Suzanne Morphew went missing during a bike ride in May 2020
Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office
Susanne Morphew
The cause and manner of death of Suzanne Morphew, the 49-year-old Colorado mother of two who disappeared while biking on Mother’s Day 2020, have been announced by authorities.
Suzanne, whose remains were found in September 2023, died by homicide, the Colorado County Coroner’s Office said in its report published by KKTV. The report said she was killed “in an undetermined manner as part of an intoxication with butorphanol, azaperone and medetomidine.”
The autopsy revealed that the drug cocktail was “marketed as a compound immobilizer for wildlife” – or as a tranquilizer for animals.
Colorado Public Radio reported that police seized a tranquilizer gun and materials used to inject tranquilizer darts in her husband, Barry Morphew’s, gun cabinet several years ago, but they did not find any chemical tranquilizers in his home.
Related: Police found tranquilizer dart cap in Suzanne Morphew’s home after she disappeared
Suzanne’s autopsy also revealed that a “weathered” bullet and Suzanne’s cycling clothing were found among her remains, but it was not immediately clear whether the bullet had been used.
She received maintenance chemotherapy for follicular lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, the autopsy said.
Suzanne disappeared on May 10, 2020, in Maysville, Colorado, while reportedly going on a bike ride, the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office said at the time.
Authorities soon targeted Barry as a suspect. Barry, who was subsequently charged, steadfastly denied the allegations, telling FOX 21 News in August 2020 that police “messed this whole thing up from the start” and were trying to pin his wife’s death on him.
Related: Prosecutor ‘confident’ in murder case against Suzanne Morphew’s husband despite her body not found
On May 5, 2021, nearly a year after Suzanne’s disappearance, police arrested Barry on charges of first-degree murder, tampering with evidence and attempting to influence an officer, according to court documents cited by ABC News.
Barry pleaded not guilty to the charges and in April 2022, authorities dropped the charges against him, the Colorado Department of Corrections told PEOPLE at the time. However, a judge granted a request from prosecutors to dismiss the charges without prejudice, allowing prosecutors to file charges against Barry at a later date.
Related: Brother of missing Colorado mother Suzanne Morphew believes ‘all was not right’ at home.
Since Suzanne’s body was recovered in September 2023, there is a possibility that Barry could face new charges, as PEOPLE previously reported, although no charges have been filed against him since then.
Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office
Barry Morphew
Related topics: Preliminary hearing for missing Colo mother Suzanne Morphew reveals extramarital affair and dispute over money
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On Monday, one of Barry’s lawyers reiterated his innocence, adding that the tranquilizer found in Suzanne’s body was “a very common animal tranquilizer,” according to 9 NEWS.
“Barry Morphew is innocent and he cannot have killed his wife,” his lawyer Jane Fisher-Byrialsen told the outlet.
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