Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee Co, 10 May 2020 *Case dismissed w/o prejudice* *found in 2023* #110

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kittythehare said:
was it not the Az suspect she said was cleared? afaik starts around 26 minutes.. from memory..
Click to expand...

But how was there ever an "Arizona suspect"? There were no suspects or POI's in this case, until Barry Morphew was arrested. The partial match from the Glove Box was to a rape kit in AZ, and two elsewhere. AFAIK, no actual person has been matched to the "sex offender" via the partial match.

I am reluctant to listen to reporters and people not involved in the case repeat their limited understanding about what the record actually shows. The Glove Box DNA is NOT of a sex offender, so even if that person had been located in AZ or elsewhere, they are only a partial match to the person who touched the Glove Box. They didn't do it. Didn't need to be cleared (but since that person is not actual a felon in the CODIS data base, they couldn't be a suspect?) That's what I derived from the evidence.

There was, at the time, an "Arizona suspect," but it wasn't the rape kit partial match. It was someone else and it was based entirely on rumor, IMO.

Here are my comments on the middle part of that video:

The commentator treats all the "foreign" DNA (whose word is that, I wonder? It's certainly not a technical term and has some strong connotations) as if it came from one stranger male. It didn't. At least, there's no actual evidence in the court documents to indicate that. How would the reporter know that? "Male DNA" could be 1 male or several (it could even be mixed, as sometimes happens). The only people excluded from being the source (according to this reporter) are Barry and the investigators (which sounds right - that is how it proceeds). But the reporter has no way of knowing whether the other samples all came from one person or from four (or more). Cahill "comes to believe" that there are multiple males who committed the crime. Why? What's his evidence? If in fact he ends up deciding four different men touched Suzanne's Ranger Rover - how is the Ranger Rover involved in this crime? How does he make the leap that all four men were there at the same time and the DNA is recent? Cahill doesn't sound very knowledgeable about forensic DNA analysis.

Then the reporter goes back to speaking as if there's just one male (the Glovebox match).

I'm done with this Court TV reporting and won't be watching the rest (THANK you so much for directing me to the right place - how you remembered that actual timestamp, I have no idea, but wow).

Whole thing is silly and I hope Cahill takes some classes in DNA forensics (along with the Court TV reporters).

IMO.
 
Seattle1 said:
In the prior thread, I commented on my frustration with how IE very early adopted a spiel on DNA evidence collected from SM's vehicle was from a sex offender that was never investigated by LE because they had their focus on BM, and for three years, has continued to promote this misinformation at every opportunity.

Reviewing tweets from the three-day preliminary hearing, I was reminded that the defense called only one witness -- Joseph Cahill. For whatever reason, Cahill agreed to talk to IE the night before the hearing, and IMO, essentially threw his testimony that continues to enable IE today.

Now that SM's been recovered, sparking new interest in the case, if only Court TV, etc. would invite hosts reminded of how IE adopted her DNA soundbite, instead of repeating it!
Click to expand...
Any type of messaging to the media or public pushback by the P to the false D narratives outside of court, has been sorely lacking from the beginning of this case.
Sometimes family members or family friends make themselves available to interview or put out statements to rebut false narratives that find their way out there. Sometimes PR people are hired etc.
The P very much needs an aggressive PR type to get their message out to the media. Every time IE and her ilk lob a blooper over the net the P needs to smash it back at them - volley for volley. Hammer the truth home.
JMO.
 
10ofRods said:
But how was there ever an "Arizona suspect"? There were no suspects or POI's in this case, until Barry Morphew was arrested. The partial match from the Glove Box was to a rape kit in AZ, and two elsewhere. AFAIK, no actual person has been matched to the "sex offender" via the partial match.
Click to expand...
^^rsbm

Thank you @10ofRods: A walking around, traveling, AZ suspect, NOT! I just cringed listening to reporter CM's story of how the bad dude from AZ was proven not to be in Colorado anytime in May 2020 -- had an alibi! I believe she said this info was from a source close to the investigation. CM was a great reporter on the Kelsey Berreth case but IMO, she's in IE's pocket now. JMO
 
waldojabba said:
Any type of messaging to the media or public pushback by the P to the false D narratives outside of court, has been sorely lacking from the beginning of this case.
Sometimes family members or family friends make themselves available to interview or put out statements to rebut false narratives that find their way out there. Sometimes PR people are hired etc.
The P very much needs an aggressive PR type to get their message out to the media. Every time IE and her ilk lob a blooper over the net the P needs to smash it back at them - volley for volley. Hammer the truth home.
JMO.
Click to expand...
I thought that too, but on reflection I’m thinking the prosecution just needs to focus on the evidence, the arrest and the coming trial. If they go out and hammer IE now, it just becomes a circus. IE won’t let anything go. She’ll come back swinging even harder, regardless of whether or not what she has to say is relevant. She knows she has nothing. Trying to poison the jury pool is all she has and that’s why she’s doing it.

