A wealthy landscaper, accused of murdering his wife and staging her disappearance to look like a biking accident, has been branded a 'shameless coward' by the victim's friends after he refused to personally enter a plea in court.
Not Guilty Plea Entered by Attorney
Barry Morphew, aged 57, declined to speak when directly addressed by a judge in Alamosa, Colorado, on Monday. Instead, one of his attorneys entered a not guilty plea on his behalf to the charge of first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Suzanne.
The moment infuriated Suzanne's friend, Tisha Leewaye, who was present in the courtroom. She told reporters that the decision felt calculated and revealing. 'If you're so desperate to prove that you're innocent, surely you'd want to say it with your own voice,' Leewaye stated. 'I feel like it makes you look guilty if you can't even say it yourself. It's cowardly.'
A Long and Twisted Path to Trial
Suzanne Morphew was reported missing on Mother's Day, 10 May 2020, from the couple's $1.5 million home in Maysville. Her bicycle was found abandoned near their property, a scene investigators later deemed to be staged.
Barry Morphew was first arrested and charged in May 2021, but the case collapsed due to prosecutorial misconduct before it could go to trial. The tragic discovery came in September 2023, when Suzanne's remains were found in a shallow grave in a remote area of Southern Colorado locally known as 'The Boneyard'.
This led to Morphew's second arrest in 2024 and the reinstatement of murder charges. He is currently under strict house arrest after posting $300,000 of a $3 million bond.
Allegations of Jealousy and Evidence
Court documents allege Morphew killed his wife in a jealous rage after learning she was having a long-distance affair. Text messages revealed Suzanne had told him 'I'm done' and described volatile arguments.
Key evidence cited by prosecutors includes:
- The discovery of a tranquiliser dart needle cap in the family's laundry.
- Traces of a powerful animal tranquiliser cocktail, known as BAM, found in Suzanne's bones.
- Prosecutors claim prescription records show Barry Morphew was the only private citizen in the area with access to BAM at the time.
- Phone and vehicle data placing Morphew's movements under suspicion around the time of her disappearance.
Morphew has consistently maintained his innocence, supported by his two adult daughters who accompanied him to court. His legal team waived his right to a speedy trial, citing the vast volume of evidence.
Chief Judge Amanda Hopkins has scheduled the trial to begin on 13 October. It is expected to last up to six weeks. For Suzanne Morphew's loved ones, like Tisha Leewaye who vows to attend every day, the trial represents a long-awaited chance for justice. 'Suzanne no longer has a voice,' Leewaye said, 'so it's important that I'm there - to support her and be that voice.'
