Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #18

[Truecolors]

Scenarios and speculation, MOO, in no particular order:

1. husband is involved.

2. Left on her own. Highly unlikely she’d stage the bike. Even more unlikely that she’d leave her girls on Mother’s Day.

3. Cat—there would be a carcass. Pretty much rules this out.

4. accident and “got in the river”—possible. Also possible that she had a seizure or other acute medical attack, got disoriented and “got in the river”. Or wandered farther into the woods and became lost.

5. Abducted by Bad Guy. Possible, especially with the RV site and sex offender fugitives.

IMO, only 1, 4 and 5 are real possibilities.

IMO, LE is acting like they are focusing on #1. I am not privy to their evidence, so I don’t actually know.

IMO—and this is where I get anxious and concerned—#4 and #5 hold a chance for her to be found alive. From past experiences, #5 might require lots of publicity and recognition of her face and story to bring her home. I’m thinking of the area, and the “mountain man” scenario like Elizabeth Smart. People should know to be looking for her in faces in the crowd, in areas away from Salida. But it’s been weeks without a public comment from anyone who loves SM. This feels either like she had no one to keep her face in the news, or that no one is taking #5 as a serious scenario.

MOO

 

[IronOreBetty]

IMO:

Don't know why you'd take my post personally when it wasn't directed to you or anyone in particular. You already determined it didn't apply to you. It's my opinion based on seeing criticism directed towards SM's family & friends. I have seen some shade directed at friends who have stayed quiet, wondering what kind of friends would do that. I've also seen complaints that LE isn't saying much of anything and some are upset about that.

Staying out of the media and maintaining privacy is a personal choice, and they probably have their reasons for it.

I agree. The internet, the media, - and even the best intentioned people who believe they are helping- can be very hurtful when a family is suffering. There is a reason Nancy Grace lost her prime time show and there are reasons LE now discourages sharing a lot of information with the public. People tend to be burned at the stake as what ifs turn into must haves.

I know a family that endured this kind of horrible speculation and in the end the missing person was the victim of a horrible accident and was not recovered for several months. Reputations were ruined, a marriage was destroyed and the business the victim built with her husband did not survive- not because of facts, but because people had to invent facts or possibilities, assume law enforcement wasn't doing a good job, and push a narrative that was fictional.

I would and I do counsel any person that has any degree of connection to a missing person to avoid engaging with anybody they do not personally know and trust, including all types of media. They should not talk with anybody other than law enforcement.

 

[Tate123]

An article today from the NY Post about people disappearing in the wilderness
https://nypost.com/2020/07/04/why-hundreds-of-people-vanish-into-the-american-wilderness/
Would the area Suzanne disappeared from be considered the "wilderness" ?

 

[Topppps]

Scenarios and speculation, MOO, in no particular order:

1. husband is involved.

2. Left on her own. Highly unlikely she’d stage the bike. Even more unlikely that she’d leave her girls on Mother’s Day.

3. Cat—there would be a carcass. Pretty much rules this out.

4. accident and “got in the river”—possible. Also possible that she had a seizure or other acute medical attack, got disoriented and “got in the river”. Or wandered farther into the woods and became lost.

5. Abducted by Bad Guy. Possible, especially with the RV site and sex offender fugitives.

IMO, only 1, 4 and 5 are real possibilities.

IMO, LE is acting like they are focusing on #1. I am not privy to their evidence, so I don’t actually know.

IMO—and this is where I get anxious and concerned—#4 and #5 hold a chance for her to be found alive. From past experiences, #5 might require lots of publicity and recognition of her face and story to bring her home. I’m thinking of the area, and the “mountain man” scenario like Elizabeth Smart. People should know to be looking for her in faces in the crowd, in areas away from Salida. But it’s been weeks without a public comment from anyone who loves SM. This feels either like she had no one to keep her face in the news, or that no one is taking #5 as a serious scenario.

MOO

Good post I suppose suicide is possible too

 

[K9Enzo]

An article today from the NY Post about people disappearing in the wilderness
https://nypost.com/2020/07/04/why-hundreds-of-people-vanish-into-the-american-wilderness/
Would the area Suzanne disappeared from be considered the "wilderness" ?

IMO, While Mother Nature is beautiful, she can be very unforgiving.

 

[Topppps]

So do they give back his truck?