No, me thinks the prosecution will not lower themselves to her theatrics and stay cool, calm, and quiet. Better to nail her in the courtroom! They’ll come out swinging with a decisive opening statement and win with a ”knockout punch.” They have more than we know. But Iris KNOWS! JMHO
 
waldojabba said:
Any type of messaging to the media or public pushback by the P to the false D narratives outside of court, has been sorely lacking from the beginning of this case.
Sometimes family members or family friends make themselves available to interview or put out statements to rebut false narratives that find their way out there. Sometimes PR people are hired etc.
The P very much needs an aggressive PR type to get their message out to the media. Every time IE and her ilk lob a blooper over the net the P needs to smash it back at them - volley for volley. Hammer the truth home.
JMO.
Click to expand...

Deep in my heart, I totally agree with you. I am speaking as a non-lawyer.

But recently, any sort of push-back by Prosecutors has ended up in appeals and even overturned convictions.

The side represented broadly by the Defense is going to do way more PR than the other side, as a result. They definitely hire PR people (I know quite a few - and some of them are *extremely* well paid).

Prosecutors rely on law and justice, because if they embark on a heavy duty PR campaign, it wlll be known. Their budgets are ultimately a matter of public record. It's hard to disguise PR as something else, if you're a Prosecutor, whereas the defense can claim they're just filing motions/asking questions.

I think we have a kind of weird stalemate. Are juries learning to see through it? Maybe. More likely, most jurors are not aware of all the Defense PR attempts (at least, not consciously). Judges need to be *very* aware, or they will end up influenced by the cleverness of PR campaigns.

Indeed, any attempt by the State to influence things via PR will be called "jury tampering" or "attempts to influence the jury pool" by the Defense. Sadly, most criminal defendants don't have the money that Barry Morphew flung at this case (it leads to exoneration of better-heeled people). THAT is a civil rights violation, IMO (not Barry Morphew's property being kept too long for investigators to examine).

IMO.
 
I DO NOT believe Suzanne was tranquilized for four different and independent reasons:
  1. I believe he strangled her in a fit of rage - probably in discovering her cheating. The “get naked”, broken door frame and scratches on his arms are real evidence.
  2. Tranquillizing isn’t instant. He knew because he had to track deer he had tranquilized. It takes up to five minutes. He wouldn’t risk her running or screaming and alerting the neighbors.
  3. Barry thinks of himself as “macho man”. Killing or suicide by non-physical means like overdosing, poisoning or a tranquilizer dart fits when the killer has a much slighter build than the victim. Barry is the push up king at the gym. Barry has a muscular chest and arms.
  4. Up until Barry’s fateful drive home Sat., the tone was mellow. Suzanne knew Barry. She knew that Barry would vent after “done”. Then, they went out to eat and the next day they calmly discussed custody of the girls. Barry was hopeful she would change her mind. NOT the mood of a killer.
There is an explanation for the needle cap in the dryer. After killing Suzanne he was trying to cover his tracks. He was in the garage and saw tranq. darts and a cap. Those were proof of another crime - stealing antlers from live deer or elk. That could get him banned from hunting. He must have picked up the loose cap and put it in his shorts pocket. He came back with a trash bag and scooped up the cardboard package and darts.
 
kittythehare said:
was it not the Az suspect she said was cleared? afaik starts around 26 minutes.. from memory..
Click to expand...
Yes. There was a codis hit to Maryland, and I thought 2 in Arizona. One Arizona was cleared the other said “talk to my lawyer”. I do not think we are “done” hearing about DNA should there be another trial. New prosecution will most likely get that out of the way pronto.
 
Momofthreeboys said:
Yes. There was a codis hit to Maryland, and I thought 2 in Arizona. One Arizona was cleared the other said “talk to my lawyer”. I do not think we are “done” hearing about DNA should there be another trial. New prosecution will most likely get that out of the way pronto.
Click to expand...
Got a link handy?
I searched for a second source when I heard it but my search was unsuccessful
 
Hilt said:
No doubt LE is trying to or (hopefully) has figured out why Mr. Morphew selected the particular spot south of Moffat to dispose of Suzanne’s body. In the meantime, I’d be interested in the group’s take on a possible explanation for his choice.

I’m assuming:
  • The location was not pre-planned.
  • Mr. Morphew acted alone.
  • Mr. Morphew left to dispose of the body after 21:52, based on activity in his truck at the residence (telematics).
  • Mr. Morphew knew the region well enough to head for the least populated area with good access.
  • He would want it to be a fair distance from his stomping grounds.
Heading south, away from the route he would be taking to his jobsite the next day, makes some sense, given that Saguache County is close and has only 6600 residents spread over more than 3000 square miles. But why the exact spot south of Moffat, when there are many, many, closer places (still 20-30 miles south of their home) that have a similar setting to the burial site (near the highway where a road turns off, in sagebrush).

