Accused wife killer Barry Morphew back behind bars after separate incident that skyrocketed bond: prosecutors
Barry Morphew’s bond has been raised to $10 million cash after a judge concluded he poses a serious flight risk. Alamosa County District Judge Amanda Hopkins made the ruling on Tuesday, siding with prosecutors who argued that Morphew’s recent behavior shows he will ignore court orders when they become inconvenient.
The increase follows an alleged hit‑and‑run on August 26 at 7:30 p.m., when witnesses said Morphew drove aggressively before striking two vehicles. Video obtained by CBS News shows the driver of one of the cars refusing to give his name or proof of insurance. Morphew offered the other driver $300 to cover the damage; she declined and said she would call police. According to officials, he then left the scene, nearly hitting a pedestrian and mounting a curb as he drove away. At the time, prosecutors said he was on his way to pick up his daughter from the airport.
Morphew was arrested by Boulder County sheriff’s deputies on September 3 and has remained in custody since. The incident prompted prosecutors to ask the court to revisit the conditions of his original bond, which had barred him from leaving his home except for work or medical emergencies and required GPS monitoring.
The case against Morphew stems from the disappearance of his wife, Suzanne Morphew, on Mother’s Day 2020 in Colorado. Suzanne, 49 and mother of two daughters, was last seen near the couple’s home. Morphew was apprehended months later in Goodyear, Arizona, roughly an 11‑hour drive from where Suzanne vanished. A grand jury indicted him on June 20, 2025, on a single count of first‑degree murder after deliberation.
Prosecutors allege that Suzanne’s remains contained traces of the chemicals butorphanol, azaperone and medetomidine — substances found in a deer tranquilizer known as “BAM.” They claim Morphew used the drug to sedate and transport deer on his farm while he lived in Indiana. Records show he was the only private individual in the area with a prescription for BAM at the time Suzanne disappeared; the only other entities with access to the compound were Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the National Park Service. The indictment states that prescription records confirm Morphew was the sole private citizen who could have obtained the drug.
During the bond hearing, prosecutor Fred Johnson warned that Morphew’s actions after the crash demonstrated what he might do when pressed: “We are very, very concerned he has just demonstrated what he’s going to do when push comes to shove.” Judge Hopkins echoed that sentiment, stating, “Mr. Morphew has shown time and again that he has no respect for any order of this court, and he is not going to comply with it if it is an inconvenience to the lifestyle he wishes to live while out on bond.”
Defense attorney David Beller countered that Morphew is not a flight risk, noting he has not fled despite being under scrutiny for five years. He argued the recent accusation does not justify a higher bond and maintained his client’s innocence, adding, “Yet again, the government allows their predetermined conclusion to lead their search for evidence. The case has not changed, and the outcome will not either.”
Morphew has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. As the legal process continues, the increased bond ensures he remains detained while the case proceeds through the courts.