Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, did not return from bike ride, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #37

[SeattleStew]

That seems like a super risky move.

BM is a risk-taking guy. IMO.

 

[NuttMegg]

The distance has to be defined by a window of oppprtunty.
When was there an opportunity in the timeline?
AM suggests a window of opportunity that was no more than a couple of hours

I still see most of Saturday, all of Saturday night and Sunday morning as the window, but admittedly I don't know much about the "real" timeline. AM probably has been told a lot to come up with the 30-40 figure.

 

[Gigi3]

Which is interesting, in and of itself. There have been cases where the family members of missing persons have closely cooperated with LE and released joint timelines. In fact, it's the majority of missing person cases that I know about.

It's very hard for LE to tell families not to give timelines since, obviously, it's a key factor in finding a living person. It's been obvious since Day 1, that wasn't going to happen in that case.

For whatever reason, LE did not alert the public to a particular timeline which is standard procedure in many scenarios (mountain lion, suicide, stranger abduction, medical emergency, lost in the wilderness). Nor did the family (which is also common).

Why do you think LE would withhold the specific timeline? They have uttered cryptic statements about Suzanne communicating later in time than they originally thought (they asked for footage from May 8-12). Why would they do that?

I think at first they weren't sure she was still alive in the morning of May 9, then the BFF provided information that led to digital discovery that SM was still at her computer/phone at around noon on May 9.

One further point: LE isn't always perfect - that's why we have juries weigh the facts. But on WS, we aren't juries, we work with what we have.

I think there are some facts in this case. For example, I think the neighbor is truthful about her doings and when she went to the house. That hasn't been released by LE.

I think the work Lauren is doing on the timeline is excellent. Facts can be established without LE, obviously.

Great post!

Also, I would add that LE has never issued a warning to the public for a possible abduction.

We have NO clue what LE’s reasons are for not giving a timeline, warning, BOLO, etc... but I guarantee they know the reasons, and I would venture to guess it’s because SM never left that house alive.

Jmo.

 

[SeattleStew]

BM is a risk-taking guy. IMO.

BM wasn't there when the bike was found, IIRC. So how would he know.

But he did say this:

“I rushed home, left all my tools at the hotel, called my workers and said, ‘I’ve got a family emergency. You’re gonna have to figure this out on your own,’ and went directly to the site where the bike was,” said Barry Morphew.

LS interview with BM

 

[NuttMegg]

BM is a risk-taking guy. IMO.


But he did say this:

“I rushed home, left all my tools at the hotel, called my workers and said, ‘I’ve got a family emergency. You’re gonna have to figure this out on your own,’ and went directly to the site where the bike was,” said Barry Morphew.

LS interview with BM

In that taped interview where the guy interviewed him surreptitiously BM said that he got there after the bike was found. Who did find it? I don't remember that part.

 

[Knox]

Could he have been baiting mountain lions to take care of a body?

Something like that crossed my mind too. I thought he could have been baiting, meaning he wanted cats to be seen in the area.

That's a pretty big leap though unless this was premeditated. Exactly when did he set the meaty rack out, do we know?

 

[ChuckMaureen]

sbbm

I think at first they weren't sure she was still alive in the morning of May 9, then the BFF provided information that led to digital discovery that SM was still at her computer/phone at around noon on May 9.

One further point: LE isn't always perfect - that's why we have juries weigh the facts. But on WS, we aren't juries, we work with what we have.

I think there are some facts in this case. For example, I think the neighbor is truthful about her doings and when she went to the house. That hasn't been released by LE.

I think the work Lauren is doing on the timeline is excellent. Facts can be established without LE, obviously.

Well, a someone was at computer/phone logged on to and using SM's account. It is assumed (with some intelligent deduction involved I suppose) that it was SM.

As WSers, it depends on "what" we "have" as to just how helpful it is in determining what happened to the missing. Small pieces here and there can lead to building the larger picture but sometimes those small pieces are simply place-holders until pieces with higher significance are discovered.

 

[JosieMae]

The road cameras near the house are for traffic control, those don't have cameras. I do not believe there is any camera capture between Monarch Pass and Salida - a big area. @Dave F. will know - I believe he's the one who has mentioned it in earlier threads.

We have no word directly from LE about any cooler - that's AM's statement.

I find AM very credible - more now after his latest appearance on PE. Was always credible, but is ticking all my boxes, linguistically, for "truthful person."

Thanks for the clarification re: the road cameras. Maybe captured on other cameras e.g. a gas station? Perhaps a receipt for a fill-up during the time in question would lead to surveillance video?

 

[LietKynes]

That seems like a super risky move.

Yes, because there's nothing more enticing than having a mountain lion stalking the premises.
Truthfully I'd be more worried about my pets than a human attack.
But still. *major eye roll*

 

[ajaylee]

This part has always stuck with me when AM was relaying what BM told him about the time BM actually got back home to join the searching for SM.

"08:53
said he arrived back there at six"

It could have been a mistake on either AM's or BM's part, but then again maybe it was originally told to him that it was 6pm and maybe that later got changed to 9pm.

One reason this is important is the person that was checking in at the motel Sunday who found BM's insurance papers says he did not physically see BM in that room that day from what I gathered. So if BM left that motel closer to 3pm or earlier, then it means he should have been back near his home by 6pm and that would sync up with what we hear AM say.

