, no one was charged with Suzanne Morphew's murder. Further, at that time, family members did not take possession of her remains.’

https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/Response_Redacted.pdf

May 6, 2024
Friends and family held their breath as Barry Morphew was seen sneaking into the Indiana church for murdered wife Suzanne Morphew's memorial service held on Saturday, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal – less than a week after an autopsy report confirmed her death by homicide.…Husband Barry, 56, who was charged with her murder before the case collapsed, attended the ceremony, as did daughters Mallory and Macy who organized it.

Barry Morphew sneaks into memorial service for wife Suzanne

 

[Niner]

Why is Mallory and Macy’s attorney telling the judge that they’re unable to hold a memorial service for their mother? When Mallory and Macy already organized and held a memorial service for their mother at their church in Indiana, one month after their mother’s remains were made available to them? They chose NOT to take possession of Suzanne’s remains for their memorial service in May 2024.


Bert Nieslanik, an attorney representing Mallory and Macy Morphew, asked a judge to weigh in on the matter last week, calling the fact that Morphew’s remains were removed from Swan-Law Funeral Directors before the daughters could hold a memorial service “outrageous, cruel and shocking to the conscience.”
DA asks judge to deny request for Suzanne Morphew’s remains


‘In April of 2024, the remains of Suzanne Morphew were made available for release to her family. Notably, at that time, no one was charged with Suzanne Morphew's murder. Further, at that time, family members did not take possession of her remains.’

https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/Response_Redacted.pdf

May 6, 2024
Friends and family held their breath as Barry Morphew was seen sneaking into the Indiana church for murdered wife Suzanne Morphew's memorial service held on Saturday, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal – less than a week after an autopsy report confirmed her death by homicide.…Husband Barry, 56, who was charged with her murder before the case collapsed, attended the ceremony, as did daughters Mallory and Macy who organized it.

Barry Morphew sneaks into memorial service for wife Suzanne

Maybe you should send this to the Judge!

 

[Knox]

Why is Mallory and Macy’s attorney telling the judge that they’re unable to hold a memorial service for their mother? When Mallory and Macy already organized and held a memorial service for their mother at their church in Indiana, one month after their mother’s remains were made available to them? They chose NOT to take possession of Suzanne’s remains for their memorial service in May 2024.


Bert Nieslanik, an attorney representing Mallory and Macy Morphew, asked a judge to weigh in on the matter last week, calling the fact that Morphew’s remains were removed from Swan-Law Funeral Directors before the daughters could hold a memorial service “outrageous, cruel and shocking to the conscience.”
DA asks judge to deny request for Suzanne Morphew’s remains


‘In April of 2024, the remains of Suzanne Morphew were made available for release to her family. Notably, at that time, no one was charged with Suzanne Morphew's murder. Further, at that time, family members did not take possession of her remains.’

https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/Response_Redacted.pdf

May 6, 2024
Friends and family held their breath as Barry Morphew was seen sneaking into the Indiana church for murdered wife Suzanne Morphew's memorial service held on Saturday, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal – less than a week after an autopsy report confirmed her death by homicide.…Husband Barry, 56, who was charged with her murder before the case collapsed, attended the ceremony, as did daughters Mallory and Macy who organized it.

Barry Morphew sneaks into memorial service for wife Suzanne

Sadly, I think the girls continue to be pawns in their Dad’s legal strategy. BM is running the show behind the scenes, as he always has.

They will only be free, if he’s convicted. Then with age/maturity/separation, hopefully they will see him for what he truly is. Grieving Suzanne in a real, meaningful way hasn’t been possible for them yet. I hope one day they reconnect with Suzanne’s side of the family so that can happen. All JMO.

 

[steeltowngirl]

From what we know, Barry is as innocent as he was from Day 1.

^Well, exactly!

Zero percent innocent.
Guilty then, and still guilty now.

#JusticeForSuzanne

 

[Magic8Ball]

Suzanne Morphew's autopsy reveals she died by homicide

Suzanne Morphew, 49, went missing on Mother's Day in May 2020. Authorities found her remains in Saguache County in September 2023.

www.9news.com

4/29/24

CHAFFEE COUNTY, Colo. — Seven months after the remains of Suzanne Morphew were discovered in a shallow grave in a remote area of Saguache County, her autopsy has been completed.
The manner of death is listed as "homicide by undetermined means in the setting of butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine intoxication," according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

[...]

In an interview with 9NEWS on Monday, an attorney representing Barry Morphew argued the autopsy results do not incriminate her client.

"Barry Morphew is innocent and he could not have killed his wife," said Jane Fisher-Byrialsen, one of Barry's attorneys. "She got up the morning of Mother's Day, had her cup of coffee, that is now confirmed with the autopsy report. Also confirmed with the autopsy report is that she put on her bike clothes. She was on a bike ride and abducted. The tranquilizer that was found in her bones, allegedly, is a very common animal tranquilizer that could be used on farms or by hunters, which are people who are very prevalent in that area of Salida."