 

[Truecolors]

An article today from the NY Post about people disappearing in the wilderness
https://nypost.com/2020/07/04/why-hundreds-of-people-vanish-into-the-american-wilderness/
Would the area Suzanne disappeared from be considered the "wilderness" ?

Great article. Heartbreaking for the families.

Her bike was relatively close to home, but certainly wilderness. I do think of this scenario, could even be a sudden onset mental break that leads someone to wander up the mountain.

MOO

 

[susiQ]

There are 25 Registered sex offenders in Chaffee County, 183 in Fremont county (which begins a short distance east of the concrete pad search) and 14 in Saguache county (which begins at the top pf Monarch Pass above SM's home, and wraps around to the top of Poncha Pass a few miles south of Salida. Only one of them is a fugitive at this time. IMO
CBI: Sex Offender Registry

While it’s a possibility, it’s not high on my list. Had someone run her down, there would be evidence of that and there doesn’t appear to be any as LE are not pursuing that type of an investigation.

The son of my best friend was found in a ditch unconscious by a passerby WITH his bike. Thankfully 911 was called and he lives. He remembers nothing as he suffered a concussion, broken ribs, punctured lung and lacerations. Because he didn’t remember anything even from hours before the accident, it was never investigated.

My eldest brother suffered a nasty fall from his road bike many years ago, and it resulted in a concussion, severe road rash and having his forehead wired back together and his torn ear stitched back together.

I just don’t see how some random sex predator, ran her down and then took the time to drag her into a vehicle. Too much work and too much time, all the while someone could show up unexpectedly.

 

[O.Incandenza]

I think the only problem is that:
"I knew both of them. They were very popular in school. They seemed to be an ideal couple, leading the perfect life. Wonderful kids, too."
is not newsworthy in today's instant news message byte world, even in the heartland. IMO

FWIW, there was at least one vaguely sourced quote like this in some of the Daily Mail articles: "Other friends spoke of the family in glowing terms, noting that Suzanne had been happy living in Colorado since moving to the state from Alexandria, Indiana, in July 2018.'

 

[Seattle1]

I know! Don’t you wish we had more to talk about?! I too have also tried to come up with the wildest possible scenarios I can think of during this time of silence & waiting. But IMO she would never leave her daughters. I have a 19 yo and there have been plenty of times that I wanted to run away...but it passes. It may be possible if she planned it well and put aside money...but where would she go? And how would she survive? She couldn’t go get a job using her real name. She would need two forms of ID to verify citizenship like DL, SS card or passport. How would she get those? Would she give up her medical insurance after cancer dx? Could she have help? Met someone online in another state or country? If it weren’t for the girls...maybe. I give more thought to the suicide theory than the run away theory. But with suicide I come up against again she wouldn’t do that to her children, she wouldn’t kill herself after fighting cancer twice (unless maybe it recurred?) and also she is a Christian so I don’t believe she would take her own life because no matter how bad things are hell would be a lot worse! I get where you are coming from though...I’ve also just been grasping at straws trying to think of the wildest possible theories. I have even come up with really crazy things like she went into the witness protection program and she was abducted by aliens! Anyone want to discuss those? Lol...doubtful! Sadly theres no way around suspecting the two most likely scenarios: spouse (premeditated or crime of passion) & abduction (by mentally ill person and/or sexual predator). IMOO

It's not a crime to check out, walk away, and not make contact with your loved ones. LE calls this voluntarily missing and will not pursue you or engage multi agencies to help search for you.

The Sheriff was asked at the first presser if self-harm was suspected and without hesitation, the answer was no.

I trust investigators have reason to believe SM vanishing was not a suicide or voluntary.

 

[kay74]

I agree. The internet, the media, - and even the best intentioned people who believe they are helping- can be very hurtful when a family is suffering. There is a reason Nancy Grace lost her prime time show and there are reasons LE now discourages sharing a lot of information with the public. People tend to be burned at the stake as what ifs turn into must haves.

I know a family that endured this kind of horrible speculation and in the end the missing person was the victim of a horrible accident and was not recovered for several months. Reputations were ruined, a marriage was destroyed and the business the victim built with her husband did not survive- not because of facts, but because people had to invent facts or possibilities, assume law enforcement wasn't doing a good job, and push a narrative that was fictional.

