Barry Morphew lived a secretive life in Cave Creek, Arizona, over 600 miles away from where his wife, Suzanne Morphew, went missing in Salida, Colorado. Nearly five years after Suzanne’s disappearance, prosecutors initially tried but failed to convict Morphew of killing his wife. This led to the case being dropped in 2022 due to alleged prosecutorial misconduct and non-compliance with discovery rules, which resulted in several state witnesses being barred from testifying.
Morphew, after the case was dismissed, settled in Cave Creek, Arizona, under various pseudonyms, including ‘Bruce’ and ‘Lee Moore.’ A bar manager at Harold’s Cave Creek Corral noted that Morphew, who frequented the bar, was known by the name ‘Bruce.’ It was only after news reports surfaced about the murder charges that the bar manager learned about the true name of the man he had been serving.
Despite the dismissal of charges in Colorado, Morphew was later extradited back to the state to face new murder charges related to Suzanne’s disappearance. A local gas station clerk reported knowing Morphew by the name ‘Lee,’ highlighting the multiple aliases he used to avoid detection. Public records show Morphew was self-employed and paid property taxes at the Stardust Trailer park in Arizona, though in Colorado he worked as a landscaper without a professional license as required in Arizona.
The indictment also revealed that Morphew was the only person with a prescription for the deer tranquilizer BAM within the surrounding areas. This chemical was found in Suzanne’s bone marrow, suggesting it could have been used to sedate her. Legal experts noted that the use of multiple aliases is unusual, indicating a possible effort to live a double life in Arizona.
Barry Morphew’s attorney, David Beller, has consistently maintained that Morphew is innocent, criticizing the prosecution for what he perceives as a predetermined conclusion.