Still Missing CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee Co, 10 May 2020 *arrest* #98

[rainbowshummingbird]

Do you Sheila's husband might have travelled from Indiana and popped in for a cup of coffee ?

Yeah, he probably drove cross country, snuck in the house, took her bike, tossed it down an embankment, did some laundry but forgot about the leftover tranquilizer sheath in his pants, wiped his hand over her helmet and glovebox, and then thought, “Jeez, a cup of coffee would really hit the spot.”

 

[justtrish]

It’s Mother’s Day here today. My son has come home for the weekend. My husband brought me coffee in bed Even the dog has brought me presents (clever boy that he is).

This, for me, is how it should be. I find myself thinking about Suzanne and feeling so sad for her.

Justice is coming, Suzanne.

Happy Mother's Day to you!

You are so right. It isn't even the gifts or some elaborate plan that shows those around us love us, but it's the thoughtfulness of putting our needs first or at least considering our feelings and trying (trying being the word here.. showing some effort at all to celebrate us or show they love us) and we get Barry saying "it wasn't husbands day" I mean if he was up early on Mother's Day because he was setting the coffee pot to brew at a certain time and leaving a card or some flowers for his wife for Mother's Day, that would be something. He shows absolutely zero care about it.

I think if we had seen him at all seeming to be remorseful. I feel like we see it a lot in cases where a loved one is harmed and someone feels responsible (when they really aren't). They say things like, if I would have been home, if I would have been there, this wouldn't have happened, if I only stayed home that day, if I only got home sooner, etc. In this case we don't see that because Barry knows she's gone because he was home and he did it.

 

[justtrish]

For all the pre-trial activity, I am still wondering where the reasonable doubt comes from.

SM goes missing 13 hours before the accused mysteriously skips town in the dead of night.

How does the defence account for that I wonder.

Remember according to Barry, they turned their phones off and had a perfect night. Steak dinner shared on a single plate, maybe a walk, sex, and sleeping. He woke and left her naked in the bed at 5am. Admits to being the last person to see her alive.

 

[justtrish]

Defense would say Was she missing for 13 hours? That is the time span that is being speculated. It could be much greater than 13 hours. From her last image to whenever the Ritters went to the house I think would be more accurate. Prosecution is running on the assumption it was Barry and that is the assumption it is the 13 hours.

Prosecution didn't make that up thought, Barry's own words put him with her at 5am and she was alive. He puts himself with her having sex and sharing steak the night before in a perfect night. He admits to being the last to see her. So if they don't go with the 13 hours, then they have to also admit Barry lied about seeing her Saturday and spending a perfect night with her.

 

[Megnut]

Didn't Barry fret to Grusing, that if word got out about Suzanne's affair, people would think hothead Barry did it?

Finally he speaketh some truth.

JMO

 

[justtrish]

Yeah, he probably drove cross country, snuck in the house, took her bike, tossed it down an embankment, did some laundry but forgot about the leftover tranquilizer sheath in his pants, wiped his hand over her helmet and glovebox, and then thought, “Jeez, a cup of coffee would really hit the spot.”

This really highlights the issues with another person doing this. No matter who the other person is we try to run a scenario for, it still does not explain Barry's actions and lies.

I am confident they have Sheila's husband solidly in Indiana the entire weekend and there was no need to do more with that. I'd love to know when Sheila and him visiting the Morphews last. His dna would be in the house easily if they ever visited them.

 

[BDAJAG]

I hope you are being thoroughly spoilt,you really deserve it .


I still find it odd that there seemed to be absolutely no plans by the girls to celebrate mother's day with Suzanne. No cards left for her to open that morning .

There may well have been, but

• Hubby hates 'Hallmark Holidays', and had to house-clean, or
• Busy Barr wanted to see if MD cards were good accelerants [like Christmas wrap] for that smallish fire he needed, or
• Dad told his distraught children, "'Yes, I saw your thoughtful Mother's Day wishes. And those cards were so beautiful; they made her so happy! Pretty sure - no 100% sure - 'cause I saw her put them in her journal. Which she must have taken when she packed. Sorry ...
• 

^
all morosely my own opinions​

 

[Skigh]

Why did he even get discussed in the CBI meeting is a more curious question and then nothing more was said. So what if he wasn’t excluded? Theoretically he was preparing for his daughter’s wedding so I just don’t get the need to “exclude” him.

Could you start the conversation with your theories of how his dna was there and 'what if he wasn't excluded?'

 

[Murphy1950]

Why did he even get discussed in the CBI meeting is a more curious question and then nothing more was said. So what if he wasn’t excluded? Theoretically he was preparing for his daughter’s wedding so I just don’t get the need to “exclude” him.

It wasn't a matter of excluding Darin as a suspect, it was a matter of excluding his DNA to narrow down who else may have touched the bike/helmet.

They were isolating male DNA on various objects and in places (her car) to see if it was Barry's. I would think they had a list of male visitors who had spent some time at the Puma Path home, and may have touched some of the objects/places of concern while visiting. Actually, it would have been great if it was Darin's or Troy's. That would end all the additional searching CODIS, speculation etc., and yes, they knew exactly where he was that weekend. He was never a suspect. I think we are dealing here with a check off list and clarification. For whatever reason Darin wasn't checked off. IMO

 

[Skigh]

It wasn't a matter of excluding Darin as a suspect, it was a matter of excluding his DNA to narrow down who else may have touched the bike/helmet.

