Suzanne Morphew: Murdered in 2020 (Salida, CO) | Part One - SEQUESTERED Podcast

Summary

SEQUESTERED Podcast – Episode: "Suzanne Morphew: Murdered in 2020 (Salida, CO) | Part One"

Introduction

In the gripping first installment of Season Two of the SEQUESTERED podcast, hosted by Sarah Reed from Road Trip Studios, listeners are immersed in the mysterious disappearance and subsequent murder of Suzanne Morphew in Salida, Colorado. This episode meticulously unravels the events leading up to Suzanne's vanishing on Mother's Day 2020, the suspicious actions of her husband Barry Morphew, and the initial investigative hurdles faced by authorities.

Background: Who Was Suzanne Morphew?

Suzanne Morphew was a beloved wife, devoted mother of two teenage daughters, and a resilient former schoolteacher who had triumphantly battled cancer twice. In 2018, she and her husband Barry relocated from Indiana to a picturesque home on Puma Path in Salida, Colorado, seeking a fresh start amidst the serene wilderness. Their modern mountain-style residence, nestled on eight acres of open land, epitomized their aspirations for a peaceful, close-knit family life.

The Fateful Day: Mother's Day, May 10, 2020

The episode delves into the serene yet unsettling ambiance of Mother’s Day morning. While the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Morphew household experienced an abrupt and tragic disruption. Sarah Reed describes the day, emphasizing the normalcy that was shattered:

“It was a perfect, peaceful start to Mother's Day. But nothing about that day stayed normal for long.” (00:47)

Suzanne’s sudden disappearance set off a chain of bewildering events that would eventually hint at deeper, more sinister undertones.

Barry’s Unusual Behavior and Mysterious Activities

Barry Morphew’s actions on the day of Suzanne’s disappearance raise immediate suspicions. According to police reports and surveillance footage:

Early Morning Departure: Barry left home around 4:30 AM to work on a retaining wall in Broomfield, Colorado.
Suspicious Trash Disposal: From 8:10 AM onwards, Barry made multiple trips to dispose of trash at various locations, including a McDonald's and a car wash, without providing clear explanations. Police noted:

“He never explained why he was making so many stops or why he was so focused on finding places to throw things away.” (06:25)
Limited Work Presence: Barry’s presence at the job site was brief and questionable, especially since work was prohibited on Sundays due to pandemic restrictions.
Unusual Returns to the Hotel: Barry’s return to the Holiday Inn Express at 12:30 PM, where he dumped more items, further deepened the mystery.

As the day progressed, Barry’s lack of communication and erratic behavior became increasingly concerning to those around him.

Discovery of Suzanne’s Bike and Initial Police Involvement

By mid-afternoon, the absence of Suzanne was reported by neighbors and family members. Detective involvement began swiftly:

Jean Ritter’s Concern: Suzanne’s neighbor, Jean Ritter, unable to reach her or her daughters, notified the police after noticing Suzanne’s Range Rover missing her usual mountain bike.
Findings on County Road 225: Deputy investigators discovered Suzanne’s mountain bike on a steep, grassy hillside near County Road 225. The state of the bike was peculiar—twisted handlebars and no signs of an accident or struggle:

“It looks more like someone had rolled the bike right off the edge of the road and walked away.” (15:20)

Suspicious Elements and Investigative Red Flags

The podcast meticulously outlines several red flags that emerged during the investigation:

Unusual Footage Interpretation: The bike’s disarray did not align with typical accident scenarios, prompting questions about the circumstances of its placement.
Miles Harden’s Testimony: Suzanne’s boyfriend, Miles Harden, provided insights that contradicted Barry’s initial narrative. Miles pointed out that Suzanne was highly unlikely to have ridden up the challenging Mount Shavano trail where her bike was found:

“She never would have gone up that trail. It’s really hard; someone would have to push their bike before riding.” (16:23)
Barry’s Inconsistent Statements: Barry’s interactions with the police, including his fixation on the bike’s condition and his vague responses, raised further suspicions:

