A Colorado man awaiting trial in the alleged killing of his wife has been taken into custody after prosecutors accused him of violating his release conditions following a hit-and-run crash in Denver.
Barry Morphew, who was free on a $3 million bond, was booked into the Boulder County Jail on Friday. His arrest comes after prosecutors raised concerns that he traveled to Denver and was involved in a traffic incident despite restrictions on where he could go while awaiting trial.
Morphew Accused of Violating Bond Conditions
Morphew’s bond terms required him to remain at his home in southern Colorado except for approved activities, including work and certain legal or medical appointments.
Prosecutors said he traveled to Denver International Airport on Aug. 28, reportedly possibly to pick up his daughter. According to a court filing, traveling to the airport for a personal reason would violate the conditions of his release.
The case escalated after authorities learned of an earlier traffic incident in Denver involving two other vehicles. Prosecutors allege Morphew was driving aggressively before the crash and left the scene.
A judge later reviewed video connected to the incident and ordered tighter restrictions on Morphew’s release.
Judge Orders House Arrest After Denver Incident
District Judge Amanda Hopkins ordered Morphew to remain inside his home at all times, with no exceptions, after the alleged hit-and-run came to the court’s attention.
According to the court order, a driver involved in the crash recorded part of the encounter. The man identified as Morphew allegedly declined to provide identification and told the driver he did not have insurance. He reportedly offered $300 to cover damage, but left after the offer was rejected and police were mentioned.
The judge also ordered information from Morphew’s GPS monitoring provider regarding his movements and whether he had authorization to be away from home when the incident occurred.
Morphew was subsequently arrested on an outstanding warrant from Alamosa County for failing to comply with the conditions of his release. A hearing on his bond is scheduled for Sept. 8.
Murder Case Remains Pending
Morphew is facing a first-degree murder charge in connection with the death of his wife, Suzanne Morphew. She disappeared in 2020, and her skeletal remains were discovered in southern Colorado in 2023.
Morphew has pleaded not guilty and has denied involvement in his wife’s death. He was previously charged in the case, but those charges were dismissed in 2022 before prosecutors later brought a new case against him.
Investigators have said Suzanne Morphew’s remains showed no obvious signs of trauma. Prosecutors allege, however, that testing revealed traces of a combination of drugs used to tranquilize wildlife and contend that Barry Morphew was among the few people with authorized access to the substances.
His murder trial is expected to take place next year. The latest arrest could now affect the terms of his release as the court considers whether his $3 million bond should be modified.
