‘Did you ever find the journal? No’; Evidence discovered inside Suzanne Morphew’s home released

CHAFFEE COUNTY, Colo. — For the third day since charges were filed against Barry Morphew for allegedly killing his wife Suzanne, prosecutors outlined their investigation in court during a preliminary hearing.

Suzanne Morphew, 49, was reported missing over Mother’s Day weekend in 2020. During a press conference in May 2021, Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze said that although no body has been recovered, his “belief is that Suzanne is not alive at this time.”

Morphew has a four-day preliminary hearing. A preliminary hearing is a legal process to challenge the state’s case for prosecution and is intended to protect people from unsupported criminal charges. The judge must find probable cause for the existing charges before moving forward with an arraignment and a trial.

Morphew will be in court on Monday morning at 8 a.m. Three witnesses have taken the stand including Commander Alex Walker (lead investigator) with Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and former investigator with the 11th Judicial District Attorney Office, FBI Agent Kenneth Harris, and former FBI Agent Johnny Grusing. To catch up on the details revealed in court review FOX21’s previous stories:

Preliminary Hearing Day 2: “I’m done,” Texts between Suzanne and Barry Morphew reveal troubled marriage Preliminary Hearing Day 1: ‘Cannot live my life without you in it,’ messages reveal Suzanne Morphew had an affair before her disappearance

Morphew was arrested without incident on May 5. Morphew hired two attorney’s Iris Eytan and Dru Nielsen. Morphew has maintained his innocence. Morphew faces seven charges:

Murder in the first degree
Tampering with a deceased human body
Tampering with physical evidence
Possession of a dangerous weapon – short rifle
Attempt to influence a public servant
Forgery of Public Records
Misdemeanor Elections-mail ballot offense

The door frame of the couples master bedroom on the first floor had damage. Undersheriff Andy Rohrich testified saying it appeared to be from forced entry from the outside. Investigators also found a .22 caliber unsent shell casing on Suzanne’s side of the bed.

Deputies were also told to look for three books that Suzanne kept together which were a bible, an Al-anon book, and a journal. Investigators never found the journal. Undersheriff Rohrich testified that pieces of bookbinding were discovered in the fireplace partially burned.

The undersheriff testified about photos taken of Morphew’s hands and upper left arm. He described the markings as fingernail injuries and other injuries in various stages of healing.

Colorado Bureau of Investigation Kevin Coback has been called as a new witness. He has been a field agent working in Pueblo, Colo. for seven years. He told the court that he does not have information as to whether or not the hotel room was swabbed for Suzanne’s DNA.

FOX21’s Lauren Scharf is in the courtroom providing to-the-minute updates. Follow along below.

"She is the love of my life, I would lay down my life for that girl… I’m telling you right now, I was in shock for five days. If I left something out or a time period then it wasn’t on purpose." #BarryMorphew told investigators.
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021

#BarryMorphew said he was 100% faithful to #SuzanneMorphew during their marriage. No infidelity.
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021

#BarryMorphew phone went into airplane mode from 2:47 p.m. until 10:17 p.m. on May 9. The phone appears to be at the Morphew home from 10:17 p.m. until 3:25 a.m. the next day.
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021

Former FBI Agent Johnny Grusing is called back to the stand.
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021

NEW WITNESS: CBI Agent Kevin Coback. Field agent in Pueblo for 7 years. D.A. Linda Stanley is now asking him questions about #BarryMorphew employee Morgan Gentile.
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021

Undersheriff Rohrich said when #BarryMorphew first got to the bike scene he had "crocodile tears like fake tears at the beginning."
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021

Now they are discussing the marks on #BarryMorphew marks on his hands and arm. Eytan wants to know the measurements and Rohrich doesn't know because he said he didn't measure the three markings (fingernail injuries he had testified to).
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021

The undersheriff was fishing at Fooses Lake on Mother's Day with his wife around 12:02 p.m. He said it was crowded so they left. He confirmed no one reported the bike being ditched/found. LUNCH BREAK UNTIL 1:30 p.m.
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021

Handlebars were twisted 180 degrees. Can be called "ghost riding," this is seen with kids when they push a bike the tires want to turn. If the bike had been wrecked the mechanic said the handlebars and bike seat would not be centered but that wasn't the case here. #BarryMorphew
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021

EXHIBIT 85-87: Photos of #BarryMorphew hands and arm with injuries. According to Undersheriff Rohrick, Upper left arm looks like there are fingernail injuries. 3 abrasions or cuts scabbing over. Outside of his hands were injuries in various stages of healing.
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021

Chaffee County Sheriff's Undersheriff said the door frame of the Master's Bedroom looked like there had been a forced entry from outside of the room. He also mentioned a 22 caliver unspent shell found on #SuzanneMorphew side of the bed.
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021

Back on record: NEW WITNESS takes the stand. Chaffee County Sheriff's Office Undersheriff Andy Rohrich. He has been the undersheriff for 3 years. He has been a police officer for 23 years. He worked as an animal control officer for 4 years. #BarryMorphew preliminary hearing.
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021

From May 5-9, 2020 the FBI said they could NOT get everything off of #BarryMorphew phone that he had deleted. The state asked, "Is it possible if Barry could have been tracking Suzanne?" Agent Grusing said, "Yes."
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021

#BarryMorphew allegedly told investigators that he last used his tranquilizer gun to shoot a deer in late April of 2020 to get their horn. "I’m telling you, telling you right now… to get horns. They go to sleep, I remove their horns. They go off with no horns on their head.”
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021

Agent Grusing is talking about when #BarryMorphew could have had time to dispose of a body on May 9 into 10. He told the judge Morphew had six hours to dispose of a body which could mean at least a 3 hour round trip.
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021

The plastic cap wasn't found until May 19. Investigators don't know how the cap got into the dryer and how long it had been there. There was 2 DNA mixture on the cap, #BarryMorphew DNA was excluded.
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021

Dart doesn't come with fluid or chemicals in them. You have to buy that separately. Nielsen is showing how someone has to inject into the dart the chemicals.
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021

Nielsen is talking about what #BarryMorphew allegedly threw away at the trash runs. Made it known there were no pictures or video of him throwing away things at the Broomfield bus stop.
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021

Feb. 28, 2021 interview: "When I'm home I walk around and shoot chipmunks." We are hearing audio from an interview with LE. Nielsen wanted to make it clear that #BarryMorphew didn't shoot 85 chipmunks all at once.
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021

#BarryMorphew just walked into the courtroom wearing a grey suit and was holding an orange envelope and other papers. NEW: A sign in the courtroom that reads, "There is to be no communication between the persons in the gallery (visitors in the courtroom) and defendants.
— Lauren Scharf (@LaurenScharfTV) August 23, 2021