Suzanne Morphew’s brother, David Moorman, has publicly condemned Barry Morphew, his wife’s husband, as a ‘soulless, sadistic, amoral predator’ during a victim impact statement. Moorman’s emotional testimony, submitted on Tuesday, underscores the severity of the crime and the need for Morphew’s continued imprisonment. The victim impact statement was submitted as the court considers whether to release Morphew on bail, with Moorman strongly opposing any interim release due to his belief that Morphew is a flight risk and a serial psychopathic controller.
Barry Morphew, 50, was re-indicted by a grand jury in Colorado on a murder charge in June 2024, following a failed prosecution in 2021. The case has gained significant attention due to the forensic findings that revealed Suzanne Morphew’s remains were found in a clandestine grave in Saguache County, Colorado, a few hundred feet off Highway 17. The remains were discovered in September 2023, nearly three years after Suzanne went missing on Mother’s Day in 2020, when the Morphews were living near Salida, Colorado.
Moorman emphasized the need for Morphew to remain in custody throughout the legal proceedings, stating, ‘He has hunted or used those around him his entire life. There is no redemption here.’ He also described the anguish of his sister’s final moments, imagining the terror she faced as the deer tranquilizer took effect. ‘Once struck by the BAM ladened dart, it is hard to imagine the terror she felt as she tried to escape,’ Moorman wrote, reflecting on the emotional struggle within his family.
Legal experts, including Colin McCallin, a former deputy district attorney, have expressed skepticism about the possibility of reducing Morphew’s bail. McCallin noted that the initial $3 million cash bond was set deliberately, and there has been no substantial evidence to warrant a change. ‘There usually has to be a demonstrative, substantial change in Barry Morphew’s circumstances for the judge to reconsider that initial ruling,’ he stated. The ongoing legal battle over Morphew’s bail has become a focal point of the case, with significant public interest due to the tragic circumstances surrounding Suzanne’s death.
With the discovery of Suzanne’s remains and the presence of the deer tranquilizer in her bone marrow, the prosecution has presented compelling evidence against Morphew, leading to the recent re-indictment. The case has captured the attention of the media and the public, highlighting the personal and legal ramifications of a tragic crime. The emotional weight of the victim impact statement, alongside the forensic findings, has underscored the depth of the tragedy and the need for a just legal outcome in the case of Suzanne Morphew’s murder.