Autopsy results for Suzanne Morphew, a Chaffee County woman who went missing in May 2020 and whose remains were found in a shallow grave seven months ago, revealed her death as a homicide, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation said Monday.
Her cause of death is undetermined, but agencies investigating the case believe a mix of drugs contributed to her death, including a strong pain reliever and powerful tranquilizer typically used in veterinary settings, the CBI said.
The CBI said butorphanol, azaperone and medetomidine intoxication contributed to her death.
Butorphanol is a synthetic opioid typically used as a nasal spray for treating migraine headaches, according to the National Library of Medicine. It can also be used as a narcotic analgesic for moderate-to-severe pain or used as a general anesthesia. Azaperone is a strong tranquilizer that is often used to sedate pigs and elephants and medetomidine is a sedative that was approved for dogs in Canada.
The three-drug combination is sometimes used to dart and tranquilize deer or other large game in order to capture or handle them. In this scenario the combination is typically reversed by administering other drugs.
“The Colorado Bureau of Investigation and our law enforcement partners understand and appreciate the public interest surrounding this case, CBI Director Chris Schaefer said. “The investigative team assembled to work this case continues to follow the evidence and only the evidence as we seek justice for Suzanne’s death.”
Investigators found Morphew’s remains in September in Saguache County while searching near the town of Moffat during an investigation unrelated to her appearance.
In a shallow grave, authorities found a partial skeleton and weathered-clothing scattered in and around the area, according to her autopsy report. Investigators also found a purple medical port. Morphew was receiving maintenance chemotherapy after remission of follicular lymphoma, the report said.
Her bike and helmet were found without significant damage in separate locations within the county, according to her autopsy report.
About a year after Morphew was reported missing on Mother’s Day in 2020, her husband, Barry Morphew, was charged with her murder. The charges were dropped on April 19, 2022, with the prosecutor saying without a body the case could not move forward.
When searching the Morphew home in 2020, investigators found a tranquilizer dart cap in the Morphew’s dryer, according to Barry Morphew’s arrest affidavit. In an interview, he told CBI agents that he only used the tranquilizers in Indiana and had not used them in Colorado.
No arrests have been made in her death. Barry Morphew has maintained his innocence.
In a statement Monday, Barry Morphew’s attorneys said the Morphew family has “agonized over Suzanne’s disappearance” over the past four years.
“This included not only the pain of the loss of their wife and mother but also the false accusations and prosecution of Barry Morphew. The Morphews have prayed the authorities would remove their blinders and not only find Suzanne, but find the suspect responsible for her disappearance and murder. However, the Morphews are left with more questions than answers and a lack of justice for Suzanne, the family and the community,” the statement read.
Iris Eytan, one of Barry Morphew’s attorneys, also said in an email that the drugs found in Suzanne’s system are commonly used by hunters and ranchers across Colorado.
“They are a controlled substance and the authorities should be tracking down the specialized vets in the area that aware able to prescribe it and find out who they prescribed it to and when,” Eytan wrote.
In announcing the autopsy results Monday, the CBI said it would not release additional information. The agency is still investigating her death and is collecting tips from anyone with information related to her disappearance and death at cdps_suzannemorphew_tipline@state.co.us.
This is a developing story that will be updated.