He Was Charged in His Wife’s Disappearance — Then Released. Now He’s Been Arrested Again

A Colorado man has been arrested in connection with his wife’s killing, years after murder charges against him were dropped.

The victim, Suzanne Morphew, disappeared on Mother’s Day in 2020 while on a bike ride, days after she told her husband Barry Morphew she was “done” with their marriage, 9 News previously reported.

Suzanne, who shared two daughters with Barry, disappeared from their family home in Maysville, Colo., more than three years before her remains were found in Saguache County, Colo.

In May 2021, Barry was arrested and charged with murder after deliberation, tampering with physical evidence and attempting to influence a public servant, PEOPLE previously reported, citing court records.

He pleaded not guilty at the time.

However, in April 2022, the case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning prosecutors could again bring charges against him in the future.

Prosecutors filed the motion to dismiss the case because they believed they were close to finding Suzanne’s body “in a remote and mountainous region nearby the Morphew residence,” Colorado authorities said at the time, PEOPLE reported.

On Friday, June 20, the Twelfth Judicial District Attorney’s Office authorities said in a press statement that a grand jury indicted Barry on a first degree murder charge. He was arrested in Arizona the same day and the DA’s office will seek his extradition back to Colorado.

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It wasn’t immediately clear what led to the new charges. Twelfth Judicial District Attorney Anne Kelly said in the statement that law enforcement continued their investigation even after charges against Barry were dropped.

“Federal, State and local law enforcement have never stopped working toward justice for Suzanne,” Kelly said in the statement. “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.” 

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