Suzanne Morphew murder: Barry Morphew attends wife's funeral who was killed by tranquilizer cocktail

Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.

CHAFFEE COUNTY, COLORADO: Barry Morphew, flanked by family and friends, quietly made his way into the somber funeral service of his late wife, Suzanne Morphew.

The gathering, held at Trinity Baptist Church in Westgate, Indiana on Saturday, marked a poignant moment as loved ones bid farewell to Suzanne, whose life was tragically cut short by a lethal concoction of tranquilizers, as revealed by a recent autopsy report.

Insights into Suzanne Morphew's disappearance

Since her disappearance nearly four years ago from her home in Salida, Colorado, the case has drawn widespread attention and speculation, capturing the public's imagination.

Barry, who previously faced murder charges in connection with his wife's death, now grapples with the aftermath of legal proceedings and the collapse of the case against him in Chaffee County.

Nevertheless, his attendance at the funeral comes amid a backdrop of renewed interest in the investigation, following the revelation of Suzanne's cause of death as homicide by a cocktail of tranquilizers. 

In May 2021, Barry faced arrest and murder charges in connection with Suzanne's death. However, the case collapsed before reaching trial, leading him to file a $15 million lawsuit against Chaffee County for alleged damages stemming from the mishandled prosecution.

Was Suzanne Morphew's death a result of foul play?

Last year, Suzanne's skeletal remains were found in a remote field near Moffat, a small town located 50 miles south of her residence. Law enforcement officials have since confirmed that her death was caused by "homicide by undetermined means in the setting of butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine intoxication," reported Daily Mail.

These drugs, commonly used in veterinary medication and surgical anesthesia, were discovered in Suzanne's bone marrow. Their presence aligns with a theory previously proposed by the prosecution during pretrial hearings, suggesting that Barry might have administered these substances to incapacitate Suzanne before her death, potentially motivated by jealousy or other factors. 

Suzanne Morphew extramarital affair

Further, details from the investigation reveal a troubled marital dynamic between Suzanne and Barry, with evidence suggesting the former had a two-year affair with Jeff Libler, an ex-classmate and a married dad-of-six living in Michigan.

However, suspicion arose surrounding the husband, including his movements on the night of his wife's disappearance and the discovery of animal tranquilizer drugs in her system.

Law enforcement officials also uncovered an empty animal tranquilizer cartridge tangled among bedsheets in the dryer of the Morphew's $1.5 million mountain residence. Additionally, they observed what appeared to be scratches on Barry's forearms in the days following his wife's disappearance.

Insights into Barry Morphew's action on night of his wife's disappearance

Despite Barry's public display of anguish, captured in tearful appeals for his wife's safe return immediately after she vanished, his actions raised suspicions. Notably, vehicle tracking data indicated his truck was moved during the early hours of the morning on the night Suzanne disappeared.

Additionally, reports emerged in 2021 detailing Barry's departure from a Broomfield, Colorado hotel room, described as reeking of bleach and containing shredded mail, on the same day.

Barry's legal defense team highlighted the discovery of two distinct male DNA profiles on the glovebox of Suzanne's car. This revelation, coupled with other inconsistencies, led to the collapse of the prosecution's case in March 2022, resulting in his release from Chaffee County Jail.

Following his release, Barry and his daughters relocated away from Colorado, standing by him amid the tumult of the flawed prosecution. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation reaffirmed its commitment to the case, vowing to continue its efforts in pursuit of justice following the release of the autopsy results.