Perhaps, he picked the site because of concerns about people nearby based on visible lighting. I took a cursory look at the stretch of Route 17 north of Moffat and, sparsely populated as it is, there are ranches/residences/buildings within a half mile of all the turnoff roads. Not until you get near the burial site south of Moffat does there appear to be a turnoff road (County Road R) where there are no buildings within a half mile. So, I’m wondering if, using lights as his criteria for nearby people, he kept driving until he felt there was no one around to potentially observe him.
Click to expand...
As an experienced hiker who’s spent a lot of time in this part of Colorado and is familiar with the areas pertaining to this case, it seems to me on a cold, dark, early May night, with the window of time that he had, that it’d be a lot easier to dig a shallow grave in an enormous, flat, very sparsely populated valley less than an hour away, at an elevation 2,000’ lower than Maysville, than it would be to do so in the very mountainous, wooded terrain closer to home, where the temps are cooler and the ground is likely still frozen. The level of physical effort at 9,500’ vs 7,500’ above sea level is also much higher due to the thinner air. Just a few thoughts from a different perspective.
 
Earlier, I stated that the Defense only called one witness during the PH (Cahill) and this is incorrect. I forgot that they first called CC Sheriff Deputy Scott Himshoot to accuse him of planting the tranquilizer cap inside the clothes dryer!

Here are Tweets from the PH providing a good summary of Cahill's testimony. At one point, Judge Murphy is lost and interrupts Cahill (see red highlight).

kshultz06082 said:
Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
A LOT of people lined up today. I think we’re all hoping for something big on the last day of the #BarryMorphew preliminary hearing. Might have to watch today from the fairgrounds

Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
Big crowd for the final day of #BarryMorphew’s preliminary hearing in the Chaffee County courtroom. It’s a “share your theory morning. Around 2 dozen seats for public including 7 for press. Investigators on the stand today. #SuzanneMorphew #FindSuzanne

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
We are still waiting outside to go inside for the fourth day of #BarryMorphew preliminary hearing. @FOX21News

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
#BarryMorphew defense attorneys just walked into the Courthouse for the final day of his preliminary hearing.
@FOX21News

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
A lady waiting in line for #BarryMorphew preliminary hearing said, “Hey, let me show you something…” and did this. Multiple people waiting to get inside the courtroom are wearing #BringSuzanneHome shirts. #FindSuzanne
(My note: not sure how to add the picture, but it's a picture of a lady showing her "Find Suzanne" shirt)

Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
Inside, there is a matter being discussed by the prosecution and defense. Both sides have been called outside. Now they’re back

Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
Finally seated inside the courtroom. Day 4 of 4. The prosecution and Barry’s defense attorneys exited the courtroom and went into a smaller room to discuss something.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Close call... but I am in the courtroom thanks to a certain someone who gave up her seat for me... you know who you are! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!


FOX21 News
@FOX21News
Tuesday marks the final day of Barry Morphew's four-day preliminary hearing. Morphew is accused of killing his wife, Suzanne, on Mother's Day weekend in 2020 in Chaffee County

Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
Barry is in a gray, maybe brown suit and the usual cowboy boots. Macy and Mallory are in attendance as well as Barry’s mother and sister.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Former Agent Johnny Grusing is back on the stand. #BarryMorphew attorney Dru Nielsen is asking him about the daily schedule that Mallory and Barry were asked about Suzanne's daily schedule.

Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
We are back on. We don’t know what attorneys discussed outside. Former FBI Agent Grusing in stand. Nielsen asking about victimology questionnaire. First thing Mallory wrote was that her mom had coffee in the am.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Agent Grusing is back on stand this morning. Cross-examination is picking back up. #BarryMorphew #SuzanneMorphew
@KKTV11News

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Now being asked about the "chipmunk gun" #BarryMorphew voluntarily handed the investigators the gun. March 5th investigators talked with him about Suzanne's affair. He said her daughters would condone her.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Judge Patrick Murphy just reminded everyone in the courtroom no video is to be taken in the courtroom. #BarryMorphew turned around. He is in a lighter grey suit today.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Defense argues that investigators have no evidence that #BarryMorphew turned west on hwy 50 instead of east to go to Broomfield. Defense says investigators were the one to put that in his head.
@KKTV11News

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
There wasn't GPS data showing that #BarryMorphew turned left or heading west on Hwy 50 the morning of Sunday, May 10. Investigators asked him about his missing milage when this was discussed

Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
Grusing takes the stand again
Nielsen: on March 4, 2021 - Barry pulls up to Agent Harris and Grusing’s car and handed over the ‘chipmunk gun’ (voluntarily)
Grusing: Yes we asked a few days earlier if he could locate it for us
Nielsen: and he handed it over without you asking

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Defense says investigators did not know for sure if #BarryMorphew phone was in airplane mode the night of May 9th. Barry allegedly told them it was not in airplane mode and if it was it was probably an accident

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
When #BarryMorphew asked for immunity... Nielsen said that Barry mentioned to Agent Grusing on March 5, 2021 that he watched Youtube video that mentioned to not talk with investigators because they are going to use it against you.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Agent Grusing asked #BarryMorphew if he was carrying any guilt? Barry had mentioned that "he had taken Suzanne for granted and put all of his eggs into hunting and money. I loved her with all my heart."

Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
Agents Harris and Grusing asked Barry ‘Do you carry any guilt?’
Barry says he carries guilt of taking her [Suzanne] for granted, putting all his energy into hunting and making money.





Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
·Defense says #BarryMorphew only asked for immunity after he watched YouTube videos of people saying you shouldn't talk or they'll use it against him. He allegedly said he wanted immunity so he was not falsely accused

Jamie Leary
@JamieALeary
Bit of a late start for the court today but defense is now cross examining former FBI agent, John Grusing. Talking about missing cash from safe of #BarryMorphew
@CBSDenver

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
#Barrymorphew was aked about where Suzanne's helmet was found. Nielsen is suggesting when Barry responded is it up some drainage road? that wasn't near where the helmet was found allegedly.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Defense questioning Agent Grusing about money in #BarryMorphew safe. He allegedly told them that if the money wasn't in there and the police didn't have it then "she could have taken it." @KKTV11News

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
CHLORINE SMELL IN HOTEL ROOM: #Barrymorphew told Agent Grusing, "I have no idea, I had no bleach in my room." The room was above the pool.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Defense asks Agent Grusing if they ever saw #BarryMorphew on surveillance carry a body into the hotel room and when decomp dogs sniffed his truck they did not find anything.
@KKTV11News

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Defense says there is significant evidence that #BarryMorphew searched for #SuzanneMorphew for 3-5 months, covering 200 square miles. Agent Grusing agrees.
@KKTV11News

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
·#BarryMorphew searched for #SuzanneMorphew for 3-5 months. Agent Grusing asked him when would it be ok to stop searching? Morphew responded, "Never." Morphew claimed he searched 200 miles with George Davis

Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
Points being made in court by defense include Barry’s search for Suzanne- he said he covered 200 sq miles. When investigators asked where she was he said “I think she left”. He said telling their daughters about Suzanne’s affair was hardest thing he had to do. #SuzanneMorphew

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
According to defense #BarryMorphew told investigators he believes #SuzanneMorphew left and he would be wrongly accused if the DA Office thought he made the county Sheriff's Office look bad.
@KKTV11News

Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
Nielsen: Barry was concerned people in Chaffee county hate him, that sheriffs department would be mad at him and blame him
Barry said, “who is going to raise my daughter if they lock me up for something I didn’t do?”
#BarryMorphew

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
#BarryMorphew told his daughters about #SuzanneMorphews affair. He allegedly told the girls that Suzanne was a good mother. Told them that her sin was no worse than any sins we do every day. One of the daughters wiped both of her eyes as she cried when this was said.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
#BarryMorphew told his daughters about their mother's alleged affair saying it was the hardest thing he had to do. Barry just wiped his eyes. I'm sitting behind him but it sounded like he was a bit emotional during that

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Re-direct happening now. Talking about Macey Morphew told her mom that she should get a divorce and even a restraining order if needed.
@KKTV11News #SuzanneMorphew #BarryMorphew




Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
#BarryMorphew told Agent Grusing that it took him a few weeks to get over the affair and to get over the anger. "We are all sinners, I got on my knees and forgave her. I still love her."

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
The judge just asked a friend of #BarryMorphews daughter to keep their mask on.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Judge stops court for a second to say he understands this is emotional testimony and may be hard to hear, but masks need to be worn during court

Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
The Morphew girls are having a tough time today. On redirect Jeff Lindsey says #Suzannemorphew was texting her beat friend about her youngest daughter, writing that the child suggested a restraining order and even advised Suzanne to leave Barry without thing him. Nielsen objects

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Question from the state to Agent Grusing: Did Suzanne say something to sheila about Macy trying to pull her into problems in the marriage? Nielsen objected and said #SuzanneMorphew told Sheila lies. State: this is inappropriate... is she a human lie detector?

Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
Nielsen says this is not information directly from the Morphew daughter - it’s texts from Suzanne interpreting their situation. “Suzanne lied to Sheila on several occasions”.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
In an interview with Agent Grusing #BarryMorphew said, “I don’t care about the evidence… if it has anything to do with me tying me into the evidence, than it is wrong.”

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Prosecution asks Agent Grusing if #BarryMorphew told them he was following #SuzanneMorphew phone. He told investigators Suzanne gave him her phone in Mexico to show him who he was talking to.



Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Was there any evidence that #BarryMorphew tracked Suzanne? Agent Grusing said, "Yes." When he was asked about the affair, Barry said "this is a surprise to me." He had never seen it on her phone... "How was he communicating?"

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Prosecution brings up a possible domestic situation between the two. Defense objects to this. Judge says we need to move things along because I'm getting objections every third question. @KKTV11News


Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
A LOT OF OBJECTIONS this morning... The judge said there keeps being objections every three questions. "I need to get this hearing done."