“He didn’t ask where Suzanne was. He didn’t ask if they'd seen any sign of her.” (19:31)

Critical Evidence Unearthed

As the investigation deepened, crucial pieces of evidence surfaced:

Suzanne’s Helmet Found: On May 13, Suzanne’s teal-colored helmet was discovered near Highway 50, containing a note with her contact information for her family.
Barry’s Plea for Suzanne: Barry posted a poignant 25-second video plea on Facebook, expressing his desire to find Suzanne without any accompanying investigation or public statements, which seemed oddly detached given the gravity of the situation:

“If anyone is out there that can hear this, that has you, please. We'll do whatever it takes to bring you back.” (25:05)
Incongruent Items in the Morphew Home: Later discoveries, including a plastic needle cap and a spy pen with intimate recordings, hinted at possible abuses and manipulations within the household.

Community Response and Ongoing Search Efforts

The Salida community rallied together in the search for Suzanne, employing search and rescue teams, volunteers, dogs, and even drones. A substantial reward was offered, escalating to $200,000, reflecting the community’s commitment to finding Suzanne. Despite these efforts, the perplexing nature of Suzanne’s disappearance left investigators questioning the initial assumptions.

Conclusion: A Case Replete with Questions

By the end of Part One, it’s evident that Suzanne Morphew’s disappearance was anything but straightforward. The combination of Barry’s suspicious behavior, conflicting testimonies, and unexplained evidence laid the groundwork for a complex investigation that veered away from a simple missing person case to potential foul play. Sarah Reed concludes the episode by teasing the deeper secrets and evidence that will emerge in Part Two, setting the stage for the unraveling of a tangled web of deceit and tragedy.

“The night ended with a missing woman, a staged bike, and a husband who mentioned mountain lions before anyone asked a single question. But that was just the beginning.” (23:35)

Notable Quotes

Sarah Reed: “On paper, it looked perfect. But by the afternoon, something felt off.” (00:47)
Officer (15:20): “Sliding. Chippy, buddy, can you try to call the husband and see the type of fighter I’m standing is Santa Cruz blue in color.”
Miles Harden: “She’s a great mountain biker, but she would never have gone up that trail.” (16:23)
Sarah Reed: “It wasn’t damaged. It wasn’t tangled in brush. No scrapes or drag marks. No blood. It just looked out of place.” (23:32)
Barry Morphew: “Oh, Suzanne, if anyone is out there that can hear this, that has you, please. We'll do whatever it takes to bring you back.” (25:05)

Looking Ahead

As Part One concludes, listeners are left with a multitude of questions about Suzanne Morphew’s disappearance and the authenticity of Barry Morphew’s account. The upcoming second part promises to delve deeper into the hidden evidence within the Morphew household, the intricate details leading to Barry’s arrest, and the eventual unraveling of this tragic cold case.

Additional Resources

For those eager to explore further, visit sequesteredpod.com to access body cam footage, photos of the case, Barry Morphew’s plea video, and more.

Special thanks to crimetimeline.com and the dedicated community of online sleuths on Reddit for their invaluable contributions to piecing together this complex timeline.

Transcript

Progressive Insurance (0:00)

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try it@progressive.com Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.

Nicole Byer (0:19)

Hey everybody, it's Nicole Byer here with some hot takes from Wayfair. A cozy corduroy sectional from Wayfair. Um, yeah, that's a hot take. Go on and add it to your cart and take it. A pink glam nightstand from Wayfair. Scalding hot. Take it before I do. A mid century modern cabinet from Wayfair that doubles as a wine bar. Do I have to say it? It's a hot take. Get it@wayfair.com and enjoy that free shipping too.