I would and I do counsel any person that has any degree of connection to a missing person to avoid engaging with anybody they do not personally know and trust, including all types of media. They should not talk with anybody other than law enforcement.

AMEN! Thank You for this.

 

[Ontario Mom]

IMO:

Don't know why you'd take my post personally when it wasn't directed to you or anyone in particular. You already determined it didn't apply to you. It's my opinion based on seeing criticism directed towards SM's family & friends. I have seen some shade directed at friends who have stayed quiet, wondering what kind of friends would do that. I've also seen complaints that LE isn't saying much of anything and some are upset about that.

Staying out of the media and maintaining privacy is a personal choice, and they probably have their reasons for it.

I didn't take your comments personally at all.
Just pointing out there are other, legitimate reasons why folks are expressing a concern over the apparent lack of comments from friends, other than the idea that they just wanted to hear some dirt, as you suggested.
Nothing more.

 

[Ontario Mom]

But would most of us want to come forward and talk to the national media about a friend? I certainly wouldn't if I had nothing useful to share about the disappearance, and in that case, I'd only talk to police.

Imagine everyone in your town knowing your opinion (could be very awkward since both families live in the same town). What would your employer think, or coworkers? Mine would think it was odd or attention seeking.

Other than saying, "She was a lovely person," what would you accomplish? It wouldn't help the case in any way. No one in their right mind is going to want to say to a national audience, "BM was a jerk and SM was nice," then go back to church and school and work with friends and family of both parties. And again, how would that help solve the case? Worst of all, you might get hate mail or death threats. People are crazy!

The point was simply, it's common for media to seek out interviews with friends/family/co-workers of the missing person, and it's also common for those folks to grant these kinds of interviews in hopes of keeping their loved one's name in the media, on people's minds, and keeping their case front and center.
For a variety of reasons I'm sure will be disclosed at some point, this case is most certainly not a typical missing person's case.

jmo

 

[Feistyomi]

I think the pandemic may also be changing up the optics of this. Friendships are different right now-you aren’t visiting and chatting. Some friends may never wish to post their personal stuff online, and they don’t wish to discuss Suzanne in a public SM format. Sharing causes all sorts of people to leave comments. Reporters aren’t knocking on doors. Public prayer vigils are not being held. I have kept my own circle small since the beginning of the pandemic. Maybe Suzanne’s friends are private people.

You are so correct. When we embarked on this covid hibernation, nobody realized how long this would last. I went into this thinking 6 wks or so, no big deal. Now, as that has been extended, I have actually gotten somewhat comfortable w/ the isolation.
Because we are retired, it’s kind of a more intense retirement/vacation now.
Especially the last month, because typically everybody goes in different directions for summer vacations.
Reporters have to follow covid guidelines, so IMO, they simply stay put, waiting for news from the investigation.
In the last 2 weeks, we have had false covid alarms from almost every direction, getting too close for comfort.
I would probably ignore any news people approaching me, simply as an isolation factor.
As you said, it’s one technique that works, keeping your circle small and manageable, any time you go beyond, you do semi quarantine. IMO

 

[Janeumayer]

Good post I suppose suicide is possible too

I’m leaning to this not being a suicide. If you read her Twitter account you clearly see she was a very spiritual and religious person. IMO If she did consider this as a way out, at least she would have left a suicide note.

Unless, someone is covering up her suicide and staging it as a disappearance for insurance reasons?

 

[Feistyomi]

Scenarios and speculation, MOO, in no particular order:

1. husband is involved.

2. Left on her own. Highly unlikely she’d stage the bike. Even more unlikely that she’d leave her girls on Mother’s Day.

3. Cat—there would be a carcass. Pretty much rules this out.

4. accident and “got in the river”—possible. Also possible that she had a seizure or other acute medical attack, got disoriented and “got in the river”. Or wandered farther into the woods and became lost.

5. Abducted by Bad Guy. Possible, especially with the RV site and sex offender fugitives.

IMO, only 1, 4 and 5 are real possibilities.

IMO, LE is acting like they are focusing on #1. I am not privy to their evidence, so I don’t actually know.

