Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #2

[Steelslady]

bbm
This fills me with unease.

If 200,000 isn't enough, how much more is he prepared to fork out ?
Why is this about money ?
Or isn't it ?
Or is this whole vanishing case from the start --- about money ?
Seems like an unnecessary focus on $$$.
IMO and MOO.

IF, and this is reaching to me- IF she was kidnapped and this is his train of thought- the only scenario I can think of is some kind of black mail.

 

[Dre]

Just bringing these forward for convenience-
From Friday:
WATCH: Chaffee County Sheriff gives update about missing woman


CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020*MEDIA,MAPS,TIMELINE*

 

[10ofRods]

Or, maybe so as not to agitate the person who took her by looking like he is involved with LE.

Good theory. Also, the prominent display of the FBI tip line number says: we have heavy hitters on our side, but we really just want Suzanne back. It also makes it feel like a nationwide plea, at least it does to me.

 

[j_in_c]

This is a tough case to make sense of or compare to other missing persons cases.

In a wilderness area like this, with a fit person who enjoys the outdoors, going missing in the woods is my go to scenario. But the response from LE/SAR/FBI doesn't seem typical for this scenario.

In a foul play scenario, the spouse is always going to be placed under a microscope and we have all seen that go many different ways (LE being too focused on the spouse or LE seemingly ignoring or taking what feels like a very long time to investigate the spouse).

I really can't think of many recent abduction scenarios that involve middle aged women - plus the ransom talk is also odd. Since they seem to be quite wealthy, it could be that a ransom seems like a realistic possibility (or perhaps they have been threatened before). But the only cases that brings to mind are Sherri Papini or Anne-Elisabeth Falkevik Hagen. Especially with the talk of offering a payment even when (to our knowledge) none has been requested.

With one week (at least) already passed since any known contact, I hope there is a scenario where she is still alive.

 

[carbuff]

Oh, thank you. Then maybe the Cancer Center was actually a draw and made her feel more comfortable moving out there.

Something abut the move is really bothering me, and I can't put my finger on exactly what. People move all the time.

 

[Razz]

Sounds like he's very nearby the river. You can hear the swift moving water.
Could be it's his and SM's favorite spot to sit out back by the river? Or her favorite spot?
Just a guess, but I suspect he chose that spot for a specific reason, and it doesn't seem weird to me at all.

jmo

I suspect the area may have been where he was searching for his wife. His physical appearance suggests he's been searching non stop.
Or so it would appear.

 

[Fascinated1]

IF, and this is reaching to me- IF she was kidnapped and this is his train of thought- the only scenario I can think of is some kind of black mail.

Yes. And these things with no police are the way they are communicating. I’m wondering if the head shake is also a sign to them in some way?

 

[Herat]

I get the sense that the amount of the reward is offered as a kind of proof by the husband that he is not involved.

Additionally, I know we don't have many details, but I was thinking that if I called the neighbor of a family member to ask them to check on said family member - when the neighbor got back to me with news that my family member is not home, I would be the one to call 911.

I hope I am wrong, but there are many strange aspects to this event. JMO

YES, YES, YES

If a neighbor contacted me sayig a loved one was missing it would be ME who calls LE and speaks to them, even if I am 2.5 hours away.

I would not put a neighbor through this agony of having to have their name on a police report or the agony of having to meet them.

In the case I was out of town, I would ask the neighbor to perhaps let them into the home or talk to LE, but the burden of the conversation would be mine.

This is just a set-up, IMHO

 

[happyday]

Any body language experts here? Would be curious to hear what they have to say about the side to side "no" head shaking.

Well we have a verified anthropologist, and this is her take.

To me, that "no" shake of the head means "I can't believe I am saying this; I can't believe I am in this situation; please don't let any of this be true." It's a really common human gesture when a person is in denial or disbelief, which is how it struck me.

It's also an expression of horror.