Sarah Reed (0:47)

Wayfair Every style every in our first three cases this season, we've taken you deep into the mysteries of women who disappeared and were never found. No bodies, no arrests, no trials. But this case is different. On May 10, 2020, Mother's Day, Suzanne Morphew vanished from her home near Salida, Colorado. She was a beloved w wife, a devoted mother of two teenage daughters, and a former school teacher who had just battled cancer for the second time and come out on the other side. At first, this story looks familiar. A small town disappearance, a search, a bike found off an embankment. But unlike the other women we've covered, Teneta Carlisle, Brandy hall, and Tara Calico, Suzanne's case has moved forward. Slowly, messily, but forward. Her remains have been found, an arrest has been made, and an indictment was just refiled. Three weeks ago, on June 20, 2025, the 12th Judicial District Attorney's office announced that a grand jury had once again indicted Barry Morphew, Suzanne's husband, on charges of first degree murder. This case has twisted and stalled for over five years. Dropped charges, conflicting timelines, bizarre surveillance footage, and allegations of manipulation. But now, for the first time, it's going to trial. And it all starts with a bike that didn't crash, a man with too many trash stops, and a family still waiting for justice. My name is Sarah Reed, and this is sequestered. Season 2 the disappearance and death of Suzanne Morphew Part 1 It was a Sunday, May 10, 2020, Mother's Day. The country was about 30 days into a nationwide shutdown from the COVID 19 pandemic. I know we can all relate when I say that spring felt strange. Everything was quiet, suspended. Back then, life was just upside down. We were still sanitizing groceries, figuring out how to work from home, go to school on a screen, and celebrate birthdays from the driveway. Everyone was trying to adjust. And the people of Salida, Colorado, like everywhere else, we're learning how to live in this new kind of stillness, too. That morning started off cold in the low 30s at sunrise, but by midday the mountain sun had warmed the valley. It was the kind of day where the sky stretched wide, the breeze smelled like pine and thawed earth. It should have been a good day, the kind where kids bring flowers or make pancakes or leave little notes on the kitchen counter. Under normal circumstances, it would have been a perfect, peaceful start to Mother's Day. But nothing about that day stayed normal for long. About 15 minutes outside of downtown Salida, at the end of a winding dirt road, sat a striking home on Puma Path. Barry and Suzanne Morphew bought it two years earlier in 2018 for just over $1.5 million. It was a modern mountain style home with stone and stucco, warm wood beams, and big windows facing the mountains. Inside there were vaulted ceilings, hardwood floors, and a huge stone fireplace. Outside, the home sat on eight acres of open land scattered with wild grasses and pines. It was private, expansive, quiet. They'd left Indiana behind and moved here for a fresh start, a new life tucked away in the Colorado wilderness. And on paper, it looked perfect. Barry was running a successful landscaping and excavation business. He specialized in high end residential work, tree removal, retaining walls, foundations. It was a job that paid well and let him be outside, which he loved. Suzanne, who had once worked as a schoolteacher, was now focusing on their two daughters and rebuilding her strength. She had beat cancer twice and was focusing on her health, her family, and the kind of life you build when you think you've made it through the worst. But by the afternoon, something felt off. Suzanne wasn't answering texts, and by the time the sun started to dip behind the mountains, Barry Morphew would be talking with police outside his family home. Barry woke up early that morning, supposedly around 4:30am he had to drive to Broomfield, which was about three hours away, to work on a retaining wall his company was installing. He told police Suzanne was still sleeping when he walked out the door. According to his phone records, at 5:38am Barry's phone pinged just outside of Buena Vista, Colorado, as he was driving north on Highway 285 towards Bailey. He arrives in Broomfield a little after 8am and then things start to get strange. At 8:10am Barry stops to throw away trash at an RTD bus stop on Highway 36. Then surveillance footage shows Barry pull into the parking lot of a Holiday Inn Express in Broomfield at 8:35am he's seen walking into the lobby after putting something in the trash can outside. Police later reported, quote, he said he parked there because he hoped someone would come out and he could go in the hotel before checking in and get a free breakfast. End quote. At 8:41am Barry sent a text to Suzanne. You up? Happy Mother's Day. I love you. I made it to Broomfield. Call me when you get a chance. Suzanne didn't reply, which was not unusual because cell service was spotty at their house. Barry left the hotel at 10:10am Carrying a