IMO—and this is where I get anxious and concerned—#4 and #5 hold a chance for her to be found alive. From past experiences, #5 might require lots of publicity and recognition of her face and story to bring her home. I’m thinking of the area, and the “mountain man” scenario like Elizabeth Smart. People should know to be looking for her in faces in the crowd, in areas away from Salida. But it’s been weeks without a public comment from anyone who loves SM. This feels either like she had no one to keep her face in the news, or that no one is taking #5 as a serious scenario.

MOO

I am almost happy to see #5 listed, thank you! IMO it will be even harder to sleuth, because this possible POI May have been off grid for awhile.
I have been pursuing for quite some time, and feel the hopelessness. IMO this is why we have not had more updates, there has not been a lot of progress. The only reasons for happiness is slight possibility SM could still be alive, and hope that someone will think of something to research that might help find her.
I’ve continued to research totally random, stranger abductions, even tho I feel certain this is more of a local case, just curious, looking for patterns.
Spousal and significant other disappearance are more common, but there are still women with low risk lifestyles, who continue to just vanish, of all ages.

 

[dalsglen]

You are so correct. When we embarked on this covid hibernation, nobody realized how long this would last. I went into this thinking 6 wks or so, no big deal. Now, as that has been extended, I have actually gotten somewhat comfortable w/ the isolation.
Because we are retired, it’s kind of a more intense retirement/vacation now.
Especially the last month, because typically everybody goes in different directions for summer vacations.

This is so interesting, did you really only think 6 weeks? When the kids schools (scotland) said they were shutting for at least 5/6 months and potentially the whole year I knew it was not gonna be a wee time out. I've LOVED staying in my jammies all the time

Agree about the reporting, our local newspapers are only farming stories from Facebook at the moment rather than being out and about so if that's also what's happening in salida it's no wonder we've heard nothing

 

[FelicityLemon]

I agree. The internet, the media, - and even the best intentioned people who believe they are helping- can be very hurtful when a family is suffering. There is a reason Nancy Grace lost her prime time show and there are reasons LE now discourages sharing a lot of information with the public. People tend to be burned at the stake as what ifs turn into must haves.

I know a family that endured this kind of horrible speculation and in the end the missing person was the victim of a horrible accident and was not recovered for several months. Reputations were ruined, a marriage was destroyed and the business the victim built with her husband did not survive- not because of facts, but because people had to invent facts or possibilities, assume law enforcement wasn't doing a good job, and push a narrative that was fictional.

I would and I do counsel any person that has any degree of connection to a missing person to avoid engaging with anybody they do not personally know and trust, including all types of media. They should not talk with anybody other than law enforcement.

100 Thumbs Up for your comments if I could.

 

[Topppps]

I am almost happy to see #5 listed, thank you! IMO it will be even harder to sleuth, because this possible POI May have been off grid for awhile.
I have been pursuing for quite some time, and feel the hopelessness. IMO this is why we have not had more updates, there has not been a lot of progress. The only reasons for happiness is slight possibility SM could still be alive, and hope that someone will think of something to research that might help find her.
I’ve continued to research totally random, stranger abductions, even tho I feel certain this is more of a local case, just curious, looking for patterns.
Spousal and significant other disappearance are more common, but there are still women with low risk lifestyles, who continue to just vanish, of all ages.

There's already been someone that reported a suspicious van in the area at the time of the bike ride on mother's day. Also in neighboring Jefferson county there was a van posing as a sheriff.

 

[Feistyomi]

This is so interesting, did you really only think 6 weeks? When the kids schools (scotland) said they were shutting for at least 5/6 months and potentially the whole year I knew it was not gonna be a wee time out. I've LOVED staying in my jammies all the time

Agree about the reporting, our local newspapers are only farming stories from Facebook at the moment rather than being out and about so if that's also what's happening in salida it's no wonder we've heard nothing

I’m quite sure we weren’t told 5 or 6 months over here. My 6wks probably was a bit optimistic, that’s just me, LOL.
Last week, I had to actually put on makeup, I had finally gotten fairly good at the eyeliner, now I’m learning all over again.
I’m considering throwing out all but a very few dresses, other than very casual sundress types.
There isn’t any record of anything of this nature to look back at, so I just don’t think we have given enough credit to the pandemic and how it has affected this case.
I am conducting much of my sleuthing online, previous addresses, relatives, etc. I believe that is going to be where our answers come from. Rv’s.
And yes, I can do that in jammies, it is a wonderful thing, indeed.