Barry Morphew Indicted for Murder & Arrested in Arizona, Colorado Authorities Seek Extradition Following Grand Jury Charges

Description: 12th Judicial District Attorney Anne Kelly Released the Following Statement on June 20, 2025 Regarding the Grand Jury Indictment of Barry Morphew for the Alleged First Degree Murder of His Wife and Morphew's Subsequent Arrest in Arizona...

Barry Morphew Indicted for Suzanne Morphew’s Murder; Arrested in Arizona

Colorado Authorities Seek Extradition Following Grand Jury Charges

On June 18, 2025, the Twelfth Judicial District Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Barry Morphew with the First Degree Murder of his wife, Suzanne Morphew.  Mr. Morphew was taken into custody in Arizona on June 20, 2025. The Twelfth Judicial District Attorney’s Office will seek to extradite Mr. Morphew back to the San Luis Valley. 

The investigation into the disappearance and murder of Suzanne Morphew had been ongoing both before and after her remains were discovered near the town of Moffat in Saguache County, Colorado. The investigation team consists of law enforcement officers from the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, the Saguache County Sheriff’s Office, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The Arizona Department of Public Safety assisted the investigation team by apprehending Mr. Morphew in Arizona. 

“Federal, State and local law enforcement have never stopped working toward justice for Suzanne.” said Twelfth Judicial District Attorney Anne Kelly. “The Twelfth Judicial District Attorney’s Office stands in solidarity with Suzanne’s family and the citizens of Chaffee and Saguache Counties in pursuing the Grand Jury’s indictment.” 

The Twelfth Judicial District Attorney’s Office will be assisted by the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office in this prosecution.  The Denver County District Attorney’s Office will provide appellate support. The Twelfth Judicial District Attorney’s Office recognizes Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty.  He has consistently provided essential support and leadership to rural prosecutors with limited resources to pursue major cases and obtain justice for victims throughout the State.

To follow this case from this point forward, we would encourage you to follow the State Judicial Case of Interest page where hearings and public documents, including the indictment, can be found soon:  https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/cases-interest

We anticipate that State Judicial will be live streaming the court hearings.  The hearing links can be found on State Judicial Case of Interest page. 

Any indictment or filing of charges is merely an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. 

About the Twelfth Judicial District Attorney’s Office:

The Twelfth Judicial District Attorney’s Office represents the San Luis Valley including the rural counties of Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande, Mineral and Saguache.  The office is committed to treating all victims of crime in the San Luis Valley with dignity, respect and compassion. It has been led by District Attorney Anne Kelly since 2022.

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