Still Missing CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee Co, 10 May 2020 *arrest* #97

[MassGuy]

I recall her saying that. I also remember in her or Ashley’s F recap that one agent said they also didn’t have any evidence that SM was murdered either. IMO

Physical evidence, like blood. We knew that though.

 

[K9Enzo]

Physical evidence, like blood. We knew that though.

Yes and you know what I’m going to say - that sucks there’s no recovered biological evidence in this case.

I do remember in the AA it appears like LE did their due diligence checking flight records, social security administration, DHS and other checks over a period of time on SM to make sure there were no hits of her being out there somewhere alive. IMO

 

[MassGuy]

Yes and you know what I’m going to say - that sucks there’s no recovered biological evidence in this case.

I do remember in the AA it appears like LE did their due diligence checking flight records, social security administration, DHS and other checks over a period of time on SM to make sure there were no hits of her being out there somewhere alive. IMO

Yeah, and they also pointed out that she left cash, her wallet, credit cards, and ID behind. She also had a cancer checkup scheduled.

And of course that whole bike ride thing doesn't fit, and her phone going dark.

And her family and friends saying she would contact them if she did leave Barry.

 

[waldojabba]

Read up on the BTK serial killer. Never missed church. Had a family. Made food, usually a pot of chili, for church functions weekly. At his arrest, his family and church were shocked.

Yet he was a vicious murderer who chose his victims while doing his job in the community. Usually middle aged to elderly women who lived alone. Hard to sleep after seeing his interviews.

Not saying Barry is a serial killer but on the other hand, I would not be surprised. It appears he he has tried his whole life to appear virtuous but as @OldCop said, something like he was angel to the public but a devil at home.

A couple of friends and some family thinks he is virtuous. Other friends, Suzanne and MM2 knew better. He was an abuser for sure and narcissistic.

In any case, the “good” Barry snapped. Surely you don’t still believe him to be innocent?

Such a great example @Love Never Fails. Dennis Rader or the BTK serial killer was also a family man, a church leader and a hard worker. I remember seeing his daughter interviewed- she was in disbelief that he could be the same man that committed the murders. Fascinating case

 

[Kemug]

It was @Seattle1 who gave a outstanding opinion (sometime ago) of the possible dynamic between BM, his mom and sisters growing up - essentially being dotted over in a unhealthy way. She could explain it so much better than me. I just don’t see him being on the run a.l.o.n.e. without these anchors in his life. The current girlfriend like you pointed out is not going to fill those roles. Imo

Nevertheless, when push comes to shove, guess who Barry cares about the most?

 

[OldCop]

I had the impression that Cahill had a certain level of resentment and disappointment that he was sent for military duty in the midst of a case he had worked very hard on. Understandable. His opinion that the arrest was too early is just his observation. It's not evidence of anything. It's clear that the arrest was going to happen, just a matter of when.

I do think that BM was in the midst of setting up to flee and was very close to hasta la vista baby. And I don't think it would have been to Arizona. I've always had ideas that the vacation to MX with his daughters and SD was not just a vacation. There may have been some real estate transactions or banking done, or some silver dealings. That's pure speculation on my part, though.

And yes, let's wrap up the glove box DNA in a neat package with a bow and put it away. Not relevant, END OF.

moo

No, let’s dig a hole with the Bobcat and throw it in there.

 

[susiQ]

Defence is bluffing, big time! They have absolutely nothing. Nichts, Nada, Zero, Zippo, Zilch. DNA - Poof! I cannot believe that the Judge will dismiss this case with the overwhelming amount of circumstantial evidence we’ve seen and what’s still to come. As @fcavanaugh stated, they haven’t disclosed ALL the evidence. I guess they figure they have to put on a show for BM pre-trial because they got nothin’ to pull out of their briefcase at trial. They KNOW what’s coming. ALL of it.