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
"I think it is well established that #SuzanneMorphew was not happy in the marriage," Judge Patrick Murphy said.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Prosecution asks Agent Grusing about domestic situation. He says #BarryMorphew told investigators there was a time when he accidentally clipped #SuzanneMorphew nose with his hand. @KKTV11News

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Agent Grusing was asked if #BarryMorphew ever struck #SuzanneMorphew and Barry allegedly told CBI agents "that it was an accident, he clipped the side of her nose with his hands."

Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
Judge- I’m getting an objection every other question [from Nielsen - beyond the scope] and I want to finish this hearing
Judge- Suzanne being unhappy in the marriage has been established. These questions you [Lindsey] are asking, are not helping my decision




Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Agent Grusing said that Gene Ritter told investigators to search for the bike after #BarryMorphew told her to look for #SuzanneMorphew bike.


Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Lots of tension in the room between prosecutors and defense right now

Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
DA Jeff Lindsey - When did law enforcement know when to first start looking for Suzanne Morphew's bicycle?
JG - When Jeanne Ritter called. She was told by Barry to look for the bicycle.
Grusing is excused.

Jamie Leary
@JamieALeary
Prosecution asks former FBI agent Grusing, if #BarryMorphew was questioned about any instances of physical abuse- BM told CBI that he accidentally clipped the side of Suzanne's nose once with his hand. #SuzanneMorphew
@CBSDenver

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
#BREAKING: with that last witness the prosecution has presented their evidence and hands it off to the defense

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
The Defense is going to call Deputy Scott Himschoot to the stand on the fourth day of #BarryMorphew preliminary hearing.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Defense calls first witness- Deputy Scot Himshoot with the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office. He aided with the search of th

Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
W/a question about how police knew to search for #SuzanneMorphew' s bicycle, the people have rested in the preliminary hearing of BarryMorphew. Defense call sheriff's deputy Scott Himshoot to the stand. Discussion about the gun safe - empty tranquilizer darts & dart gun insidee Morphew home. #SuzanneMorphew #BarryMorphew
Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
Nielsen and Eytan call Deputy Scott Himchoot
He participated in search of Morphew home
-Itemized the contents of the gun safe
-Also searched the laundry room

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Chaffee County Deputy Himschoot helped in the search and inspection of the Morphew home and looked at the gun safe and laundry room. We are about to watch body cam video of the photographs that were taken of the dryer and laundry room.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
The photographer is wearing black gloves as they photograph the top of the washer and inside as well as the dryer. #BarryMorphew defense team is having difficulty with audio.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Defense showing body camera video of the search of the Morphew home. They're searching the laundry room. Deputy Himshoot says they did not see anything in the dryer at the time they went into the home.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Defense says the Deputy swabbed the dryer for blood, but when this Deputy was looking inside the dryer he saw the cap for the needle for the tranquilizer dart. It was missed by a deputy taking pictures the first time around.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
The dryer and washer were empty. Deputy Himschoot was assigned to swab the dryer. Now we are watching body cam video. Audio: "Did you see what was inside the dryer? You might want to look inside the dryer? There might be something of interest..."

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
In the video you can see the deputy pick up the cap and hear him put it back down. Defenses says he did not put it in the report that he picked it up to look at it before asking someone to come take pictures of it.




Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
It was the cap for the tranquilizer needle sheath inside the dryer. Another deputy then took photos. Nielsen asked Deputy Himschoot what was that clunking noise? Himschoot said I picked up the item and then put it back down. He didn't file that in his report.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
In body camera video you hear Deputy Himshoot say that when he found the gun it did not even work properly. He says that it hadn't been fired recently.
@KKTV11News #BarryMorphew #SuzanneMorphew

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Prosecutions takes over. They flat out ask Deputy Himshoot if he placed the cap of the needle inside the dryer. He says no. Pros says "are you 100%?" He says yes.
@KKTV11News #BarryMorphew #SuzanneMorphew

Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
We just saw the body cam video of sheriffs deputies opening the Morphew dryer where the tranquilizer dart "cap" was found.Nielsen-“can you hear the sound of a clunk when your hand is in the dryer? What was that?
Himshoot "That would be me picking something up and placing it ...

Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
...back down maam." On redirect, LIndsey asks "Did you put that cap in there?
No sir
100%?
100%.
You told the CBI guys this is something we are interested in.
Himshoot -"Yes sir."

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Deputy Himschoot also was talking in the garage about the dart gun and how it didn't function and didn't seem to have been fired in a very long time... so finding the tranquilizer needle sheath cap in the dryer was odd

Jamie Leary
@JamieALeary
Defense team is suggesting Sheriff's Deputy who swabbed the morphew dryer, planted the needle sheath to the dart gun. On cross examination, he tells prosecution he did not but he did pick it up and put it back which he didn't mention in his reports
Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Deputy Himschoot said that he is not a certified fire-arm examiner but knows a lot about guns.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Prosecution asks if the gun was ever examined by a firearm expert. Deputy says no it was not. Defense fires back saying that he may not be a firearm expert but he was familiar with guns and he made determinations with familiarity with firearms that it did not appear to work

Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
Body cam video is played where we hear Himshoot say the dart gun did not appear to work. "You know the thing that’s really weird about the cover is the gun has not been fired. It doesn’t function appropriately. It doesn’t engage.”

Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
Nielsen- did you hear a ‘plunk’ when you pulled the object out of the dryer?
Himchoot- no?
(He picked up what he saw, then placed it back down) - this wasn’t noted on the report

Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
Lindsey- did you put the hypodermic needle cap inside the dryer?
Himchoot - no
Lindsey- 100%?
Himchoot- I did not put it there

Jamie Leary
@JamieALeary
Deputy Himshoot confirms to defense the dart gun did not appear to work and it did not appear it had been fired in a long time
@CBSDenver #BarryMorphew #SuzanneMorphew

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
The defense has called CBI Agent Joseph Cahill to the stand. He is being asked about the DNA swabbed from #SuzanneMorphew's glove box from #BarryMorphew attorney Iris Eytan.




Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Agent Cahill claims he hasn't seen the final version of the arrest affidavit that was submitted to the court for the arrest of #BarryMorphew.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
We're back from a quick break. Defense calls CBI Agent Joseph Cahill. He testifies that he collected DNA. There was unknown DNA from a male found on #SuzanneMorphew glove box in her car. @KKTV11News

Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
New witness: CBI Agent Joe Cahill, who investigated the case extensively. He acknowledges that Suzanne's Ranger Rover glove box had unknown DNA on it, which did not belong to Barry Morphew. @ABC2020

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Cahill said that #BarryMorphew was excluded from the DNA on #SuzanneMorphew glovebox. Now Eytan is asking about the DNA on the handlebars of Suzanne's bike. Cahill can't remember so Eytan is showing him the affidavit to refresh his memory, he can't remember.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Agent Cahill says #BarryMorphew was excluded from the DNA in the car. Defense is working to refresh Agent Cahill's memory with several documents, but the agent continues to say that he does not recall the affidavit he reviewed and does not remember the DNA portion.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Cahill said that he was on military leave and only got to review/edit until page 19 of the 126 pages of the affidavit so he didn't get through the rest of the pages

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Defense says there was also unknown male DNA on the bike grips of #SuzanneMorphew bike. They say #BarryMorphew was excluded. Same goes for apparent unknown male DNA on the rear cushion in Suzanne's car




Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
Eytan from the lab report: The bike breaks and handlebars also had unknown male DNA on the bike grips and there was also unknown male DNA on the rear cushion of Suzanne's Range Rover.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Cahill is being asked by #BarryMorphew attorney Eytan if he was aware/taking into consideration the unknown male DNA found on the bike grips, #SuzanneMorphew car rear cushion, and glove box

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Agent Cahill says the report shows that DNA from the glovebox came back to matches of investigative leads that show the partial profile came back to unsolved sexual assault cases. #SuzanneMorphew #BarryMorphew
@KKTV11News

Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
Eytan reading from the lab report says the prison DNA data system,
CODIS, returned 3 confirmed matches from the glove box to other unsolved sexual assaults. Cahill says it's true if it was in the report.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
A letter from Agent Duge addressed to Cahill sent on May 19, 2021, refers to the partial profile DNA from #SuzanneMorphew glove box that had 3 confirmed matches to unsolved sexual assaults.

Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
One of the sexual assaults occurred outside of a convenience store in Tempe. Judge overrules an objection reminding courtroom that the defense is allowed to question further in a proof evident presumption great hearing. Cahill then agrees the assault happened outside a conv store

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Defense says the DNA profile matches that from an unsolved sexual assault case was from Tempe, Arizona outside a convenience store. DNA was uncovered to see who the suspect was in that case and to see if it had any relation to the disappearance of #SuzanneMorphew


Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
The matches are from Pheonix, Chicago, and Tempe, Arizona. Tempe case was looked into in Dec. 2020. Cahill contacted the investigator in charge of the attempted sexual assault outside a local convenience store. However, the Tempe case had two suspects.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
The judge is lost... many in the courtroom are also confused so he is trying to get clarification. "It is my understanding that the partial did not match the two primary suspects from the Tempe case according to another detective," Agent Cahill said.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
There is no scientific proof that there isn't a match. Eytan is giving Agent Cahill multiple reports to review.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Forensic Scientist confirmed to Cahill it was a potential lead, not a perfect match, Cahill explained. Now they are talking about another CODIS match from #SuzanneMorphew glove box that matched in Pheonix from a sperm sample. He wasn't aware of a letter sent in Nov. about it.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
CBI was notified that there was another DNA profile match to an unsolved sexual assault case in Pheonix Arizona from the DNA found on #SuzanneMorphew glovebox. In April 2021 Defense says there was another match from an unsolved sex assault case, this time in Chicago @KKTV11News

Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
Eytan pounds on the fact that there was a match between an unsolved sexual assault and DNA found on Suzanne's glove box. Now she brings up another match with the glove box DNA and an unsolved sexual assault in Chicago.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Now Eytan is speaking about the CODIS match from #SuzanneMorphew glove box that matched in Chicago, Illinois. CBI Agent Cahill said he wasn't aware until he got a call from Det. Burgis when he returned from military leave in May of 2021.



Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
Cahill explains he didn't know about these findings when they came in because he was on military leave from March to May 10th.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
The judge asked Cahill, what do you know about this Chicago case? Cahill said that Det. Burgis said he would be following up. CBI Agent Cahill said he was on Military leave from March 8 until around May 10 of 2021.

Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
Agent Joseph Cahill called by defense. Eytan has been asking about possible DNA matches from Suzanne’s glovebox to 3 separate sexual assault cases. Cahill was on military leave and did not follow up on these. He had a coworker who would follow up.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
The state is now cross-examining CBI Agent Joseph Cahill.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
The defense wrapped up this witness and hands it over to the prosecution. They are discussing that #BarryMorphew DNA might have been in #SuzanneMorphew car and on her bike. Agent says he needs to refer to the report. @KKTV11News

Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
On redirect, prosecutor Mark Hurlbert reminds the court that Barry Morphew's DNA was found on the bike seat and in Suzanne's car. He's shifting gears from where Morphew's DNA was NOT found to where it WAS found.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Agent Cahill looks at the report and says it's not clear which car they are referencing in the report because three cars were swabbed. #SuzanneMorphew #BarryMorphew
@KKTV11News

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Agent Cahill is being shown a DNA report from June of 2020. Explaining CODIS which is a nationwide DNA database. Typically people who have been convicted of a felony or at the request of law enforcement. Knowns and unknowns get put into CODIS.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Explaining that you can't just put any DNA into CODIS. The judge is reminding the defense to let the state have the entire question out before they object.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
LUNCH BREAK... will be addressed at 1:30 p.m.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
We are taking a lunchbreak and will be back at 1:30pm #SuzanneMorphew #BarryMorphew
@KKTV11News

Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
Lunch break until 1:30 pm mountain time

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
The judge is asking the defense how much time they will need. Eytan said this is their last witness.

Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
Eytan says Cahill is their last witness. Only needs time to redirect. Judge says we’ll come back at 1:30 and discuss evidence and schedule from there.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Defense noted before we took the break that Agent Cahill is set to be their last witness.
@KKTV11News
#SuzanneMorphew #BarryMorphew
Click to expand...

kshultz06082 said:
Barry Morphew Prelim Day 4 part 2


Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
Everyone is back in the courtroom. We have been sitting in silence for about 3 minutes waiting for Judge Murphy

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Back on the record: CBI Agent Joseph Cahill is back on the stand for the #BarryMorphew hearing. The is asking him about allele which is a variant form of a gene. The defense objects saying he isn't a specialist in DNA or forensic scientist.

Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
Back from lunch lurching back and forth as Mark Hurlbert starts asking CBI Agent Joe Cahill DNA questions. Objection from the defense that Cahill is not a forensic scientist.We move on. Now discussing the prison DNA database "CODIS"

Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
Codis match/hit - what does that mean?
Agent Cahill: One sample was compared to another and there was possible pieces that may be related.
State: If there is a Codis match, they cannot be arrested just on this, right?
Defense objects (Up pointing backhand index)

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
The state is now asking about Agent Cahill familiarity with a CODIS hit. Cahill says a match means a lead for investigators to attempt to take a standard (another sample of DNA from the subject) to get it analyzed from the original DNA sample from the crime scene.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Agent Cahill is being asked about what a keyboard search is. Scientists are comparing the two samples to decide if it is worth law enforcement time to investigate.

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Agent Cahill is back on the stand, prosecution is continuing cross-examination. They're discussing DNA profiles from #SuzanneMorphew car. @KKTV11News




Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
CBI Agent Cahill said in each one of these cases (the three sexual assault leads from other states obtained from the DNA swab on #SuzanneMorphew glove box) did not arise for probable cause.

Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
State is asking Agent Cahill questions about how he interprets DNA testing reports.
Eytan has objected about 10 times. Beyond the scope, witness is not an expert, leading.
Barry sits back in chair and crosses leg over lap.


Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Iris Eytan is now at the podium for redirect

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Defense is now back for re-direct. Reminder-- before lunch we were told this would be the defense's last witness.
@KKTV11News #BarryMorphew #SuzanneMorphew

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
According to the forensic scientist report, there was an unknown male DNA on the seat of #SuzanneMorphew bike. Eytan asked if Agent Cahill LE knew if there were individuals that had matches to the DNA if he would have a swab sample done. He said yes.


Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
Eytan is done questioning. Cahill steps down. Done with witnesses.

Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
After much talk about unknown DNA on Suzanne's bike and in her car, we are finished. Judge Patrick Murphy says there have been 20 hours of testimony and he's taken 25 pages of notes. It's now time for him to decide whether to bind #BarryMorphew over for trial.

