# Why it's a bad idea to talk to the cops: the case of the alleged wife-killer Barry Morphew **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 16, 2021, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-its-a-bad-idea-to-talk-to-the-cops-the-case-of-the-alleged-wife-killer-barry-morphew/942222 "2021-05-16T14:51:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-its-a-bad-idea-to-talk-to-the-cops-the-case-of-the-alleged-wife-killer-barry-morphew/942222/21 "2023-09-28T02:55:26Z")
They found whats left of Suzanne. Any soft tissue evidence is probably long gone. Barry is probably going to be the main suspect again. But, his timeline was detailed in the hearing. It’ll be interesting if he’s not tied to the grave site > **[Remains found of Suzanne Morphew, Colorado mother missing since 2020](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/09/27/suzanee-morphew-case-human-remains-colorado-case/70987282007/)** > > An investigation in an unrelated case led Colorado agents to human remains belonging to Suzanne Morphew, who had been missing since Mother's Day 2020. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-its-a-bad-idea-to-talk-to-the-cops-the-case-of-the-alleged-wife-killer-barry-morphew/942222/22 "2023-09-28T16:36:52Z")
You have to like the case being dismissed for prosecutorial malfeasance. Always a good look. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2023, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-its-a-bad-idea-to-talk-to-the-cops-the-case-of-the-alleged-wife-killer-barry-morphew/942222/23 "2023-09-28T22:47:45Z")
I’m glad the two daughters got closure. They can eventually bury their mother. I don’t know how the legal case will develop. Authorities know Barry’s movements on Mothers Day. It was fully detailed in the hearing. They even had video at the hotel where he dropped off tools for his workers. The case was badly handled. Who knows what happens next. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-its-a-bad-idea-to-talk-to-the-cops-the-case-of-the-alleged-wife-killer-barry-morphew/942222/24 "2023-09-29T20:25:06Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > The case was badly handled. Who knows what happens next. Yeah. Even when the dude appears guilty as hell, the State can not and should not hide exculpatory evidence, and drop other avenues of investigation. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-its-a-bad-idea-to-talk-to-the-cops-the-case-of-the-alleged-wife-killer-barry-morphew/942222/25 "2023-09-29T20:37:45Z")
Now I’m left wondering whether the OP got BANNED because he spoke or because he didn’t speak to the Mods. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-its-a-bad-idea-to-talk-to-the-cops-the-case-of-the-alleged-wife-killer-barry-morphew/942222/26 "2025-06-20T20:10:21Z")
Charged again. A news conference is expected. > **[Barry Morphew charged with murder for the second time in death of wife...](https://www.kktv.com/2025/06/20/barry-morphew-charged-with-murder-death-wife-suzanne/)** > > The husband of a woman whose remains were found in a shallow grave in 2023 is now facing First Degree Murder charge for her death. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-its-a-bad-idea-to-talk-to-the-cops-the-case-of-the-alleged-wife-killer-barry-morphew/942222/27 "2025-06-20T21:30:56Z")
IANA forensic pathologist. But I find it amazing they located her remains in a shallow grave ~3 years after disappearance. And then had a cause of death that included certain organic compounds. How the hell do you reliably identify “butorphanol, azaperone, and medetomidine” in a 3-1/2 year old corpse? Surely that stuff deteriorates along with every other chemical in the body. Heck, I’d be surprised if there was much meat left on her at all. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-its-a-bad-idea-to-talk-to-the-cops-the-case-of-the-alleged-wife-killer-barry-morphew/942222/28 "2025-06-21T17:55:51Z")
Some chemicals have very long half-lives. One that I happen to know offhand, Chlordane (banned insecticide) has very low water solubility and a half-live of over 10 years. So it is detectable in homes to this day, 37 years after it was banned. Low solubility would mean it would mostly just sit there, not getting washed away. Just by way of example. I can’t speak to the specific chemicals mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-its-a-bad-idea-to-talk-to-the-cops-the-case-of-the-alleged-wife-killer-barry-morphew/942222/29 "2025-06-21T20:49:32Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Charged again. A news conference is expected. Looks like- _for Justice and the people_- it is a Good idea to talk to cops. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-its-a-bad-idea-to-talk-to-the-cops-the-case-of-the-alleged-wife-killer-barry-morphew/942222/30 "2025-06-22T05:06:02Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > But I find it amazing they located her remains in a shallow grave ~3 years after disappearance. That’s what you get for living in Florida, where even walking too slowly gets you in trouble. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-its-a-bad-idea-to-talk-to-the-cops-the-case-of-the-alleged-wife-killer-barry-morphew/942222/31 "2025-06-22T10:15:43Z")
I’m surprised the toxicology yielded anything useful. 5 years exposure is a long time in the hot desert. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-its-a-bad-idea-to-talk-to-the-cops-the-case-of-the-alleged-wife-killer-barry-morphew/942222/32 "2025-06-22T11:40:49Z")
Should the thread title be changed to: “Update: Why it’s a bad idea for murderers to dig shallow graves”? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-its-a-bad-idea-to-talk-to-the-cops-the-case-of-the-alleged-wife-killer-barry-morphew/942222/33 "2025-06-22T13:03:06Z")
To be clear, my point wasn’t that I was surprised they found her at all. But rather that after ~3 years stored in that condition, there was still meaningful tox test results. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2025, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-its-a-bad-idea-to-talk-to-the-cops-the-case-of-the-alleged-wife-killer-barry-morphew/942222/34 "2025-06-22T23:32:00Z")
Yeah, and to be clear myself, it’s amazing the difference between what survives in drier environments than humid ones. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-its-a-bad-idea-to-talk-to-the-cops-the-case-of-the-alleged-wife-killer-barry-morphew/942222.md?page=1)