I can’t stop thinking about those huge smiles walking into court. Not a care in the world. Joking during recess. BM figures he’s bought his “get out of jail FREE” card by hiring IE & DN. As far as I can see, the only win they have so far is putting that smile on Barry’s face. He absolutely believes he’s getting off. Well Bare, hate to break it to ya, but all that mountain lyin’ is going to bite you in the azzzz.

Nope, there’s no “get out of jail free” card for you. Regardless if the prosecution fails to get a conviction (which I still feel strongly they will get), it’s not free. It will cost you every dime you stole from Suzanne.

 

[Pyrite]

I think the answer to your first question is "no," she had taken her bike in and ordered a part, but I am not sure that the evidence we have in the AA shows that a repair had been undertaken.

At any rate, any person can ride their bike near their home, unless they are dead. For Suzanne. to have steered her own bike into the little ravine, we need one more fact:

What happened next? She wasn't dead or she'd be right there by the bike. There's no evidence she staggered up to the road, bleeding, badly injured. There's no evidence at all that the bike went down to the ravine via road that day.

There is however, evidence that Barry Morphew, in the middle of the night, early on Mother's Day, went down to that exact spot.

And this is why we have trials. Perhaps you think that means jurors will conclude Suzanne was riding her bike early on Mother's Day (unavailable by phone or social media to her daughters, to JL, and to anyone else) and somehow ran her bike down a hill and then also somehow disappeared (and then there's the fact someone burned her journals and other paperwork inside the PP House...hmmm)

No, I don’t really think the jury will think she was riding her bike mothers day morning. To much evidence that she was incapacitated before that (going silent on social media, phone turned off, truck data, BM phone data, etc)

However I think the DA using things like BH saying SM would ‘never’ ride up that way and she would ‘always’ drive to the trail, bring her phone and camel back. Weakens the prosecution case because it gives a spot for the defense to introduce reasonable doubt. If the defense pokes to many holes in the prosecution evidence, it will make the jury question other parts of the evidence.

As does, IMO, using a bike mechanic as a bike crash experts saying because of the front wheel position means the bike was staged. Just have the cops testify and show photo/video evidence about lack of disturbed ground anywhere in the path of the crash, which you would expect if there was a crash.

IMO The AA and PH had a lot of damning evidence and a lot of questionable evidence. IMO you don’t give attorneys as good as BM’s any avenues of attack if you don’t have to. Why use questionable evidence instead of sticking to the evidence that is way less questionable and overwhelming proof of guilt?

 

[Boxer]

Judge will rule on whether or not to dismiss Barry Morphew case

March 4, 2022

FREMONT COUNTY, COLO., - Law enforcement officers from local and state agencies investigating Suzanne Morphew’s disappearance testified in court Friday that they all agreed there was probable cause in the case, but disagreed on the timing for when Barry Morphew should have been arrested.

[..]

CBI Agents said there was still more investigative work to be done, test results they were waiting on, that they were hoping to interview more people, as well as other reasons they wanted to wait.


“I understood that they were about to make an arrest… so I call him and told him that Barry Morphew was still speaking to our investigators and I didn’t want that to come to a close,” Camper said in court. “He disagreed… one of the main concerns he expressed was that Mr. Morphew would flee. I wasn’t as concerned about that.”

Still, 11th Judicial District Attorney Linda Stanley and Chafee County Sheriff John Spezze moved forward with arresting Morphew and charging him with murder, despite the concerns expressed by members of CBI.

At the time of the arrest the police stated it was still an ongoing investigation.

 

[DizzyB]

The couple of prime time shows that covered this hitched their wagons to the SA DNA. It was infuriating, as it was only a partial match and they made it all about this being an alternate suspect, raising reasonable doubt. Well that’s gone. I want a do-over or part 2 to the shows.

 

[Boxer]

No, I don’t really think the jury will think she was riding her bike mothers day morning. To much evidence that she was incapacitated before that (going silent on social media, phone turned off, truck data, BM phone data, etc)

However I think the DA using things like BH saying SM would ‘never’ ride up that way and she would ‘always’ drive to the trail, bring her phone and camel back. Weakens the prosecution case because it gives a spot for the defense to introduce reasonable doubt. If the defense pokes to many holes in the prosecution evidence, it will make the jury question other parts of the evidence.