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
Judge Patrick Murphy said he isn't going to make a decision today. He took 25 pages of notes and there were over 20 hours of testimony. Looks like he is going to talk with attorneys about when the next hearing will be set.
Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
There you have it, the defense has wrapped up their witnesses. The case will be handed to the judge to decide if it will go to trial. He said he is not prepared to make a decision today following at least 20 hours of evidence presentation and testimony.#SuzanneMorphew
@KKTV11News


Jamie Leary
@JamieALeary
WE ARE DONE WITH ALL WITNESSES - 20 hours of testimony 25 pages of notes from the judge. He won't make a decision today on the #BarryMorphew case. The judge says he's never seen so many witnesses. He says he is going to have a lot of work ahead to make a decision
@CBSDenver

Ashley Franco
@AshleyKKTV
Dru Neilsen asks judge to make a decision today becasue they do not believe prosecutors have laid a solid case. They ask for a decision so #BarryMorphew does not have to sit in jail. Judge says he understands but he needs time.
@KKTV11News

Carol McKinley
@CarolAMcKinley
Nielsen stands - We are urging the court to rule on the proof evident today....so that Mr. Morphew doesn't have to continue to sit in jail.
Judge says he’d rather make the decision correctly rather than too quickly. Judge says to come back at 230.

Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
BREAKING: Judge Murphy- He has 25 pages and says he can’t come to a decision today.
I want to keep the attorneys [in the courtroom] and schedule a time for a hearing for the decision.
#BarryMorphew #SuzanneMorphew

Lauren Scharf
@LaurenScharfTV
#BarryMorphew Attorney Dru Nielsen said, "Doesn't think they (state) have met the burden of proof." She is asking for Morphew to not sit in jail. Judge said he couldn't make that decision today. Court is in recess until 2:30 p.m.



Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
Nielsen: I appreciate the courts need to be thorough....but I do not think they have met the burden that the proof is evident of first-degree murder.....Make a decision so #BarryMorphew doesn’t have to sit in jail.....


Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
Judge Murphy- I understand but I would rather make the decision correctly...I’m going to have to put quite a bit of effort laying out the evidence so I can explain my decision. I am not able to do that today. I am not a robot. Let’s work on making a date for the next hearing...

Crime Talk with Scott Reisch
@CrimeTalkPod
Family, media, and public leaves the courtroom for Judge Murphy, state, and defense to schedule a date for the next hearing
Click to expand...
 
Queen Quads said:
As an experienced hiker who’s spent a lot of time in this part of Colorado and is familiar with the areas pertaining to this case, it seems to me on a cold, dark, early May night, with the window of time that he had, that it’d be a lot easier to dig a shallow grave in an enormous, flat, very sparsely populated valley less than an hour away, at an elevation 2,000’ lower than Maysville, than it would be to do so in the very mountainous, wooded terrain closer to home, where the temps are cooler and the ground is likely still frozen. The level of physical effort at 9,500’ vs 7,500’ above sea level is also much higher due to the thinner air. Just a few thoughts from a different perspective.
Click to expand...
Welcome to WS @Queen Quads and thanks for sharing your local insight. It's truly a glorious, uncrowded, area of the State, and I have great memories of vacationing around San Luis Valley and a trip to NM on the Narrow Gauge Steam Engine.
 
Love Never Fails said:
I can agree but I hope not that much evidence was destroyed. We know he killed her. LE knows he killed her. BM knows he killed her. We have to pray he will soon be behind bars for murder very soon.
Click to expand...
And finally the jury needs to realize who killed her, which I am confident will happen.

JMO
ETA - grammar
 
Last edited:
waldojabba said:
Any type of messaging to the media or public pushback by the P to the false D narratives outside of court, has been sorely lacking from the beginning of this case.
Sometimes family members or family friends make themselves available to interview or put out statements to rebut false narratives that find their way out there. Sometimes PR people are hired etc.
The P very much needs an aggressive PR type to get their message out to the media. Every time IE and her ilk lob a blooper over the net the P needs to smash it back at them - volley for volley. Hammer the truth home.
JMO.
Click to expand...
The Prosecution is held to walking a fine line here whereas it's much easier for the defense to smudge the line. Also, LS is being sued by BM (Civil Rights Civil Suit) for talking to the media with Sheriff Speeze after his arrest where we know exactly what she said compared to IE's version of the presser. She also Motioned in district court LS be sanctioned for violating Court Order re. media contact. WS members just have to keep posting and tweeting the facts! :)
 
Seattle1 said:
^^rsbm

Thank you @10ofRods: A walking around, traveling, AZ suspect, NOT! I just cringed listening to reporter CM's story of how the bad dude from AZ was proven not to be in Colorado anytime in May 2020 -- had an alibi! I believe she said this info was from a source close to the investigation. CM was a great reporter on the Kelsey Berreth case but IMO, she's in IE's pocket now. JMO
Click to expand...
That is the issue. Prosecution should have turned over the DNA testing results, how they followed through and how they determined those partial matches were connected to people who could not be involved or be honest about any unknown partial matches. I don’t understand why it was obscured to begin with unless there was concern that they wouldn’t get past probable cause. It seems like if prosecution would have been forthright it would have been addressed during the preliminary and we wouldn’t be here 3 years later talking about DNA. Maybe that is a naive view but sure seems straightforward to me.
 
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