“48 Hours” Investigates: “The Suzanne Morphew Case: Nothing Is What It Seems”

Saturday, Jan. 22

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When a Colorado mother of two vanished on Mother’s Day 2020, police initially thought maybe she was taken while riding her mountain bike. They also considered her husband. Then, bizarre clues emerged – a chipmunk alibi, a tranquilizer gun, a spy pen and an affair.

Peter Van Sant and 48 HOURS investigate the disappearance of Suzanne Morphew, the case against her husband Barry Morphew, and incredible twists the story takes in “The Suzanne Morphew Case: Nothing Is What It Seems,” to be broadcast Saturday, Jan. 22 (10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+.

“When something like this happens … when somebody goes missing … you want answers,” said Aya Gruber, a law professor at the University of Colorado and a former defense attorney. “But this case is incredibly unique … when you started to dig a little bit deeper. Nothing is what it seems.”

The case gave investigators a mound of evidence to sift through. Suzanne Morphew disappeared days after telling her husband she was “done” with their marriage. Investigators noticed Barry Morphew’s cell phone appeared to be pinging all around his house on Mother’s Day weekend 2020, which he maintains was because he was chasing and shooting at chipmunks to shoot. Investigators also found a plastic cap for a syringe that they believe was used to load a tranquilizer dart in the couple’s dryer. Barry Morphew, investigators say, told them he didn’t know how the cap got there, but admitted he was an experienced tranquilizer dart gun shooter. The cap, however, had Suzanne Morphew’s DNA on it, not Barry’s. Investigators also found a spy pen right out of a James Bond movie that was able to capture and record conversations. One of the conversations the pen captured was between Suzanne Morphew and a secret lover. Investigators also uncovered DNA on the glovebox of Suzanne Morphew’s Range Rover, which traced back to an unknown male connected to three sexual assaults.

But prosecutors arrested Barry Morphew for first-degree murder even though Suzanne Morphew’s body was never found. In their arrest affidavit, prosecutors spelled out what they believe happened to her: “It had become clear that Barry could not control Suzanne’s insistence on leaving him, and he resorted to something he has done his entire life – hunt and control Suzanne like he had hunted and controlled animals.”

Morphew pled not guilty.

What really happened to Suzanne Morphew? Barry Morphew talked to investigators dozens of times, but they believe he knows more than he’s saying.

“When somebody goes missing who’s beloved and had children,” said Gruber, “you want the bad guy to be held accountable, but in some cases they are just mysteries.”

48 HOURS: “The Suzanne Morphew Case: Nothing Is What It Seems” is produced by Paul La Rosa. Elena DiFiore is the field producer. Stephen A. McCain is the development producer. Atticus Brady, Michael Baluzy and George Baluzy are the editors. Peter Schweitzer is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer.

48 HOURS is broadcast Saturdays at 10:00 PM, ET/PT, on CBS and streams on Paramount+. Follow 48 HOURS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Listen to podcasts at CBSAudio. Stream 48 HOURS on Paramount+.

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