As does, IMO, using a bike mechanic as a bike crash experts saying because of the front wheel position means the bike was staged. Just have the cops testify and show photo/video evidence about lack of disturbed ground anywhere in the path of the crash, which you would expect if there was a crash.

IMO The AA and PH had a lot of damning evidence and a lot of questionable evidence. IMO you don’t give attorneys as good as BM’s any avenues of attack if you don’t have to. Why use questionable evidence instead of sticking to the evidence that is way less questionable and overwhelming proof of guilt?

I was glad when the arrest was made but during the first PC the new DA kind of went off on a tangent about... people criticizing police.
At the time I did think "OK," not seeing the professionalsm this is going to require.

 

[MrsWatson]

The couple of prime time shows that covered this hitched their wagons to the SA DNA. It was infuriating, as it was only a partial match and they made it all about this being an alternate suspect, raising reasonable doubt. Well that’s gone. I want a do-over or part 2 to the shows.

Both Dateline and 48 Hours were total click bait TV and very disappointing for me. Very superficial and someone described it as pablum, very apt. I should know better, by now, I've watched enough of them, always my same reaction. They aren't built for crime hags.

And of course there will a Part II. They will be called things like "The Conviction of Barry Morphew" or " A Godly Husband".

 

[Seattle1]

At the time of the arrest the police stated it was still an ongoing investigation.

I don't believe the article disputes that the investigation was still ongoing.

I believe CBI thought that BM was close to contradicting previous information again which might shed more clues for them. They knew that arresting BM was a guarantee that he would not talk to LE ever again from that date forward.

 

[Angleterre]

Ditto for me.
On all 3 counts.

I agree that @10ofRods has been missed and it’s good to see you back

 

[Seattle1]

Thank you Seattle. I have a question though.
Investigators who wrote the AA were from the sheriffs office or CBI? That’s not something I remember. If it was CBI then I can understand them wanting to write a condensed version of the AA. If it was the sheriff’s investigator who wrote the AA why wouldn’t Stanley want it written better and condensed as well? I’m not sure I understand why all investigators weren’t on the same page. Maybe it’s not something that matters but it has given defense attorneys and the judge a lot to criticize.

I believe drafting the AA was a consolidated effort between CCSO, CBI, and FBI where each submitted their contributions to Alex Walker (DA's Investigator). However, we've mostly heard about Cahill (former CBI) only reading 19 pgs and references to how many versions of his DNA section were written. MOO

 

[Murphy1950]

Both Dateline and 48 Hours were total click bait TV and very disappointing for me. Very superficial and someone described it as pablum, very apt. I should know better, by now, I've watched enough of them, always my same reaction. They aren't built for crime hags.

And of course there will a Part II. They will be called things like "The Conviction of Barry Morphew" or " A Godly Husband".

I can already hear the cadence and Keith's deep voice..."It was Mothers Day 2020, and a bike was found by the side of the road, and nobody knew how it got there...."

 

[Seattle1]

Dated but a little background on Alex Walker-- a native of Salida, CO.

'Investigator of the year' never gives up

Jan 23, 2011

In Chaffee County, Walker responded to a call from a man who reported he had shot his wife. The gunman held officers at bay in an all-night standoff.

He finally was arrested without incident and died soon afterward from a fatal mixture of alcohol and medication, Chilson said. His wife was found dead inside the home.

Walker's job was to process the scene.

He drafted two search warrants and participated in the first two unsuccessful searches for the gun used in the killing. When the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement did not find it, Walker called on the Department of Corrections to assist with a camera scope to search the plumbing, Chilson said. That also failed to turn up the gun.

