Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee Co, 10 May 2020 #80 *arrest*

[marylamby]

BBM Interesting! WOW! I’m not posting much, but reading everyone’s great posts. It totally slipped by me BM had told someone to “control your wife!” I hate to ask, but can you refresh my memory. What an absolute jerk! Was this in IN or after moving to CO? TIA @Seattle1 great info!

I remember it, it was early on. Can't remember where we learned it but somehow I remember it was the wife of a friend or coworker he was talking about.
@Seattle1 ?

 

[SouthAussie]

The investigators didn't follow up on her secret bank account so we don't know how much money was there or if it was spent. We also don't know who deposited the money or how it was deposited.

SUZANNE MORPHEW: Preliminary hearing in Barry Morphew trial reveals new details | FOX31 Denver
The defense, despite the state’s objection, outlined how Suzanne opened up a secret bank account with GreenDot bank and Royal Compass Management. Eytan asked Harris if he looked into this, and he said he did not.

Because Harris had not looked into Suzanne's personal bank accounts does not mean that other LE/forensic accountants had not looked into those bank accounts. Perhaps while examining their overall financial considerations when seeking motive and/or Suzanne's ability to go missing through personal choice. imo

I notice Harris was very careful with words. I personally think that Harris only gave detail about things in which he had direct knowledge.

 

[Bluebythec]

The investigators didn't follow up on her secret bank account so we don't know how much money was there or if it was spent. We also don't know who deposited the money or how it was deposited.

SUZANNE MORPHEW: Preliminary hearing in Barry Morphew trial reveals new details | FOX31 Denver
The defense, despite the state’s objection, outlined how Suzanne opened up a secret bank account with GreenDot bank and Royal Compass Management. Eytan asked Harris if he looked into this, and he said he did not.

Maybe they didn't want to give too much away. She asked Harris if HE looked into it and he said HE did not. Do we know if any other investigator did?

 

[SouthAussie]

Maybe they didn't want to give too much away. She asked Harris if HE looked into it and he said HE did not. Do we know if any other investigator did?

I think an indication that the accounts were looked at is the fact that they revealed a deposit was made to one of the accounts.

It would make sense to look at the accounts in more detail, to see if Suzanne (or someone) had made withdrawals at any geographical location. Then they would likely follow up with looking at relevant CCTV from that location. A pretty standard step in criminal investigation. imo

I doubt they just found evidence of bank accounts and said "oh well, she had bank accounts". They would want to see any records of recent activity.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

I suppose they could say SM planted the bike and helmet and staged her own disappearance, turned off the security cameras (her DNA on cables), took 70k cash from the safe. I'm stuck after that. IMO

If I play devil's advocate for a moment and envision that SM really did decide to pull a Gone Girl -- and even if she was so afraid of BM that she felt it was best to stage a bike abduction to divert BM from realizing she left on purpose -- once she was away from him and settled somewhere, like within a few days at the most, there would be IMO zero chance she would not 1) contact her girls to say she was ok, and 2) contact law enforcement to say she is ok and they don't need to search. Not to mention 3) contact her brother and sister and best friend, and be there for her dad as he was dying. Zero chance. MOO.

 

[Wenifred]

He’s so classy, and not controlling at all. If I didn’t know any better though, I’d say that he almost looks down on women.

And chimpmunks

 

[al66pine]

Art of Cross Exam? Gap in Other Exam? Or MSM Reporting Error?

The investigators didn't follow up on her secret bank account so we don't know how much money was there or if it was spent. We also don't know who deposited the money or how it was deposited.
SUZANNE MORPHEW: Preliminary hearing in Barry Morphew trial reveals new details | FOX31 Denver
The defense, despite the state’s objection, outlined how Suzanne opened up a secret bank account with GreenDot bank and Royal Compass Management. Eytan asked Harris if he looked into this, and he said he did not.

@gliving bbm Thanks for your post & link. Just jumping off your post.

During cross exam, if def atty meant to leave impression - maybe SM has withdrawn $ from 'secret account' & this shows she's still alive & oh, what a crummy investigation LE conducted, tunnel vision, etc, okay, good cross exam.
But did def atty also ask, did other LEOs review bank a/c activity after the MoDay disappearance?

Other LEOs who may have reviewed bank a/c stmts & found withdrawalsor other transactions?
Presumably the state already knows - after MoDay, there was no a/c holder-initiated. transactions. So not indication there SM is living.
At PH, the state could have asked this Q of other LEO witness or could have intro'ed all bank stmts from May 2020 to current to show no transactions. State could have provided definitive evd but did not. Imo no reason to provide answer or to refute defense atty's implication re crummy investigation and/or implication SM is still living at PH. At trial, yes, state should address that issue.

