Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee Co, 10 May 2020 *Case dismissed w/o Prejudice* #101

[Skigh]

I don't think I want to work at a circus, not even volunteer. All of the animals would be loose. Could be a dangerous situation especially with the bears. Better to keep them in a zoo behind bars.

I really do not think we need to set up a circus in our world famous zoo.

There is already one circus in town,though they do not seem keen to let members of the public in or the press to report about their antics.

I have heard their circus has plenty of clowns and two very enthusiastic performing monkeys. They appear to have trouble keeping their ringmasters.

 

[Aloe]

Thank you. I’m not sure why all of this “misinformation/disinformation” is being posted here about the disproven hack.

I'm not sure either. I feel like it is definitely purposeful. Kudos to those that endlessly keep trying for clarity. MOO

Could the attempt to influence just be the fact that they know he was lying because his recorded interviews kept changing, and didn’t follow the phone and truck evidence?

By means of deceit? IMO, yes. Moo

 

[Aloe]

As I recall, he also said he did it in April. When deer barely have antlers.

Guessing he had no sawn-off nubs in this scary trophy garage.

Pretty textbook move anyway -- confess to a lesser infraction to bolster the appearance of truth-telling and transparency. While lying through your veneers.

JMO

Confessions of a horn hoarder...
Moo

 

[jakat]

RSBM, hey we're talking Barry. He may have offered/promised $$, property, 'gifts,???? Antlers!!


I agree @jakat... The Andrew below is his Church Friend who showed up the first night with his wife. Andrew said he and Lara responded to the scene where Suzanne's bike was recovered on May 10th,

Andrew helped with the searches for Suzanne, which Andrew described as disorganized. Barry and his friend, George, searched by themselves. Barry was gone all day every day and left his girls at the house. Barry tracked a mountain lion for an entire day across Highway 50, but he did not find anything.\aa pg55 Note above Andrew says "Barry and his friend George searched by themselves" But Barry wasn't with George. Barry was "pretend searching" while actually hunting, enjoying himself while others searched. I think that is why he paid George the 4 K , because George really took off from his job and searched with another buddy who also probably took off work.

SA Grusing asked if search and rescue covered those and Barry said they did not search much past the first day or go across the highway. He said, "And I was certain that first day that a mountain lion got her. I was certain of it." He added, "I've been hunting that lion for two years." Barry said he tracked the lion six times and knows his habits: coming down the hill behind his house, up the road, across the bridge, across Highway 50 and east across the mountain. He added, "I've seen him do it a hundred times." Pg 83

Barry was shown a map of Garfield, Colorado and he confirmed he turned around on Sunday, May 10 th, at the first place he could have, pointing to exit 228.84 Barry said he did not climb that road leading up into the mountains, nor did he go into any of the mines. He said George and his buddy searched those mine shafts for Suzanne. Pg 119

Yes, antlers would be a great gift! Would he part with any though? After seeing the inside of his garage, it seems doubtful.

Andrew and GIGeorge searched by themselves while Bury was rummaging through trash. He also made a phone call or two with the unnamed device he had. Why would he search for Suzanne when he knew where he put her. I wonder what his friends think of him now. They must know he killed Suzanne.

 

[Momofthreeboys]

I hope this doesn't happen. LE and SAR groups don't need untrained folks without the training and the proper equipment heading to the mountains or wherever to search for SM remains. In this scenario you would also likely have a contaminated recovery scene. IMO

Two years have passed....I'm not assuming that people will be out searching the mountain tops with renewed interest or not. If what LE is saying is truthful....snowpack still exists now at the higher/highest elevations...and would have also been there two years ago in May so I have to be abit jaded at the idea that she is under multiple feet of snow a week or so ago as the DA claims as they would have had that very real issue of snow two years ago when moving the body there. At the very highest elevations it never melts and creates "glacial snow" or perennial ice fields. So I will be interested in just "where" they find Suzanne, if they find her...7500 feet, 10,000 feet, 13,000 feet? The base at Monarch Ski Area is slightly over 10,000 and still has snowpack.

 

[jakat]

I really do not think we need to set up a circus in our world famous zoo.

There is already one circus in town,though they do not seem keen to let members of the public in or the press to report about their antics.

I have heard their circus has plenty of clowns and two very enthusiastic performing monkeys. They appear to have trouble keeping their ringmasters.

LOLOL!!!

 

[CGray123]

^^rsbm

Overview
The federal death penalty applies in all 50 states and U.S. territories but is used relatively rarely. About 45 prisoners are on the federal death row, most of whom are imprisoned in Terre Haute, Indiana. Sixteen federal executions have been carried out in the modern era, all by lethal injection, with 13 occurring in a six-month period between July 2020 and January 2021.

