Barry Morphew, accused of killing his wife Suzanne Morphew, returned to court Monday for the first time in months, as prosecutors and defense attorneys prepare for the next phase of a case that began with her disappearance on Mother’s Day 2020.

Morphew entered a not guilty plea Monday in an Alamosa County courtroom to one count of first-degree murder in connection with his wife’s death.

His defense attorney entered the plea on his behalf and told the judge that Morphew is waiving his right to a speedy trial, which under Colorado law would otherwise require the case to be tried within 180 days.

A trial in the case is currently scheduled to begin Oct. 13. The court also set a status conference for March 9 and a motions hearing for July 6.

BARRY MORPHEW ACCUSED OF WIFE SUZANNE’S MURDER: SEE HOW THE 5-YEAR COLORADO MURDER MYSTERY UNRAVELED

Suzanne disappeared from the couple’s home in Chaffee County on May 10, 2020, prompting a massive search that initially turned up few answers.

Morphew was first charged with her murder in 2021, but those charges were dropped the following year after prosecutors cited issues with the case and said they were close to discovering new evidence that could change its direction. His defense team argued at the time the case was dismissed because prosecutors were unlikely to win at trial.

After the charges were dropped, Morphew left Colorado and relocated to Cave Creek, Arizona — more than 600 miles from where Suzanne disappeared. While living there, he kept a low profile and used aliases, including “Bruce” and “Lee Moore.” Acquaintances later told Fox News Digital they were unaware of his connection to the high-profile Colorado case until his re-arrest.

Suzanne’s remains were discovered in September 2023 in a shallow grave in the San Luis Valley, roughly an hour south of the family’s home. An autopsy later ruled her death a homicide.

BARRY MORPHEW MAY USE MYSTERY DNA FOR DEFENSE IN WIFE’S MURDER: FORMER PROSECUTOR

According to court records, a powerful animal tranquilizer known as BAM — a combination of butorphanol, azaperone and medetomidine — was found in Suzanne’s bone marrow. Prosecutors said the presence of a metabolized form of the drug indicates she was alive long enough to process it, ruling out accidental or environmental contamination.

SUZANNE’S BROTHER CALLS BARRY MORPHEW ‘SOULLESS PREDATOR’ WITH ‘NO REDEMPTION’ AS JUDGE WEIGHS BAIL REQUEST

The indictment alleges Morphew had access to BAM through his work with deer and was the only private citizen in the area known to possess the drug at the time of Suzanne’s disappearance. Investigators have also pointed to evidence involving a tranquilizer dart rifle found in the home, along with phone and vehicle data they say contradict Morphew’s account of events.

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A Colorado grand jury re-indicted Morphew in June 2025. He was arrested in Goodyear, Arizona, extradited to Colorado and later released on bond in September after supporters helped post part of his $3 million bond. He remains under house arrest with an ankle monitor.

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Legal analysts said the defense is expected to focus on alternate suspect theories as the case moves forward.

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Colin McCallin, a Colorado-based attorney and former deputy district attorney, previously told Fox News Digital he expects Morphew’s legal team to challenge the prosecution’s narrative and attempt to introduce evidence pointing to another potential suspect as proceedings continue.

Fox News Digital’s Adam Sabes contributed to this report.

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The jury has reached a verdict in the murder trial of Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old man who was killed in San Francisco’s De Anza neighborhood in 2021.

Antoine Watson is guilty of involuntary manslaughter and guilty of force likely to produce great bodily harm, but not guilty of murder in the first or second degree.

Vicha Ratanapakdee’s daughter told the I-Team’s Dan Noyes that she’s “disappointed and painful.”

It was five years ago this month “Grandpa Vicha” was attacked in San Francisco’s Anza Vista neighborhood.

MORE: 610 days after 84-year-old Thai grandfather was murdered, SF street renamed in his honor

Surveillance video showed Watson running and then pushing Vicha to the ground.

He struck his head and died days later.

Watson was 19 at the time and testified he didn’t call 911 because he was scared the police would arrest him and panicked.

Vicha’s death became one of the flashpoints in the Stop Asian Hate movement during the pandemic.

Take a look at more stories by the ABC7 News I-Team.

The Denver Broncos have ruled out two players for this game and both were only recently activated off injured reserve in both linebacker Drew Sanders and tight end Lucas Krull. The other two guys on the report both got full days of practice in on Thursday, so it looks like both defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers and linebacker Dre Greenlaw will be good to go on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the laundry list of an injury report from the Buffalo Bills has a lot more to digest. Cornerback Maxwell Hairston and safety Jordan Poyer were both ruled out. Five other players were listed as questionable: safety Damar Hamlin, wide receiver Curtis Samuel, linebacker Terrell Bernard, running back Ty Johnson, and defensive tackle Ed Oliver. I wouldn’t be surprised if all of them end up being available for this game if even on a pitch count.

Here is your full practice report for Thursday.

Denver Broncos Injury Report

Buffalo Bills Injury Report

BOLD – Indicates change in status; NIR­- Indicates not injury related; *- Team conducted a walk-through / report is an estimation
STATUS DEFINITIONS: Did not participate (DNP); Limited: means less than 100 percent of a player’s normal repetitions; Full—100 percent of player’s normal repetitions; Out: will not play; Doubtful: Unlikely to play; Questionable: Uncertain to play