Finally maybe the reporter did not accurately report def atty's Q. to LEO. Maybe def atty asked if any LEO "looked into it," and he said no, no LEO did. Reporting error? IDK, but imo in an investigation this big, w so many LEOs, witnesses, subpoenas, etc, it would be difficult if not impossible for one LEO to know all aspects of LE findings. my2ct.

 

[10ofRods]

And let’s just say she took 70k from the garage safe. Why would she Gone Girl to start a new life, with only 70K? If they showed that she started those secret bank accounts, made deposits, and then withdrew it all the first week of May, then okay. But no. If you plan to never turn your phone on again, why take the charger? What would be the point of taking off, with a fraction of the money that you would easily get, leaving your fling behind without a word, your children who are your biggest blessing, your medical records, especially as a cancer patient. If there was no bike and helmet, maybe I could get on board with a potential suicide scenario. We still know that Barry murdered Suzanne, and Gone Girl/Suicide/Random Abduction make zero sense.

Well, you're right of course, but so far the Gone Girl theory makes more sense than any other, and the defense has to try and sell something. They can attempt a spaghetti defense, but at the end of the trial, they'll need to counter all the prosecutor's evidence with something more than spaghetti - and try to hope that one juror buys their "reasonable doubt" due to Gone Girl.

I can theorize that if JL is put on the stand and he says that Suzanne would never have left without keeping in touch with him and had absolutely no plans to do so, it might help demolition that.

The point about the charger is a good one, but a person can simply unlock their phone and buy a new SIM and be on their way - totally incognito to all those who once knew. It's a simple matter to change one's phone number. Of course that's not what she did - but I don't think even the FBI can say that Suzanne's device has never shown up again on the planet. The idea that Suzanne hitchhiked herself away from Barry and into a world without her daughters or JL...is bizarre. But there is a witness who said they saw an unusual car up that way, that day. This "witness" has gone on record, on video, but not MSM. However, it is not rumor to say that this person exists, can be seen in the crowd at the first presser, and talked about the case a lot in the early days - radio silence recently. I do believe he was interviewed by some reporter in CO (briefly, in the first 10 days after Suzanne went missing), maybe someone else will remember exactly where to find that.

 

[windrower]

I suppose they could say SM planted the bike and helmet and staged her own disappearance, turned off the security cameras (her DNA on cables), took 70k cash from the safe. I'm stuck after that. IMO

One big problem for BM is SUZANNE has not been found, alive or dead. I challenge anyone to explain—without some bizarre, convoluted story—how SUZANNE disappeared herself without ID, medical cards or records, cash (because BM can say there was 70k in the safe, but that’s probably another lie), etc., without leaving a trace.

Could any of you do that?

Two other big problems for BM are all of his lies, and his changing stories to fit new evidence as it came along. BM is nothing special. He’s a classic case of a wife annihilater who did the deed and then spun story after story after story to cover his tracks.

The investigators didn't follow up on her secret bank account so we don't know how much money was there or if it was spent. We also don't know who deposited the money or how it was deposited.

SUZANNE MORPHEW: Preliminary hearing in Barry Morphew trial reveals new details | FOX31 Denver
The defense, despite the state’s objection, outlined how Suzanne opened up a secret bank account with GreenDot bank and Royal Compass Management. Eytan asked Harris if he looked into this, and he said he did not.

bbm

I don’t think we know that investigatorS (plural) did not follow up on SUZANNE’s secret bank accounts, only that Investigator Harris did not.

 

[MassGuy]

Because Harris had not looked into Suzanne's personal bank accounts does not mean that other LE/forensic accountants had not looked into those bank accounts. Perhaps while examining their overall financial considerations when seeking motive and/or Suzanne's ability to go missing through personal choice. imo

I notice Harris was very careful with words. I personally think that Harris only gave detail about things in which he had direct knowledge.

This happened on several occasions. The defense gave the impression that certain things weren’t done (evidence not tested or collected), by asking a witness who was not involved in that aspect of the investigation.

One of those things was the bathing suit, which must have been collected if the defense was able to point out that no blood was found.

A lot of people were fooled.

 

[MassGuy]

One big problem for BM is SUZANNE has not been found, alive or dead. I challenge anyone to explain—without some bizarre, convoluted story—how SUZANNE disappeared herself without ID, medical cards or records, cash (because BM can say there was 70k in the safe, but that’s probably another lie), etc., without leaving a trace.