They were isolating male DNA on various objects and in places (her car) to see if it was Barry's. I would think they had a list of male visitors who had spent some time at the Puma Path home, and may have touched some of the objects/places of concern while visiting. Actually, it would have been great if it was Darin's or Troy's. That would end all the additional searching CODIS, speculation etc., and yes, they knew exactly where he was that weekend. He was never a suspect. I think we are dealing here with a check off list and clarification. For whatever reason Darin wasn't checked off. IMO

Oh come on ,that is far too logical. You are spoiling any further speculation and insinuations that there is more to the story.
The defence is desperate to have people discussing anything that does not point towards Barry. They know there is not anything.

 

[BDAJAG]

Didn't Barry fret to Grusing, that if word got out about Suzanne's affair, people would think hothead Barry did it?

Finally he speaketh some truth.

JMO

Way to stuff that 'recollection' rebound, Megnut!

 

[borndem]

Welcome to Websleuths,
MountainDad !!​

 

[waldojabba]

I was convinced of Barry’s guilt due to his numerous lies and the heaps of evidence that point toward his guilt, but I’m now having second thoughts. After all, there’s a coffee cup and Sheila’s husband to consider.

Yes and how about the butler in the library with the candlestick? Makes as much sense - so much deflection !!!

 

[MassGuy]

Here's where Special Agent Harris gets Barry to admit to that left turn, during one of those final law enforcement interviews (March of 2021).

Barry clearly believes his truck telematics put him on that road the helmet was found, so he comes up with the hilarious elk story to explain that.

So for months and months he turns right, but then suddenly he turns left. Pages 73 and 74.

SA Harris explained to Barry that sometimes questions shed light on things and helps investigators know where not to look for Suzanne as well. SA Harris states there are things about his truck we are wondering and asks Barry when he left for Broomfield, did he tum right or left on to Hwy 50?

Barry said, "Yeah, there was a herd of elk in the road and there was one bull and he was a nice bull. And they all went up the gulley there, where that old washed-out road is and they went up there. And I'm like, 'Oh, I want to see how big this bull is.' And I turned down there, and and, they crossed right in front of me and then I went down to the Garfield turn around and then went to Broomsfield."

 

[justtrish]

Here's where Special Agent Harris gets Barry to admit to that left turn, during one of those final law enforcement interviews (March of 2021).

Barry clearly believes his truck telematics put him on that road the helmet was found, so he comes up with the hilarious elk story to explain that.

So for months and months he turns right, but then suddenly he turns left. Pages 73 and 74.

SA Harris explained to Barry that sometimes questions shed light on things and helps investigators know where not to look for Suzanne as well. SA Harris states there are things about his truck we are wondering and asks Barry when he left for Broomfield, did he tum right or left on to Hwy 50?

Barry said, "Yeah, there was a herd of elk in the road and there was one bull and he was a nice bull. And they all went up the gulley there, where that old washed-out road is and they went up there. And I'm like, 'Oh, I want to see how big this bull is.' And I turned down there, and and, they crossed right in front of me and then I went down to the Garfield turn around and then went to Broomsfield."

Amazing his memory was good for that almost a year later, but so much other stuff was "I don't recall".

 

[MassGuy]

I think when people ask what defense might do it is worth conversation. For me a “Barry Morphew is guilty affirmation group” is less interesting at this point in the case than the smart minds that are here in Websleuths looking objectively at what is left of the cases’ circumstantial evidence. For instance why on earth would Sheila’s husband come up in the case notes on the dNA conversation CBI had. I assume he was at home for his daughters wedding so why even mentioned? There are quite a few strange things that have never been discussed that could pop up from defense.

..."looking objectively at what is left of the cases' circumstantial evidence?"

What has changed?

Also, to believe Barry is innocent, one has to have a logical explanation for multiple pieces of damning evidence.

Can you please give me a coherent and plausible reason why Barry would tell the Ritters he was "at the wall, with workers present?"

And why he would repeat the lie about being at the wall when he got that phone call, multiple times?

All these lies need to be explained away, and that is an unequivocal one.

 

[Momofthreeboys]

Prosecution didn't make that up thought, Barry's own words put him with her at 5am and she was alive. He puts himself with her having sex and sharing steak the night before in a perfect night. He admits to being the last to see her. So if they don't go with the 13 hours, then they have to also admit Barry lied about seeing her Saturday and spending a perfect night with her.

It would be longer than 13 hours…it would stretch from her last image sent to the time the house was entered as unverifiable time period.

 

[Love Never Fails]

Defense would say Was she missing for 13 hours? That is the time span that is being speculated. It could be much greater than 13 hours. From her last image to whenever the Ritters went to the house I think would be more accurate. Prosecution is running on the assumption it was Barry and that is the assumption it is the 13 hours.

Prosecution isn’t assuming. They are going by Barry’s own words. They had “a perfect night together” and she was “asleep” when he left her.

 

[Momofthreeboys]

Could you start the conversation with your theories of how his dna was there and 'what if he wasn't excluded?'

I am confused why his name even came up frankly and why it was mentioned with helmet dna. It just felt so random.

 

[MassGuy]

Yeah, he probably drove cross country, snuck in the house, took her bike, tossed it down an embankment, did some laundry but forgot about the leftover tranquilizer sheath in his pants, wiped his hand over her helmet and glovebox, and then thought, “Jeez, a cup of coffee would really hit the spot.”

By my math, he would have had to have driven back to Indiana non-stop at 200 MPH, just to make the wedding.

My head hurts.