Suzanne Morphew’s autopsy completed, but details not expected for days

Sean O'Donnell
·2 min read
5

DENVER (KDVR) — The autopsy for Suzanne Morphew has been completed, FOX31 has learned, nearly seven months after her remains were discovered in Saguache County.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation confirmed that the autopsy was complete but said it could be several more days before it is released.

Timeline: What we know about the disappearance of Suzanne Morphew

Morphew was reported missing from her home in Chaffee County on May 10, 2020.

Her husband, Barry Morphew, was arrested on May 5, 2021, and charged with first-degree murder. However, those charges were dropped in April 2022 just before the case went to trial.

In September 2023, remains were found in Saguache County and confirmed to be Morphew.

Catch up with the case

The charges against Barry Morphew were dismissed without prejudice, meaning that he can be charged again in the future if investigators believe they have enough evidence. In its motion to dismiss, the prosecutors said, “…the People have a good faith reason to believe further investigation into this matter is essential to answering the most consequential question presented by this case.”

The state said it spoke with the family of Suzanne Morphew and they agreed with the motion to dismiss. Court documents said the family expressed to “resolve absolutely whether or not Suzanne is dead, prior to further prosecution.”

When the charges were dismissed in 2022, FOX31 legal analyst Chris Decker said the tactic in filing the motion to dismiss without prejudice amounted to a “do-over.”

“As a defense, I’m very frustrated that this appears to be an effort by the district attorney to retool, restart and get away from significant pre-trial rules,” Decker said.

Arresting Morphew was ‘worst decision that you can make,’ CBI agent says

In documents released in 2022, before the case was dismissed, one of the CBI agents who had been working on the case told an internal affairs investigator that Barry Morphew had been arrested prematurely and it was “the worst decision that could be made.”

This is a breaking story. More details will be added as they become available.

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