Could any of you do that?

Two other big problems for BM are all of his lies, and his changing stories to fit new evidence as it came along. BM is nothing special. He’s a classic case of a wife annihilater who did the deed and then spun story after story after story to cover his tracks.



bbm

I don’t think we know that investigatorS (plural) did not follow up on SUZANNE’s secret bank accounts, only that Investigator Harris did not.

A trained spy would struggle to do that, and when coupled with BM’s lies, actions, phone data, truck data, surveillance, and the rest of it, it’s laughable.

Would she? Almost certainly not.

Could she? No.

When taken as a whole? LOL

Time will pass, and this scenario will be more laughable by the day.

Time is the friend of the prosecution.

 

[Seattle1]

dbm - double post

 

[Seattle1]

Because Harris had not looked into Suzanne's personal bank accounts does not mean that other LE/forensic accountants had not looked into those bank accounts. Perhaps while examining their overall financial considerations when seeking motive and/or Suzanne's ability to go missing through personal choice. imo

I notice Harris was very careful with words. I personally think that Harris only gave detail about things in which he had direct knowledge.

I also recall it reported that despite the state's objection, the defense brought up SM's two secret bank accounts. Although I don't know the reason for the objection, we do know that SO suggested to SM to begin putting money away that she could leave. I believe the state was aware of the new bank accounts but more important was aware that SM had no activity in any account - joint, secret, or other, since the date of her disappearance.

Perhaps the state objected to the defense wanting to put out that SM had deposit activity close to the date she disappeared to dismiss any notion that SM left voluntarily.

Defense attorneys alleged in court Tuesday that Suzanne Morphew also had a secret bank account, which received money on April 23, 2020, at 4:31 a.m.

Colorado dad charged with murdering wife found her texts with lover, prosecutors say

SUZANNE MORPHEW: Preliminary hearing in Barry Morphew trial reveals new details | FOX31 Denver

 

[marylamby]

I think an indication that the accounts were looked at is the fact that they revealed a deposit was made to one of the accounts.

It would make sense to look at the accounts in more detail, to see if Suzanne (or someone) had made withdrawals at any geographical location. Then they would likely follow up with looking at relevant CCTV from that location. A pretty standard step in criminal investigation. imo

I doubt they just found evidence of bank accounts and said "oh well, she had bank accounts". They would want to see any records of recent activity.

You just made me wonder if she did in fact open a new account or if BM did. Even if she had, anyone can make a deposit. She may have had another account still open, to which her mother's inheritance was initially wired before the PP purchase.

 

[Seattle1]

I remember it, it was early on. Can't remember where we learned it but somehow I remember it was the wife of a friend or coworker he was talking about.
@Seattle1 ?

As told by Chris M (TIR), this was in IN when a woman confronted BM about how he allegedly threatened/talked to her son that was dating one of the daughters. MOO

 

[Error505]

As told by Chris M (TIR), this was in IN when a woman confronted BM about how he allegedly threatened/talked to her son that was dating one of the daughters. MOO

Unbelievable to imagine except for BM! Control - his idea of husband/wife!
Thank you @Seattle1

 

[marylamby]

He’s so classy, and not controlling at all. If I didn’t know any better though, I’d say that he almost looks down on women.

HA! He's a devout women's rights activist!

 

[24Brix]

The investigators didn't follow up on her secret bank account so we don't know how much money was there or if it was spent. We also don't know who deposited the money or how it was deposited.

SUZANNE MORPHEW: Preliminary hearing in Barry Morphew trial reveals new details | FOX31 Denver
The defense, despite the state’s objection, outlined how Suzanne opened up a secret bank account with GreenDot bank and Royal Compass Management. Eytan asked Harris if he looked into this, and he said he did not.

IMO, I think it’s safe to say that the prosecution has a strategy and they are executing on that strategy. They knew who they were calling to testify at the PH and they knew what those people could and could not (would and would not) answer to as individuals. Like any good poker player, the cards LS has in the hole are just as important, if not more so, than the cards she chooses to show.

I think the prosecution is perfectly happy when their witnesses get questions like this. Just because Harris answers that he did not investigate something doesn’t mean there hasn’t been an 8-person team of investigators with vetted information up to their eyeballs who did.

I mean, am I missing something or are these cross questions by the defense not as carefully thought out and phrased as I expected them to be? And I have to conclude that this is by intent, given the reputation of the firm.

I feel like, so far, more than anything, the defense was putting on a show for BM. And I feel like the judge and prosecution can see that as well.