The federal death penalty was held unconstitutional following the Supreme Court’s opinion of Furman v. Georgia in 1972. Unlike the quick restoration of the death penalty in most states, the federal death penalty was not reinstated until 1988, and then only for a very narrow class of offenses. The Federal Death Penalty Act of 1994 greatly expanded the number of eligible offenses to about 60.

The use of the federal death penalty in jurisdictions that have themselves opted not to have capital punishment—such as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and many states—has raised particular concerns about federal overreach into state matters.

Federal Death Penalty | Death Penalty Information Center

IMO, if put to a test, I think bringing in a special prosecutor would be more likely than getting the case admitted to the U.S. District Court for federal prosecution.

I also don't see the federal death penalty applicable for this case and even if it was, I don't think there would be the [political] support necessary here from what I'm seeing on the U.S. Map of defendants sentenced to death under Federal Death Penalty Statute-- see link above.

If ever there was a death penalty case, I think of Chris Watts and how even with the Watts murders headlining their news, still, Colorado was not deterred and abolished the state death penalty.

I agree that the death penalty is rarely pursued and even more rarely implemented - not only by the Federal government but also by state governments. If you proposed that U.S. Attorneys appointed by the current administration are unlikely to seek the death penalty, I would also agree with that proposition.

Query also, whether an administration led by sexually abusive men who are contemptuous of women in general and uppity women in particular would want to convict and kill one of their own.

I do not suggest that I suggest that the Federal death penalty is likely to be imposed; rather, that SM's murder is clearly an unusual case that may, under existing guidelines, justify pursuit of this penalty.

Regarding the Watts case, my recollection is that Weld County DA Rourke decided to enter a plea bargain, with the support of the Rzucek family. This is a common outcome when the defendant is white.

Rourke then sought to blame the Governor's opposition to the death penalty for his decision, finding it necessary to reassure his base that he hadn't gone soft on crime.

The state's decision to abolish the death penalty was not influenced by any particular case, because it was based on the demonstrable facts that:

(1) it does no more to deter murder that a sentence of life without the possibility of parole;

(2) it kills people who are innocent, in significant numbers;

(3) it is used and applied disproportionately (grossly so) against Black defendants;

(4) it is used unethically by prosecutors to induce guilty pleas in doubtful cases;

(5) it is immensely costly and never swift; and

(5) killing people to prevent killing people meets neither the standard of morality nor the standard of reason.

I confess that I am ambivalent about the death penalty. I understand the principles and realities behind Colorado's decision, but I am with Count Claus Von Stauffenberg - - to the limited extent that there are some people who simply must die, for the good of the people.

Regarding the appointment of a special prosecutor, this decision would appear to be for the courts of the 11th JD, with or without the DA's support. I'm interested in your expanded analysis of this issue, in term of likelihood.

It is governed by (BBM):

Colorado Revised Statutes § 20-1-107.

Disqualification--court to appoint prosecutor--legislative declaration

(1) ...The general assembly finds and declares that this section is necessary to protect the independence of persons duly elected to the office of district attorney.

(2) A district attorney may only be disqualified in a particular case at the request of the district attorney or upon a showing that the district attorney has a personal or financial interest or finds special circumstances that would render it unlikely that the defendant would receive a fair trial.  A motion to disqualify a district attorney shall be served upon the district attorney at least two weeks before the motion is heard.  Such motion shall contain at least a statement of the facts setting forth the grounds for the claimed disqualification and the legal authorities relied upon by the movant and shall be supported by affidavits of witnesses who are competent to testify to the facts set forth in the affidavit.  The district attorney may file a response in opposition to the motion and may appear at any hearing held on the motion.  The judge shall review the pleadings and determine whether an evidentiary hearing is necessary.  The motion shall not be granted unless requested by the district attorney or unless the court finds that the district attorney has a personal or financial interest or special circumstances exist that would render it unlikely that the defendant would receive a fair trial.  The order disqualifying the district attorney shall be stayed pending any appeal authorized by this section.  If the motion is brought at or before the preliminary hearing, it may not be renewed at the trial court on the basis of facts that were raised or could have been raised at the time of the original motion.

...

(4) If the district attorney is disqualified in any case which it is his or her duty to prosecute or defend, the court having criminal jurisdiction may appoint a special prosecutor to prosecute or defend the cause.  The judge shall appoint the special prosecutor from among the full-time district attorneys, assistant district attorneys, or deputy district attorneys who serve in judicial districts other than where the appointment is made;  except that, upon the written approval of the chief justice of the supreme court, the judge may appoint any disinterested private attorney who is licensed to practice law in the state of Colorado to serve as the special prosecutor..."