"Everyone but Walker was ready to throw in the towel," Chilson said. "Ten days after the first search, he returned and recovered the murder weapon from the home. Although there was no living defendant to prosecute, this devotion to getting the job done is typical of Walker, even if the only reward is the satisfaction that a loaded gun will not unwittingly end up in the hands of a child," Chilson said.

Before joining the district attorney's office, Walker was a detective for the Salida Police Department for nearly four years and also worked two years as a state corrections officer at the Buena Vista prison. He is a native of Salida.

 

[Momofthreeboys]

I am behind and have a lot of reading to do to catch up, but wanted to post some of my thoughts. I don’t understand why former CBI Agent Cahill’s opinion about BM’s arrest is even relevant or the other CBI Agents who share his opinion for that matter. They are investigators, their job is to investigate. Spezze asked CBI and FBI to assist in the investigation. They assisted, did their jobs of investigating for almost one year. Grusing completed audit thereof and the case file got handed over to the DA. The agents are entitled to their opinions about timing of an arrest and offer their input, but they do not make the decisions about arrests/timing of arrests. It is the Legal Branch that makes those decisions i.e., the DA and the Judge.

Once the DA was given the case file after Grusing completed the audit, it was out of investigators hands. As Grusing told Barry at their last interview when Barry asked him what comes next, Grusing told him that everything will be handed over to the DA and they decide what comes next.

CBI Investigators voiced their opinions/concerns to Sheriff Spezze that they felt arresting BM was premature. Sheriff Spezze, head of the agency in charge of the investigation and the DA didn’t agree with CBI investigators. The DA had the same concern as Spezze about BM fleeing, but a suspect fleeing isn’t enough to charge/arrest them if the DA feels the investigation hadn’t yet amassed enough compelling evidence, enough to where DA feels they have a winnable case in court. IOW, even though the DA agreed with Spezze’s concern about BM fleeing, it is still ultimately the DA’s decision as to whether she feels they have amassed enough compelling evidence, strong enough to file charges/warrant an arrest, to where she feels they can win a successful prosecution at future trial. So the DA could have said no to arresting BM at that time if she felt the case was weak/not enough evidence yet to be successful/win in court i.e., the DA would have told Spezze something to the effect, we don’t have enough yet, not going to bring it before the Judge until we have more, if BM flees we’ll get him in Arizona, or extradite him from wherever when I feel we have enough evidence to support charges and to able to be successful/secure a conviction in court.

As it turns out, after review of the case file, the DA decided there was enough/sufficient compelling evidence, enough to win a successful prosecution on M1 and tampering with a deceased body and time was right to arrest BM. She filed the charges, and the Judge felt there was enough probable cause, signed the arrest warrant authorizing BM’s arrest. Spezze and crew arrested BM per the signed arrest warrant. BM sat in jail for a few months and at the end of four days of PH’s, the Judge felt the prosecution met the bar/proof evident that there was enough evidence to move forward with a trial. Judge bound BM over for trial, ruled BM eligible for bond, BM paid the $500k bond to get out of jail while awaiting trial, and here we are.

The CBI Agent/s that disagreed with the DA’s decision and opined the arrest was premature, frankly their opinion is irrelevant and doesn’t exculpate BM nor prove he is innocent. Ridiculous the defense is trying to use CBI agents’ opinion/feeling that BM’s arrest was premature to get charges dismissed. The defense is desperate and overreaching. The DNA having now been officially debunked, they literally have nothing else. It’s called desperation, and the DC is going to try throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. Grandstanding, throwing up smoke and mirrors, going on fishing expeditions trying to get the charges against their indefensible client, dismissed. Working hard earning every $$$$, meanwhile BM’s bank account balance gets significantly lower. Sorry not sorry BM.

It’s hard to predict what Judge Lama will decide, but I don’t think he will dismiss charges. I really hope not but if he does rule to dismiss the charges, considering the investigation is ongoing, more evidence could come to light and at least charges can be refiled in the future, and more time to find Suzanne’s remains.