MOO.

 

[NoSI]

OK, All, remainder of morning session.

This is my interpretation of what I heard. This information has been provided for use and discussion at Websleuths only.

SM’s wallet in her Range Rover. It held SMs driver’s license, medical insurance card, cash, and a few checks.

May 11, 2020 – SM had medical appointment for cancer treatment scheduled for which she would have needed her insurance card.

May 11, 2020 – Search of Puma Path, including inside the residence. DAMAGE TO MASTER BEDROOM DOOR FRAME.

PEOPLES EXHIBIT 80: Photo of doorframe to master bedroom with a "crack" visible. The crack indicates "forced entry" and "door forced open from outside in". Previous owners denied that this crack was there when they sold the home to the Morphews.

PEOPLES EXHIBIT 81: Photo of one (1) unspent shell/"live round" next to SMs side of the bed.

On SMs’ nightstand was a book titled "Courage to Change" and her bible. "Courage to Change" is published by Al-Anon. SM also known to have journal that usually was with these items.

PEOPLES EXHIBIT 82: Photo of SMs "Courage to Change" book. It was opened to May 9th and May 10th. It was located next to SMs bible. The journal was never found.

Fireplace was searched.

PEOPLES EXHIBITS 83 & 84: Photos showing fireplace and contents of fireplace. Exhibit 84 shows "piece of wood with straight edge and lacquer finish", it was partially burned, there was also "paper material" and remnants of what looked like wrapping paper, two (2) "metal pieces" were found in the fireplace that looked like part of a hanging folder, there was also evidence of what looked like a "binding of a book".

"Search dogs" – Search dogs needed article of SMs clothing for scent purposes, BM was asked by LE to pick item of clothing under LE escort at Puma Path.

10:39 PM: 2 LE officers' interaction recorded via body cam at Puma Path. Undersheriff Andy Rohrich started saying "I found it odd….", Defense immediately and loudly stated "OBJECTION. MAY I APPROACH?" and he never got to finish until later.

PEOPLES EXHIBITS 95: Thumb drive containing video entering house, Officer Brown, another officer, and BM. May 20, 2020 at 9:37 PM BM in red flannel shirt, BM was told "Don’t touch anything", a pair of SMs bicycle shorts was taken for scent purposes, this was BMs first opportunity in house, Undersheriff Andy Rohrich finds it odd that BM was not asking any questions, was not looking around, BM supposedly last saw SM in bed, he didn’t look at bed, while in his residence.

"Winter" – Hunting deer, elk, elk are rutting, shed antlers before March, Antlers in May? "No", bulls not with cows in May.

"Left turn on US-50" – BM was supposedly following a bull elk because BM wanted to know where this bull elk will shed his antlers (IN MAY?!?!), as per Undersheriff Andy Rohrich a bull elk shedding his antlers in May would be "very unusual".

"Tranquilizer darts" – The darts found at Puma Path were the same one’s that are used by Animal Control; serum, dart kit includes syringe with needle to take out serum and inject into dart; 22 caliber is not projectile, just charge; Undersheriff Andy Rohrich informed that dogs would require varied cc’s of serum for sedation; the dog would never immediately go down and had to be chased and followed; he shared "sometimes we lose them and get a call later that a strange dog was asleep in someone’s front yard"; can euthanize with syringe in kit; BM had shared that he would tranquilize deer and then cut off their antlers; they would need to be chased (I don’t know if BM said that or Undersheriff Andy Rohrich educated on that); Undersheriff Andy Rohrich confirmed that there were "lots of antlers in house (Puma Path)", but NO EVIDENCE of "cut off antlers", only "antlers with skull plate".

May 13, 2020 – Photos of BMs injuries taken at the Department of Health and Human Services. Photo not shown in court room.

PEOPLES EXHIBIT 85: Photo of outside of BMs right hand, injuries visible in variable stages of healing.

PEOPLES EXHIBIT 86: Photo of outside of BMs left hand, injuries visible in variable stages of healing.

PEOPLES EXHIBIT 87: Photo of upper left arm, slightly below shoulder, finger nail injuries, "3 abrasions" that are starting to scab over.

"Surveillance video" – Undersheriff Andy Rohrich shared that there was "a lot of" surveillance video to go through; Poncha Springs Shell station (6 miles east of Puma Path); surveillance footage from house across street from DSI, where BM worked.

PEOPLES EXHIBIT 88, 89, 90: From same camera pointing towards DSI parking lot from house across the street. Footage/Photo not shown in court room.

