Five years after Suzanne Morphew vanished on Mother’s Day 2020, her husband Barry Morphew is once again facing murder charges.

The original case against Barry collapsed in 2022 due to insufficient evidence and legal missteps, but new forensic discoveries and a change in prosecution have revived the investigation and may finally bring justice for Suzanne.

Suzanne’s remains were discovered in 2023, buried in a shallow grave far from where she disappeared. Forensic analysis revealed traces of BAM—a potent animal tranquilizer used on deer—in her system. Investigators say Barry had access to BAM through his deer farm, having purchased it years earlier.

During the initial search of the Morphew home, authorities found a needle cap in the dryer, which matched tranquilizer darts locked in Barry’s gun safe. This evidence supports the theory that Barry used the tranquilizer to immobilize Suzanne before staging the crime scene.

According to cell phone data, Barry’s movements around the house on the day Suzanne vanished were erratic. He claimed he was chasing a chipmunk, but investigators believe he was pursuing Suzanne.

After sedating her, Barry allegedly staged a fake abduction by dumping her mountain bike and helmet in the woods and then drove 150 miles to a job site to create an alibi.

Records show Barry was the only private citizen in the area with access to BAM, making its presence in Suzanne’s body highly suspicious. A pharmacology expert testified that BAM would have left her immobile and vulnerable, unable to resist any further harm.

Forensic evidence also suggests Suzanne’s body was moved after death; her clothes showed no signs of decomposition, and there was no insect or animal activity on her remains, indicating she was not buried immediately.

DNA evidence added another layer of complexity. Partial male DNA found on Suzanne’s SUV initially seemed to match profiles from unsolved sexual assault cases, but further analysis ruled out those connections.

Investigators also uncovered deleted texts and messages revealing marital discord and Suzanne’s plans for divorce. Just days before her disappearance, Suzanne told Barry she was “done,” and investigators found she had been having an affair for about a year.

On the day Suzanne vanished, her last known communication was a selfie sent to her boyfriend. After that, she stopped responding to messages, and Barry’s phone went into airplane mode for several hours—a move that still allowed location data to be logged, showing Barry zigzagging around the house.

Vehicle data from Barry’s truck revealed unusual gaps during the critical time frame, suggesting tampering or attempts to conceal his movements. Surveillance footage from the weekend showed Barry making multiple trash runs in different clothes, raising further suspicion.

The original case against Barry was dropped because Suzanne’s body had not been found and key witnesses were barred from testifying due to prosecution errors.

The district attorney handling the case was later disbarred for misconduct. However, the charges were dismissed “without prejudice,” allowing the case to be reopened.

Now, with Suzanne’s remains recovered, new forensic evidence, and a new district attorney, Barry Morphew will face trial in the county where Suzanne’s body was found. The prosecution believes they finally have the evidence needed for a conviction.

As the case moves forward, many hope this will be the trial that delivers long-awaited justice for Suzanne Morphew.