IMO, your assessment of the likelihood that the DA would consent to the appointment of a special prosecutor (who would be paid from 11th district funds) would advance our understanding of this issue.

 

[CGray123]

Two years have passed....I'm not assuming that people will be out searching the mountain tops with renewed interest or not. If what LE is saying is truthful....snowpack still exists now at the higher/highest elevations...and would have also been there two years ago in May so I have to be abit jaded at the idea that she is under multiple feet of snow a week or so ago as the DA claims as they would have had that very real issue of snow two years ago when moving the body there. At the very highest elevations it never melts and creates "glacial snow" or perennial ice fields. So I will be interested in just "where" they find Suzanne, if they find her...7500 feet, 10,000 feet, 13,000 feet? The base at Monarch Ski Area is slightly over 10,000 and still has snowpack.

BBM. This is not what LE is saying IMO. The location is not a perennial ice field but a lower elevation.

I infer that the location LE will search is not a burial site but a mine, and that it is much easier to dump a body down a shaft than to search for it or retrieve it. BM could much more easily dispose of SM without need of equipment than investigators who seek to find and recover her remains. Also, IIRC, 2021-22 snowfall in this area was much greater than the 2019-20 season. I expect that LE will be able to get the necessary equipment to the target site by late August at the earliest, so I'm staying tuned.

 

[Boxer]

I agree that the death penalty is rarely pursued and even more rarely implemented - not only by the Federal government but also by state governments. If you proposed that U.S. Attorneys appointed by the current administration are unlikely to seek the death penalty, I would also agree with that proposition.

Query also, whether an administration led by sexually abusive men who are contemptuous of women in general and uppity women in particular would want to convict and kill one of their own.

I do not suggest that I suggest that the Federal death penalty is likely to be imposed; rather, that SM's murder is clearly an unusual case that may, under existing guidelines, justify pursuit of this penalty.

Regarding the Watts case, my recollection is that Weld County DA Rourke decided to enter a plea bargain, with the support of the Rzucek family. This is a common outcome when the defendant is white.

Rourke then sought to blame the Governor's opposition to the death penalty for his decision, finding it necessary to reassure his base that he hadn't gone soft on crime.

The state's decision to abolish the death penalty was not influenced by any particular case, because it was based on the demonstrable facts that:

(1) it does no more to deter murder that a sentence of life without the possibility of parole;

(2) it kills people who are innocent, in significant numbers;

(3) it is used and applied disproportionately (grossly so) against Black defendants;

(4) it is used unethically by prosecutors to induce guilty pleas in doubtful cases;

(5) it is immensely costly and never swift; and

(5) killing people to prevent killing people meets neither the standard of morality nor the standard of reason.

I confess that I am ambivalent about the death penalty. I understand the principles and realities behind Colorado's decision, but I am with Count Claus Von Stauffenberg - - to the limited extent that there are some people who simply must die, for the good of the people.

Regarding the appointment of a special prosecutor, this decision would appear to be for the courts of the 11th JD, with or without the DA's support. I'm interested in your expanded analysis of this issue, in term of likelihood.

It is governed by (BBM):

Colorado Revised Statutes § 20-1-107.

Disqualification--court to appoint prosecutor--legislative declaration

(1) ...The general assembly finds and declares that this section is necessary to protect the independence of persons duly elected to the office of district attorney.

(2) A district attorney may only be disqualified in a particular case at the request of the district attorney or upon a showing that the district attorney has a personal or financial interest or finds special circumstances that would render it unlikely that the defendant would receive a fair trial.  A motion to disqualify a district attorney shall be served upon the district attorney at least two weeks before the motion is heard.  Such motion shall contain at least a statement of the facts setting forth the grounds for the claimed disqualification and the legal authorities relied upon by the movant and shall be supported by affidavits of witnesses who are competent to testify to the facts set forth in the affidavit.  The district attorney may file a response in opposition to the motion and may appear at any hearing held on the motion.  The judge shall review the pleadings and determine whether an evidentiary hearing is necessary.  The motion shall not be granted unless requested by the district attorney or unless the court finds that the district attorney has a personal or financial interest or special circumstances exist that would render it unlikely that the defendant would receive a fair trial.  The order disqualifying the district attorney shall be stayed pending any appeal authorized by this section.  If the motion is brought at or before the preliminary hearing, it may not be renewed at the trial court on the basis of facts that were raised or could have been raised at the time of the original motion.