#88: May 9, 2020 at 1:51 PM, BM in F350 pulling trailer with bobcat into DSI.
#89: May 9, 2020 at 1:51 PM, BM getting out of F350.
#90: May 9, 2020 at 2:05 PM, Bobcat back on (trailer??), BM wearing blue shirt and shorts. BM leaving DSI parking lot at 2:07 PM.

PEOPLES EXHIBIT 91: From camera at Salida Auto Sales, which is east of DSI. F350 with bobcat on trailer, 2:27 PM westbound on US50. Footage/Photo not shown in court room.

PEOPLES EXHIBIT 92: From camera at Shell Station. F350 with bobcat on trailer westbound on US50. 1:34 PM, but time on image 58 minutes slow, so it is really 2:32 PM. Footage/Photo not shown in court room.

Salida Stove & Spa would have been 1/8th of a mile from there, he would have passed it coming normal route from Puma Path. Why did he not go to Salida Stove & Spa at that time? He was not caught on Shell station surveillance camera later that day. Then seen again on May 10, 2020 at 5:14 AM going eastbound.

"Garfield mine" – 3 miles west toward Monarch, he was supposedly following bull elk, turned around at Garfield turnoff, 19 minutes from Shell station. The route from Puma Path to the Garfield mine would have been "pitch black and without light" early morning on May 10, 2020.

"SMs bike" – Located at 225 & US50, 100 feet south of intersection.

PEOPLES EXHIBIT 93: SMs bike upside down.
PEOPLES EXHIBIT 94: SMs bike right side up on wheels.

"Scott Banks" – Bike mechanic in Salida, very experienced (was bike mechanic for Team USA at one point and has been a bike mechanic for decades), worked on SMs bike x3, he put bike together when it was new, on May 7, 2020 he put new tires on the bike, he is familiar with the Santa Cruz Juliana mountain bikes, when bike found handlebars were twisted 180 degrees, brought up the term "ghostriding" and "pushing bike to allow to go freely, brakes drag", the way the bike was found is NOT CONSISTENT WITH CRASH, seen often with kids doing silly things on bike (this is how I took it at least).

Prosecution finished with Undersheriff Andy Rohrich.

IE starts cross examining Undersheriff Andy Rohrich at 11:41 AM.

"Body cam video" – May 10, 2020 at bike crash site: "BM was emotional when he arrived", BM contacted by dispatch on way from Broomfield back to Salida, BM reportedly asked Mr. Ritter to call LE about SM missing.

Undersheriff Andy Rohrich confirms that he reviewed all surveillance footage.

"Walmart Pharmacy Salida" – May 6, 2020 at 12:37 PM: SM with groceries in cart at Pharmacy, was handed white paper back by Pharmacy staff, likely prescription drugs, records were reportedly not obtained by Prosecution, 2 prescription bottles were found at Puma Path, one of which was "hydrocodone" and an antidepressants (mirtazapine?), neither bottle was dated May 6, 2020.

"Master closet" – A pair of bike gloves on floor in master bedroom closet; SM wore "distinct" bikini in selfie forwarded to JL at 2:03 PM on May 9, 2020; this bikini was reportedly located in the master bedroom closet with SMs other swimwear and not collected as evidence; no blood, not torn as per IE; Undersheriff Andy Rohrich stated that he could not tell on the picture if the bikini was torn, bloody etc.

"Surveilance" - May 9, 2020: White Range Rover going westbound at 3:05 PM, Loaf & Jug, Undersherriff Andy Rohrich states several times that he never believed this is/was SMs Range Rover (even though another officer thought it was and wrote it up in the report as such). 14 minutes later westbound driving by Collegiate Peaks Bank at 3:19 PM, at 3:20 PM westbound by Salida Auto Sales. Defense states that it would take about 20 - 25 minutes from Puma Path to Loaf & Jug in Salida. Undersherriff Rohrich believes it doesn't take that long.

"Surveilance" - May 10, 2020: Deputy Brown was 1st at bike crash site, he saw the bike down the embankment, Defense asks "it was easy to spot" and Undersherriff Rohrich replies "No", Undersherriff Rohrich was at the scene for approximately 30 minutes, it was so crowded at the scene that Rohrich eventually left.

Break for lunch.

 

[MassGuy]

From @NoSI ’s notes:

I’m super curious about this. Are we talking about a 22 caliber gun that shoots darts via a blank round, or what?

"Tranquilizer darts" – The darts found at Puma Path were the same one’s that are used by Animal Control; serum, dart kit includes syringe with needle to take out serum and inject into dart; 22 caliber is not projectile, just charge;