Respectfully snipped and bolded by me for focus:

Every time I read this Jane quote, I laugh and I laugh, and then I laugh some more, on account of, it's so laughable.
Here's what Jane managed to claim with a straight face:

1) Autopsy confirmed Suzanne got up Sunday morning, Mother's Day.
2) Autopsy confirmed Suzanne drank her cup of coffee on Sunday, Mother's Day.
3) Autopsy confirmed Suzanne dressed herself in biker clothing on Sunday, Mother's Day.
4) Autopsy confirmed Suzanne went on a bike ride on Sunday, Mother's Day.
5) Autopsy confirmed Suzanne was abducted during a bike ride on Sunday, Mother's Day.
6) Autopsy confirmed nothing about BAM, it's only allegedly and plus it's so extremely common that even if it was found it proves absolutely nothing useful because Barry is innocent and he could not have murdered Suzanne.

I can't decide whether Jane's really that stupid or whether she thinks the rest of us are really that stupid, but either way, it's a hilariously bad gaslighting attempt.

JMO.

 

[Magic8Ball]

*DBM

 

[Magic8Ball]

https://www.kvor.com/2026/03/06/morphews-remains-almost-cremated/

Snipped from article:

The remains of Suzanne Morphew were 1 day away from being cremated before investigators were able to get them back. Morphew disappeared from her home outside of Salida in 2020.
Barry Morphew signed a document to move those remains from the El Paso County Coroner’s office to a springs funeral home.

I think this is all going to be admissible at trial.

JMO.

 

[Niner]

Monday, March 9th:
*Status/Review Conference Hearing (@ 1:30pm MT) - CO – Suzanne Renee Moorman Morphew (49) (missing May 10, 2020, did not return from bike ride (supposedly), Maysville, Chaffee County; CBI agents located human remains [Morphew’s remains were found weathered & dirt covered clothing items, which are believed to be her bicycle clothes & one “weathered bullet.”] (dry bones found in a shallow grave (3 ft deep)) scattered (across a large swath of sagebrush-dotted prairie estimated to be around 75 yards) in a dry field of sagebrush & natural grasses (on east side of Saguache County) in the area of Moffat in Saguache County (which is 45 miles south of Salida) on State Hwy 17 & near mile marker 103 at County Road R on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023 during an unrelated investigation (CBI was searching for 55-year-old Edna Quintana who had gone missing in the region on May 3, 2023) . The El Paso County Coroner’s Office identified the remains as Suzanne Morphew (dental records & her cancer port) on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. - *Barry Lee Morphew aka Lee Moore (53 @ time of crime/57 when re-arrested/now 58) indicted & charged (6/18/25) & rearrested (on 6/20/25 in Gilbert, AZ) & arraigned (1/12/26) with 1st degree murder after deliberation. Surety Bond @ $3M; $300K for surety/cash bond. Plead not guilty (1/12/26). Out on bond with GPS monitor & house arrest. Surrendered his passport. Alamosa County
Trial set to begin on 10/13/26. (thru 11/20/26).
Judge Amanda Hopkins presiding. Alamosa DA Anne E. Kelly & Boulder County Special Deputy DA Frederick H. Johnson. Defense attorneys David Beller & Jane Fisher-Byrialsen.
Link to documents filed: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/node/13869
Case & Court info & appeal info from 5/10/21 thru 11/3/25 reference post #378 here:
https://websleuths.com/threads/co-b...-o-prejudice-found-in-2023-119.753296/page-19
12/3/25 Docket update: DA Anne E Kelly filed Notice of Endorsement of Expert Witness. Kayleigh Matook, expert in DNA Testing, Comparison & Analysis from CBI Denver Forensic Science Laboratory. Link: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/si...2/Notice of Endorsement of Expert Witness.pdf Next arraignment hearing on 1/12/26 @ 1:30pm.
1/12/26 Update: Morphew entered a not guilty plea to one count of first degree murder. Morphew waives his right to a speedy trial, which is 180 days in Colorado. Trial is currently set to start 10/13/26 through 11/20/26. Chief Judge Amanda Hopkins set out the schedule for filing motions. She said first motions must be filed by 11:59pm on 4/13/26. Responses must be filed by 11:59pm 5/29/26 & replies due by 11:59pm 6/22/26. She will hear motions the week of 7/6-10/26. For 12B motions, which allow a motion to be dismissed for failure to state a claim on which relief can be granted, they are due within 21 days of 1/12/26. Those motions will be heard first, the judge said. Judge Hopkins then asked the two parties if they thought it would be helpful to have a status conference to check in before 7/6/26. They both agreed it would & one was set for 1:30pm on 3/9/26. Next status conference or review hearing is set for 3/9/26 @ 1:30pm, Motions hearing on 7/6/26, 7/7/26, 7/8/26, 7/9/26 & 7/10/26 all at 9am. Parties shall be present in person unless excused by the Court. If any motion pursuant to Rule Crim. P 12(b) is filed, it shall be heard first. Additional time may be set aside for motions as needed.
1/19/26 Docket update: Omnibus Order by Judge Amanda C. Hopkins. link: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/sites/default/files/2026-01/Omnibus Order.pdf
2/20/26 Docket update: Motion to intervene & for Order to Show Cause & Temporary restraining Order filed attorney Roberta M. Nieslanik for Mallory & Macy Morphew. Link: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/sites/default/files/2026-02/131009045_Redacted.pdf
3/4/26 Docket update: People's response Intervenors' Motion regarding Suzanne Morphew's remains filed by DA Anne E. Kelly. link: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/Response_Redacted.pdf
3/5/26 Docket update: Defendant Morphew's response to Motion to intervene & for Order to show cause & temporary restraining Order filed 2/20/26. [The defendant has no position on the matter]. Link: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/si...and for Order to Show Cause and TRO .docx.pdf