May 9, 2020:
- Suzanne and Barry Morphew have dinner in town at 4 pm.
- Suzanne engages in a texting exchange with her secret lover, with whom she had been messaging extensively leading up to this date.
- Barry leaves home at some point, telling Suzanne he is on his way home, but she doesn’t respond.
- Barry returns home after his errands and, investigators believe, kills Suzanne. There are signs of a possible struggle.
May 10, 2020 (Mother’s Day):
- Suzanne’s daughters, who were away on a camping trip, try to reach her to wish her a Happy Mother’s Day, but she does not respond.
- Barry contacts a neighbor to check on Suzanne and see if her mountain bike is at home.
- The neighbor finds no sign of Suzanne or her bike.
- Barry asks the neighbor to call the police.
- Instead of heading home immediately, Barry drops off tools for his co-workers at a hotel and begins driving home around 6 pm.
- Investigators discover Suzanne’s mountain bike on the side of a cliff and her helmet about a mile away, raising suspicions that the scene may have been staged.
May 19, 2020:
- Investigators find a voice-activated “spy” pen in the Morphew’s master bedroom, which Suzanne had used to record conversations, unknowingly capturing her secret lover’s voice.
June 2020:
- Investigators identify Suzanne’s secret lover, who cooperates with the investigation and provides access to his DNA, phone records, and deleted accounts. He is cleared of involvement.
August 2020:
- A photo of a damaged door frame in the Morphew’s master bedroom raises questions about a possible struggle. Prior home owners don’t recall the damage.
September 2020:
- Traces of tranquilizer cartridges and scratches on Barry’s arms are discovered in a court hearing.
- Suzanne’s text messages reveal her concerns about her marriage and her husband’s behavior.
- Mysterious male DNA is discovered in Suzanne’s Range Rover, with a partial match to an unnamed man linked to unsolved sexual assault cases in Tempe, Phoenix, and Chicago.
October 2020:
- Barry Morphew pleads guilty to casting a mail-in ballot for Donald Trump in Suzanne’s name.
May 5, 2021:
- Barry Morphew is arrested and charged with first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, and attempting to influence a public servant.
May 6, 2021:
- Barry Morphew has his first court appearance and is expected to be held without bail.
April 19, 2022:
- Nine days before Barry Morphew’s trial, all charges against him are dismissed without prejudice, meaning they can be refiled in the future.
May 2023:
- Barry Morphew files $15 million lawsuit against more than 20 prosecutors and law enforcement officials over malicious criminal prosecution in his wife’s disappearance.
September 22, 2023:
- Suzanne Morphew’s remains are found in a remote field near Moffat in Saguache County, Colorado, about 50 miles away from her home. The cause of death remains a mystery.