It can be a gesture of "humbling" that is cross-cultural. When people are giving apologies or attempting to solve a problem that's beyond them, they will shake their heads to denote "I really don't know the answer," "You know more than me," "I am humbling myself before you to ask for answers that you have, that I don't have." I see this use all the time in student presentations, especially if they are asked an impromptu question.

And it occurs a lot in TV dramas (person is repeating Truth, but shakes their head because Truth is Horrifying).

It's more pronounced in some cultures and regions than others.

 

[ab01]

I suspect the area may have been where he was searching for his wife. His physical appearance suggests he's been searching non stop.
Or so it would appear.

Has anyone seen any Local media or MSM coverage of these private searches?

Just curious I'm sure they are covering them but I haven't seen anything

 

[Rosiebones]

I'm confused on any civilian stating publicly that any amount of money will be provided (to a perpetrator) and no questions will be asked. That's not something anyone can promise. IF a crime has been committed, and a perpetrator is identified thru evidence, then that person will be brought up on charges. There isn't an option in our justice system to simply commit crimes and receive payment to return individuals without penalty. In other words saying "no questions asked" is meaningless in my mind. MOO

That's why I think the reward and the comments are directed at trying to get the friends or family of the perp to come forward. Someone knows something !!

 

[whitelilac]

This is a tough case to make sense of or compare to other missing persons cases.

In a wilderness area like this, with a fit person who enjoys the outdoors, going missing in the woods is my go to scenario. But the response from LE/SAR/FBI doesn't seem typical for this scenario.

In a foul play scenario, the spouse is always going to be placed under a microscope and we have all seen that go many different ways (LE being too focused on the spouse or LE seemingly ignoring or taking what feels like a very long time to investigate the spouse).

I really can't think of many recent abduction scenarios that involve middle aged women - plus the ransom talk is also odd. Since they seem to be quite wealthy, it could be that a ransom seems like a realistic possibility (or perhaps they have been threatened before). But the only cases that brings to mind are Sherri Papini or Anne-Elisabeth Falkevik Hagen. Especially with the talk of offering a payment even when (to our knowledge) none has been requested.

With one week (at least) already passed since any known contact, I hope there is a scenario where she is still alive.

I don't think age would generally have much to do with a potential abductor's motives.
Suzanne Eaton was 59 years old.
Not to say that I believe SM was abducted by a creep perv, but it's possible.

 

[clearskies1]

Something abut the move is really bothering me, and I can't put my finger on exactly what. People move all the time.

Agree. Especially since they apparently didn't sell their home back in Indiana. Wondering if SM and BM moved from that house to Colo at the same time.

 

[wyome]

I'm confused on any civilian stating publicly that any amount of money will be provided (to a perpetrator) and no questions will be asked. That's not something anyone can promise. IF a crime has been committed, and a perpetrator is identified thru evidence, then that person will be brought up on charges. There isn't an option in our justice system to simply commit crimes and receive payment to return individuals without penalty. In other words saying "no questions asked" is meaningless in my mind. MOO

Yep, very Papiniesque when "negotiator" set up number for the "abductors" to call without police interference for the transfer of person and money. Doesn't happen in real life.

 

[velvta]

Grey Hughes is airing his interview with John Shmitz right now!

 

[GooseyPie]

So Barry offered money for her return as soon as she went missing. If there had been threats to kidnap her I really don’t think that she would be out there, by herself riding around on a bike, and how would they know she would be in that location and how did they know she didn’t have a weapon or mace!! MOO

 

[MsBetsy]

I get a bad feeling about the reward offering. $200,000 for Suzanne's return, no questions asked. Usually rewards are offered for information that leads to finding the missing person, or the perp, etc. I get the sense that the amount of the reward is offered as a kind of proof by the husband that he is not involved. However, I think the actual wording of the reward may prove that he knows she won't be found, because he knows what happened. He could offer as much as he wants, because he knows she won't be coming back and he won't be paying out that reward to anyone. Of course I could be wrong; maybe he is one of those high-roller types that throws cash down to solve any problem, but his video seemed weird in that he is so set on her being abducted. Unless LE has told him something to make him believe that, I am surprised that he is so sure and therefore, I doubt his sincerity. moo