charcoal long sleeve shirt, two white bags and a pair of boots. But before heading to the work site, surveillance shows him dumping more trash at multiple other locations around Brimfield. A McDonald's, a car wash, even a men's warehouse. Some of the stops lasted seconds, some longer. He later told police it was just food wrappers and random stuff. But he never explained why he was making so many stops or why he was so focused on finding places to throw things away. Just before noon, Barry finally made it to the job site where he said he was planning to repair a retaining wall. He moved a few stones around, but he was only there for less than 30 minutes because apparently work was prohibited on Sundays due to pandemic restrictions. Okay, so why make the trip at all? Barry returned to the Holiday inn Express around 12.30pm on his way back inside, surveillance caught him tossing more items into outdoor trash can, including a full white trash bag, a black container and what looked like a camouflage coat. He wouldn't leave his room again until 5:55pm Around 3:30pm he sent Suzanne another text. Call me. Still no answer. And then at 5:15, the call came. But it wasn't Suzanne. It was their neighbor, Jean Ritter. She told Barry she'd been trying to reach Suzanne all day and hadn't been able to get ahold of her and their daughters, Mallory and Macy, who were on a road trip through Utah and Idaho with Mallory's best friend at the time. They'd been texting Suzanne all morning, too. First with simple Happy Mother's Day messages, then with more concern as the silence stretched on. Eventually, Jean walked over to the morphew house herself. She saw Suzanne's Range Rover parked in the garage. Her purse and belongings were still inside, but her mountain bike was gone. And that was odd because she would normally drive to her preferred biking trail each day. It's unclear how that phone call between Jeanne and Barry ended, but I can only assume that Jean didn't get the response she was hoping for, because the next thing she did was call the police. And by 5:38pm Just 23 minutes later, district Attorney investigator Alex Walker had been informed that Suzanne Morphew was missing. At 5.45pm, Barry's phone rang again. Another call from Jean, I'm assuming, to let him know she had alerted the authorities and that he should probably get home as soon as he could. Still, he didn't rush. In fact, 10 minutes later, Barry is seen making several trips to his truck, moving tools from his truck into the hotel lobby. At around 6:10pm Hotel surveillance shows him entering the lobby carrying two shovels and placing them beside the front desk. He made multiple trips, leaving more tools in the same spot. Why was he moving his tools into the lobby of all places? He never explained. Meanwhile, back in Salida, Macy's boyfriend Miles Harden had arrived at the Morphew house. Remember, Macy and her sister Mallory were out on a camping road trip with a friend. And it's safe to assume that Macy had been keeping Miles up to speed on things, telling him their mom hadn't responded all day. So when she asked him to swing by the house to take a look around, he didn't hesitate. He knew the family well. He was there all the time, familiar enough to know Suzanne's biking routes, even what she usually wore on a ride. Miles let himself in through the garage, and right away he noticed the same thing Jean had. Suzanne's Range Rover was there. Her purse and other belongings were inside, but no Suzanne and no Suzanne's bike. So he got back in his truck and decided to take a drive by some of the nearby areas he knew she'd normally go to ride. It was just after 7 o'. Clock. Barry was already winding his way back through the Rockies towards home when he got a call from detectives. He told them Suzanne went on bike rides all the time, usually leaving the house around 8 or 9am which suggested maybe something happened on her ride. Then at around 7:36pm deputies searching near County Road 225 spotted something just off the side of the dirt road, less than a mile from the Morphew home and not far from the woods between the house and Highway 50. In body cam footage from the officers on the scene, you can hear them calling her name as they make their way through the lightly forested area. And then there it is. A blue mountain bike with light blue pedals. It's laying On a steep, grassy hillside, the officer climbs over several large boulders to get closer. His camera captures what we see next. The handlebars on the bike are twisted completely backward, like the bike had been set at the top of the hill and pushed down, twisting on impact, then collapsing where it landed. But there are no skid marks, no drag lines, no blood, not even footprints. It's weird. It doesn't look like a crash, and it doesn't feel like a scene where someone panicked and ran off. It looks more like someone had rolled the bike right off the edge of the road and walked away. The officer continues making his way to the bike. He untangles the handlebars, and as he's wheeling it through the forest floor, he radios it in.