Detailed Timeline of the Suzanne Morphew Case

Early Life & Marriage:

• 1971: Suzanne R. Moorman is born in Alexandria, Indiana.

• 1994: Suzanne Moorman and Barry Morphew marry in Alexandria, Indiana.

• Undated (Pre-2018): Suzanne is diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma twice and battles the disease.

Move to Colorado & Marital Troubles:

• 2018: The Morphew family moves from Indiana to a $1.75 million home on Puma Path in Maysville, near Salida, Colorado.

• 2018 (Approx.): Suzanne begins a two-year affair with Jeff Libler, a former high school classmate, reconnecting on Facebook.

• Months before May 2020: Suzanne begins taking "clear, articulable steps" toward leaving Barry, consulting with lawyers and researching divorce.

Suzanne's Disappearance & Initial Investigation:

• May 6, 2020: Suzanne texts Barry, "I'm done. I could care less what you're up to and have been for years. We just need to figure this out civilly."

• May 9, 2020:2:07 PM: Suzanne sends her last "proof of life" selfie to Jeff Libler, wearing a bikini in her backyard.

• 2:26 PM: Barry texts Suzanne, "Headed back."

• 2:44 PM: Barry's Ford F-350 truck telematics record his arrival at the Puma Path home.

• 2:47 PM: Barry's cell phone enters a "digital blackout" period (turned off or airplane mode). Suzanne's phone also ceases all outgoing activity.

• 9:25 PM - 9:52 PM: Barry's truck telematics record multiple door open/close events while his phone is still in blackout.

• 10:17 PM: Barry's phone reconnects to the network, ending a 7-hour, 30-minute digital blackout.

• May 10, 2020 (Mother's Day):3:25 AM - 3:52 AM: Barry's truck telematics again record multiple door open/close events.

• Approx. 5:00 AM: Barry leaves the house for a landscaping job in Broomfield, CO.

• Morning Hours: Barry makes at least five separate stops at various trash receptacles in the Denver metro area, discarding trash bags.

• 5:46 PM: Suzanne is reported missing by a neighbor, who was contacted by Suzanne's daughters after they couldn't reach her.

• Shortly after 5:46 PM: Suzanne's teal mountain bicycle is discovered in a ravine off Chaffee County Road 225, with minimal damage. Her helmet is found nearly a mile away on Highway 50. Her sunglasses and CamelBak are found in her car at home.

• May 17, 2020: Barry releases a tearful video plea on Facebook for Suzanne's safe return, offering a $100,000 reward (later matched to $200,000).

• 10 days after disappearance (approx. May 20, 2020): Investigators discover a small, clear plastic cap from a tranquilizer dart syringe in the lint trap of the Morphew's clothes dryer. Barry admits to using tranquilizer darts to illegally sedate deer.

• Fall 2020: Barry fills out and submits Suzanne's mail-in ballot for the presidential election, casting a vote for Donald Trump. This is later discovered by the FBI.

First Indictment & Dismissal:

• May 5, 2021: Barry Morphew is arrested near his home and charged with first-degree murder after deliberation, tampering with physical evidence, and attempting to influence a public servant.

• August 2021: A four-day preliminary hearing is held, where investigators reveal details of Suzanne's two-year affair with Jeff Libler, the "digital blackout," the trash runs, the tranquilizer dart cap, and the unknown male DNA found in Suzanne's Range Rover.

• August 2021 (Post-Preliminary Hearing): Barry is granted $500,000 bond and released on house arrest.

• Early 2022: The presiding judge, Ramsey Lama, sanctions the prosecution (led by DA Linda Stanley) for repeated discovery violations, barring them from presenting 14 of their 16 endorsed expert witnesses.

• April 19, 2022: Charges against Barry Morphew are dismissed "without prejudice" by the prosecution, just nine days before jury selection, citing the potential for new evidence from a snow-covered mountain area.

• July 2022: Barry pleads guilty to felony forgery for casting Suzanne's 2020 election ballot as part of a deal to avoid jail time.