...

(4) If the district attorney is disqualified in any case which it is his or her duty to prosecute or defend, the court having criminal jurisdiction may appoint a special prosecutor to prosecute or defend the cause.  The judge shall appoint the special prosecutor from among the full-time district attorneys, assistant district attorneys, or deputy district attorneys who serve in judicial districts other than where the appointment is made;  except that, upon the written approval of the chief justice of the supreme court, the judge may appoint any disinterested private attorney who is licensed to practice law in the state of Colorado to serve as the special prosecutor..."

IMO, your assessment of the likelihood that the DA would consent to the appointment of a special prosecutor (who would be paid from 11th district funds) would advance our understanding of this issue.

MOO poor people get the DP people with means to get top notch defense teams get bargains.
The system cannot seem to deliver fair consequences to rich and poor for similar crimes.

 

[Momofthreeboys]

I've been surprised alot with this case, but I would be shocked beyond belief if anyone even uttered "death penalty"....I am personally vehemently opposed to the death penalty not only because I don't believe a human being has any right to kill another human being but for all the reasons articulated by CGray123. Definitely not happening at the Colorado state level and in a case with this degree of uncertainty.

BBM. This is not what LE is saying IMO. The location is not a perennial ice field but a lower elevation.

I infer that the location LE will search is not a burial site but a mine, and that it is much easier to dump a body down a shaft than to search for it or retrieve it. BM could much more easily dispose of SM without need of equipment than investigators who seek to find and recover her remains. Also, IIRC, 2021-22 snowfall in this area was much greater than the 2019-20 season. I expect that LE will be able to get the necessary equipment to the target site by late August at the earliest, so I'm staying tuned.

Most likely yes agree on the mind theory although snow is snow and early May is early May even in a light snow year - let's hope and pray LE isn't getting their tips from reading social media and are getting this from an honest informant. An informant and a body would definitely help the case. I have my doubts though to be honest about LE's latest claim.

 

[Megnut]

It's almost like Barry didn't hire a defense team but a PR team.

You'd think there wouldn't be a place for that in the courtroom.

It's not ok.

JMO

 

[Love Never Fails]

I agree with MK. We've all known Sheriff Spezze to be a man of very few words, and I think the fact that he made a public statement is very telling. He's definitely committed to the prosecution of BM.

Sheriff makes statement regarding Morphew dismissal

4/18/22

“The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office maintains its commitment to this case and will continue to work tirelessly to find the body of Suzanne Morphew.

“While we are disappointed in the delay of the proceedings, we remain unwavering in our commitment to this investigation and the ultimate prosecution of Mr. Morphew.

“I stand behind the strong work of the investigators within the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and the many law enforcement agencies involved and the strong case we have built.

“Above all else, we remain dedicated to seeking justice for Suzanne and her family.”

Spezze followed up with a statement that the sheriff’s office will not address questions or issue additional comment on the Morphew case dismissal at this time.

They’ll get him. Maybe with a new judge, prosecutor, more evidence, Suzanne’s body (hopefully) but they WILL get him.

BM is just a little too arrogant and Spezze knows he is their man.

 

[Seattle1]

I don't think it's necessary to do the DNA followup to prove the case, but since there is no statute of limitations, I think it would be time and money well spent - if only to be able to tell the defense to pound sand if they want to negotiate away the death penalty.

^^bbm

Regarding the Watts case, my recollection is that Weld County DA Rourke decided to enter a plea bargain, with the support of the Rzucek family. This is a common outcome when the defendant is white.

Rourke then sought to blame the Governor's opposition to the death penalty for his decision, finding it necessary to reassure his base that he hadn't gone soft on crime.

^^rsbm

Respectfully, this makes no sense where a defendant, who almost immediately agreed to plead guilty to all of his charges, would be anything but welcomed by the District Attorney-- no trial and or reason to go to trial.

And also knowing that the Rzucek family is opposed to the death penalty, why would DA Rourke blame the Governor when the convicted defendant is going to spend the remainder of his life in prison, without an opportunity for parole, per the statute?

I think OP missed my point when I used Chris Watts and his horrific acts, just as an example of how there are in fact individuals capable of unfathomable evil where you might stop and think that you might want to keep death on the table as an optional punishment, versus entirely terminating the idea (i.e., think Patrick Frazee less than ninety days after Watts).

Actually, I've had very recent conversations with several Coloradoans who believe that post- Governor Polis, the state death penalty has a better chance than ever of being reinstated under referendum.