Additionally, I know we don't have many details, but I was thinking that if I called the neighbor of a family member to ask them to check on said family member - when the neighbor got back to me with news that my family member is not home, I would be the one to call 911. I would not ask the neighbor to do so. I think someone pointed out that perhaps the neighbor found the bike and called, but the whole thing is convoluted and backwards to me. The neighbor won't be able to answer many of the LE questions regarding the last time anyone saw Suzanne. I hope I am wrong, but there are many strange aspects to this event. JMO

Someone pointed out that in order for LE to respond appropriately, the 911 call should be placed from the area the incident occurred. So I guess it would make sense if the rest of the family was not in the area, or if the husband was really in Denver. Jmo

 

[10ofRods]

I'm not picking up a real belief in a kidnapper.

The first line addresses a kidnapper but then reverts to addressing Suzanne directly, as if she would be held against her will but free to access social media and not able to contact police? Third line also mixed between they and you, so he sees her as the conduit of the message.

Second and last lines direct to Suzanne. Your girls need you implies a choice to leave, or a play on her to feel guilt, and I wonder why he says your.

Lots of expressions of love, which makes me wonder who the intended audience is - Suzanne, the kidnapper, or anyone else. The expressions of love strike me as being more rueful than anything.

No plea direct to kidnapper. Please don't hurt her, tell us where we can find her, tell us what you want, please let her go. I might have expected to hear worry that she's being kept safe and unharmed - it seems he has a picture of her in his mind, in good condition and in control of her surroundings and captors.

JM super-critical O

(This presupposes he hasn't had specialist advice regarding psychology of kidnappers)

I think the addressing her directly goes hand in hand with (normal and natural) denial. The best case a spouse could envision, if their wife has suddenly gone missing and is surely either dead from exposure or drowning OR has been abducted...is that they have a lover, or are with a person who thinks they are a lover, and are being held somewhat or entirely against their will. If you really love someone, you only care about their well-being and safety, not whether you just found out they have a lover.

I think the expressions of love sound rueful too. This could go together with him knowing she was having an affair, I suppose.

But if the other facts of the case are taken into account (abandoned bicycle<modsnip: brakes are NOT in MSM>), it doesn't sound like this started with a romantic tryst at all. It's a stranger abduction (or near stranger abduction) if it's an abduction, IMO.

Most family members will take a long time to get to imagining that in their heads, though. It's just too horrible. I can't even imagine how surreal it would feel to be making a youtube to try and use SM to bring back a missing loved one.

I think he did have specialist advice, btw. And specifically, from the FBI. What he did is way better than an uncontrolled public address to reporters, especially if it is believed that no one right in Maysville is the perp. I bet it only took one day for LE to talk to every single resident of Maysville and the campground, at least to get an initial sense of what each one knew or said they were doing that day. I don't think LE thinks that someone from Maysville did this.

 

[Knox]

I didn't know I was playing, but I'll go ahead and answer! I read all the comments and understand the reasoning. Can't say I disagree. My wondering was solely based on usually seeing the whole family and LE together speaking or standing in solidarity, not to be "paraded" in any way. I am used to seeing this and it seems off to me. Nothing more, nothing less. Sorry I don't have the answer you were hoping to get.

I have the same thoughts, that is what makes this whole unusual, along with the lack of description of clothing. We know now why the bike wasn't described, it was found the same day she went missing.

I've said this previously, but will say it again. Even if no one saw her on Sunday, in order to get an idea of what she was wearing. LE will bring in a family member and ask if they see something missing. Let's say Suzanne's fav pair of tennis shoes are charcoal grey New Balance, her pink windbreaker is also missing. Those shoes & jacket aren't anywhere in the house. Even if BM wasn't asked to do that, surely the daughter in High School is capable?

Did Suzanne have any girlfriends in Colorado?

 

[swedeheart]

here is gray's video with the interview with john. it is premiering right now, so it's live. join now to see the interview, otherwise you have to wait a few hours to re-watch.