• May 2023: Barry files a $15 million federal civil rights lawsuit against the prosecutors and investigators involved in the first case.

Discovery of Remains & Second Indictment:

• September 22, 2023: Suzanne's skeletal remains are accidentally discovered by Colorado Bureau of Investigation agents searching for another missing woman in a shallow grave in Saguache County, near Moffat (an area known as "the boneyard").

• September 27, 2023: The El Paso County Coroner’s Office officially identifies the remains as Suzanne Morphew using dental records.

• April 29, 2024: The full autopsy report is released, ruling Suzanne's manner of death as a homicide by "undetermined means." It confirms the presence of butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine (BAM animal tranquilizer cocktail) and its metabolite in her bones, indicating she was alive when drugged. Forensic analysis also concludes her body was moved at least once after decomposition.

• September 2024: Barry's $15 million civil lawsuit against prosecutors and investigators is dismissed. Former DA Linda Stanley is effectively disbarred for her conduct in the Morphew case and others.

• June 18, 2025: A grand jury returns a new indictment, once again charging Barry Morphew with first-degree murder. The indictment highlights Barry's "exclusive link" to the BAM tranquilizer as the only private citizen in the area with access to it between 2017-2020.

• June 20, 2025: Barry Morphew is arrested in Cave Creek, Arizona, where he had been living in a trailer park with his new girlfriend. He is extradited back to Colorado.

Upcoming Trial:

• Undated (Future): The second murder trial of Barry Morphew is set to begin in Alamosa County, Colorado.

Cast of Characters in the Suzanne Morphew Case

Principle People Mentioned in the Sources:

• Suzanne Morphew (née Moorman): The victim. A 49-year-old mother of two, a two-time cancer survivor, known for her kindness and dedication to her daughters. At the time of her disappearance and death, she was seeking to leave her 25-year marriage to Barry Morphew and was involved in a secret two-year affair. Her remains were discovered in 2023, and her death was ruled a homicide by animal tranquilizer.

• Barry Morphew: The defendant and Suzanne's husband. A landscaper and avid hunter, he was the primary suspect from the beginning of the investigation and has been twice indicted for Suzanne's murder. He publicly maintained his innocence and released a tearful video plea for her return. His actions and statements, including a "chipmunk alibi" and series of "trash runs," have been central to the prosecution's case.

• Mallory Morphew: One of Suzanne and Barry's two daughters. She has consistently and publicly supported her father throughout the legal proceedings, expressing her belief in his innocence and her frustration with the justice system.

• Macy Morphew: One of Suzanne and Barry's two daughters. Like her sister, she has unwavering loyalty to her father and has publicly defended him against the murder charges.

• Jeff Libler: Suzanne Morphew's secret lover of two years. A former high school classmate from Indiana, he reconnected with Suzanne on Facebook and they maintained an emotional and physical affair, planning a future together. He was investigated by law enforcement and officially cleared as a suspect.

• Linda Stanley: The former 11th Judicial District Attorney. She led the first prosecution against Barry Morphew, which collapsed due to repeated prosecutorial misconduct, including discovery violations. She was later effectively disbarred in 2024.

• Anne Kelly: The current 12th Judicial District Attorney. She is leading the second prosecution against Barry Morphew, taking over the case after Suzanne's remains were found and the first case was dismissed. Her team is building a new case based on scientific evidence.

• Iris Eytan: Barry Morphew's lead defense attorney during the first legal proceedings. She aggressively challenged the prosecution's case, successfully highlighting their missteps and contributing to the dismissal of charges.

• Ramsey Lama: The judge who presided over the first legal proceedings against Barry Morphew. He sanctioned the prosecution for discovery violations, a ruling that significantly weakened their case and contributed to its dismissal.

• Jane Fisher-Byrialsen: An attorney on Barry Morphew's new defense team for the second indictment.

• David Beller: An attorney on Barry Morphew's new defense team for the second indictment.