 

[Love Never Fails]

^^bbm

^^rsbm

Respectfully, this makes no sense where a defendant, who almost immediately agreed to plead guilty to all of his charges, would be anything but welcomed by the District Attorney-- no trial and or reason to go to trial.

And also knowing that the Rzucek family is opposed to the death penalty, why would DA Rourke blame the Governor when the convicted defendant is going to spend the remainder of his life in prison, without an opportunity for parole, per the statute?

I think OP missed my point when I used Chris Watts and his horrific acts just as an example of how there are in fact individuals capable of unfathomable evil where you might stop and think that you might want to keep death as an optional punishment versus entirely terminating the idea (i.e., think Patrick Frazee less than ninety days after Watts).

Actually, I've had very recent conversations with several Coloradoans who believe that post- Governor Polis, the state death penalty has a better chance than ever of being reinstated under referendum.

I sincerely wish “race” wasn’t always brought into a discussion about punishment. JMO

ETA: I understand what @CGray123 was saying but just turn the defendant over to the family of the victim. That would settle it. In the Watts case, that’s all the victims brother asked for!

 

[waldojabba]

Can't wait for Barry's book deal ... but what should it be called?

"All my life"
"Oh Suzanne"

The Maysville Murder : Anatomy of a Wife Killer

 

[Seattle1]

I agree that the death penalty is rarely pursued and even more rarely implemented - not only by the Federal government but also by state governments. If you proposed that U.S. Attorneys appointed by the current administration are unlikely to seek the death penalty, I would also agree with that proposition.

^^rsbm

It's a fact that federal executions are much rarer than state executions!

Records show that over several decades (obviously covering multiple political administrations), there have only been 79 defendants across the entire United States that were sentenced to death under the Federal Death Penalty Statute.

And given that Colorado has never had a defendant sentenced to death under a federal prosecutor, I have to disagree with OP that "... it would be time and money well spent - if only to be able to tell the defense [E & N] to pound sand if they want to negotiate away the death penalty."

But I also don't doubt that given back the prosecution's expert witnesses, this case, in the hands of a jury, would have resulted in a murder conviction. MOO



View attachment 342334


Federal Death Penalty | Death Penalty Information Center

 

[Lyanna]

Can't wait for Barry's book deal ... but what should it be called?

"All my life"
"Oh Suzanne"

'It's too soon.....'

 

[susiQ]

I know we need some levity along the way, but think about OJ Simpson. He wrote “If I Did It” and of course he did!

I just don’t think anyone needs to push the idea of a book. He loves money. He would say “why not?”

I must say, the book titles gave me a chuckle! But, no need to worry LNF, the Bare is certifiably illiterate. He couldn’t right a book if his life depended on it. He can’t string together a coherent sentence either. No, there will be no book…..unless of course…..IE writes it for him !

 

[susiQ]

The Maysville Murder : Anatomy of a Wife Killer

Great title, but the Bare would never use it. BUT, maybe our very own @Seattle1 or @Megnut or @MassGuy could use it . Come to think of it, maybe they could also do a follow-up on GMA as a panel to discredit IE’s fabrications and expose the truth. IE and the truth are not friends. MOO

 

[CGray123]

^^bbm

^^rsbm

Respectfully, this makes no sense where a defendant, who almost immediately agreed to plead guilty to all of his charges, would be anything but welcomed by the District Attorney-- no trial and or reason to go to trial.

And also knowing that the Rzucek family is opposed to the death penalty, why would DA Rourke blame the Governor when the convicted defendant is going to spend the remainder of his life in prison, without an opportunity for parole, per the statute?

I think OP missed my point when I used Chris Watts and his horrific acts, just as an example of how there are in fact individuals capable of unfathomable evil where you might stop and think that you might want to keep death on the table as an optional punishment, versus entirely terminating the idea (i.e., think Patrick Frazee less than ninety days after Watts).

Actually, I've had very recent conversations with several Coloradoans who believe that post- Governor Polis, the state death penalty has a better chance than ever of being reinstated under referendum.

1. No reason to go to trial? This is one of the most heinous crimes in Colorado history. If anyone rates the death penalty, Watts does.

2. Why would the DA blame the Governor for his decision not to seek the death penalty? We should probably ask him, to be fair. My guess is that it was good politics in deep red Weld County, Colorado.

3. I take your point, and agree with it.

4. Your Colorado sources differ from mine. Looking at state politics, it will be a long time before the death penalty is reconsidered. If it ever is debated, the only argument for it is that we Christians need revenge (and to keep some folks in their place), not justice.