We can all opine if we agree or disagree with DA making the decision to file charges and arrest BM when she did, but it’s important to remember we do not know everything the DA/state has on BM. They may have amassed even more evidence added to their arsenal since BM’s arrest 10 months ago. The DA/state have not/will not tip their hand and give away everything they have/know prior to going to trial. I personally think this case is going to trial as scheduled, and also think there are more than likely some surprises in store that the state will bring forth during trial. Again, we don’t know everything the state has and if trial does indeed go forward as scheduled, it’s right around the corner, so we should have answers soon.

IMHOO

#FindSuzanne
#BringSuzanneHome
#JusticeForSuzanne

I don’t think their feelings are irrelevant. The jury might hear they weren’t “ready.” I am inclined to think like Murphy, Lama will let it go to trial.

 

[Momofthreeboys]

No, I don’t really think the jury will think she was riding her bike mothers day morning. To much evidence that she was incapacitated before that (going silent on social media, phone turned off, truck data, BM phone data, etc)

However I think the DA using things like BH saying SM would ‘never’ ride up that way and she would ‘always’ drive to the trail, bring her phone and camel back. Weakens the prosecution case because it gives a spot for the defense to introduce reasonable doubt. If the defense pokes to many holes in the prosecution evidence, it will make the jury question other parts of the evidence.

As does, IMO, using a bike mechanic as a bike crash experts saying because of the front wheel position means the bike was staged. Just have the cops testify and show photo/video evidence about lack of disturbed ground anywhere in the path of the crash, which you would expect if there was a crash.

IMO The AA and PH had a lot of damning evidence and a lot of questionable evidence. IMO you don’t give attorneys as good as BM’s any avenues of attack if you don’t have to. Why use questionable evidence instead of sticking to the evidence that is way less questionable and overwhelming proof of guilt?

CBI said there were holes in the case and there are. It will be an interesting trial to follow.

 

[marylamby]

Waiting longer would have resolved the evidence issues, as you're talking about enough evidence for several murder cases (4 terabytes or whatever). Yeah, it's nice to have the lab results back too, but we've seen plenty of cases where that's an ongoing thing after arrest.

Although I think it's pretty clear Barry was skipping town, I don't see that as a legitimate reason to rush the arrest. He could have been extradited from wherever, and it's not like he would have been hard to find.

As for the idea that Barry was going to keep talking. No.

He was done talking to the Sheriff's department, and with CBI, and had been for some time.

Grusing (FBI) handled the later interviews, and those were done. Barry went over the evidence one last time (multiple exhibits), and crippled himself. Grusing showed much of his hand, and the audit was completed.

Here's how it closed: Barry said, "Yeah. Well, what happens from here? When you guys go to them, what's the next step?" SA Grusing explains that Agents will share the results with the district attorney's office and it will be up to them. SA Harris offers again that Barry could take a polygraph. Barry said that he would pray about it and that he needs to get going. Barry tells agents to be careful going back. The interview ends (page 122).

So the case would have been better organized, and the process would have gone smoother. That being said, the case wasn't going to get any stronger. They had what they had, and I'm glad they had the balls to move forward.

Premature? Yes.

Is it a case killing move? No.

Okay, I'll give you that he wasn't going to talk anymore and yes, he'd complained to Grusing about Cahill and his partner but I was trying to look at it from Cahill's pov - even though one (or two) men's opinions should not have even entered the equation. He was pissed and vented his frustration. And no, it didn't kill the case. Nice try, though.
Just an aside, people DO disappear via Mexico. The usually end up in South America, Brazil is a haven for criminals as are the Caymans etc.
On a personal note, an ex's partner embezzled all three partner's funds and fled to Mexico. Spent years (he's still out there, as far as I know) traveling. Last I knew, he sent a postcard which was postmarked northern Europe (Denmark?), and that was just 5-6 years ago.
Fake identities and passports are available, for a price.
I'm not as sure as you about the possibility of extradition. He wasn't going to stay in one place for long - no one with half a brain would.
IMO