If he did not arrive till 9pm then it means he should have been seen by the person checking in at the motel in Denver area because BM should have still been around Denver if he did not leave Denver area till around 6pm.

Its another confusing thing like so much of this case. That has been one of my biggest "tells" from the very beginning. Why is everything always confusing and not clear about BM's whereabouts that Sunday morning, afternoon, and early evening. To me, the fact it has been confusing may point to something not on the up and up about it.
It should have been very clear from day one and not so muddy.
JMO

I wonder how many routes there are from Salida to Broomfield. If the crew was heading to the hotel and BM had already left - and JP knew he was leaving - I'm kind of surprised they didn't see each other on the highway coming and going.

 

[al66pine]

Is 3300+ sq. ft. home "Big?"
Bringing this over from thread #36. Catching up, sorry if already thoroughly discussed.
@Boxer : "From a google seach: Is 3300 square feet a big house?
Yes, 3,4000 square feet would be considered large. A majority of people live in homes from 1500 - 2500 square feet."
I do not know source of ^, but pasted more definitive info below re sq. ft'age. of US homes generally, FWIW.
Imo, not a question that can be answered in a void, w'out context, as it depends on factors, such as, when & where built; household income & net worth; number of people living there (now, and/or past or future); and other factors - lifestyle, hobbies, etc. And plain old personal preference of decision maker(s)/buyer(s).
Big, small, or Goldilocks-just-right size, PP home is/was the choice of BM or SM, or both.

Puma Path home = 3 bed, 4 ba, 3,311 sq ft, 3 car garage. 7.7 acres.
IIRC, their IN home had more sq ft, more bed, and more acreage, but w a much lower price tag.
jm2cts.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"... 1950, when the average new home was a mere 983 square feet...
average household sizes have shrunk from about 3.37 in 1950 to 2.55 today."
What Would Our Homes Look Like if Designed Around How We Use Them?

"In the United States, the average size of new single family homes grew from 1,780 square feet (165 m2) in 1978, to 2,479 square feet (230.3 m2) in 2007, and further still to 2,662 square feet (247.3 m2) in 2013.[6][7] Increased material wealth and individuals with high incomes are common reasons why homes sizes increased.[6]..." Tiny house movement - Wikipedia

"Annual 2019 Characteristics of New Housing
903,000 single-family homes completed in 2019
The median size of a completed single-family house was 2,301 square feet."
Characteristics of New Housing > Highlights

 

[Knox]

Separate groups of searchers are departing Tuesday and Wednesday for Maysville, Colorado, where Alexandria native Suzanne Moorman Morphew was last seen on May 10.

Volunteer 'army' departs for Colorado to search for Morphew

Andy Knight - The Herald Bulletin
1 hr ago

ALEXANDRIA — Three weeks after announcing an effort to gather hundreds of volunteers for an exhaustive search of a mountainous region in central Colorado for his missing sister, Andy Moorman has his army.

Separate groups of searchers were to depart Tuesday and Wednesday for Maysville, about 150 miles southwest of Denver, where Suzanne Moorman Morphew was last seen on May 10.

Altogether, an estimated 500 people signed up to be part of a five-day expedition to locate Morphew, 49, an Alexandria native. Approximately 200 additional people – including personnel from the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office – will meet them in Colorado, according to Lisa Patz, a family friend who is helping Moorman coordinate the search.

The group's search efforts will begin in earnest on Thursday.

~snip

Patz said Moorman has been encouraged with the response he’s received to his efforts, and he’s especially gratified with the offers of assistance from the authorities in Colorado.

“His mindset is that he is determined he is going to find his sister and bring her home,” Patz said. “He deserves this. It’s been long enough. This needs to be done.”

More at link:
User

It just struck me again ... the disparity between Barry & Andy. Her husband is hiding & deflecting, her brother has put together an army of people to find her.

Barry could have done the same thing Andy is doing, but he has chosen to remain silent and not ask for help.

If you're on the fence about his guilt, think about this. Lauren Sharf asked Barry, "what were the last words you spoke to your wife". Barry could not answer her question ...

 

[Boxer]

Is 3300+ sq. ft. home "Big?"
Bringing this over from thread #36. Catching up, sorry if already thoroughly discussed.
@Boxer : "From a google seach: Is 3300 square feet a big house?
Yes, 3,4000 square feet would be considered large. A majority of people live in homes from 1500 - 2500 square feet."
I do not know source of ^, but pasted more definitive info below re sq. ft'age. of US homes generally, FWIW.
Imo, not a question that can be answered in a void, w'out context, as it depends on factors, such as, when & where built; household income & net worth; number of people living there (now, and/or past or future); and other factors - lifestyle, hobbies, etc. And plain old personal preference of decision maker(s)/buyer(s).
Big, small, or Goldilocks-just-right size, PP home is/was the choice of BM or SM, or both.

Puma Path home = 3 bed, 4 ba, 3,311 sq ft, 3 car garage. 7.7 acres.
IIRC, their IN home had more sq ft, more bed, and more acreage, but w a much lower price tag.
jm2cts.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
"... 1950, when the average new home was a mere 983 square feet...
average household sizes have shrunk from about 3.37 in 1950 to 2.55 today."
What Would Our Homes Look Like if Designed Around How We Use Them?

"In the United States, the average size of new single family homes grew from 1,780 square feet (165 m2) in 1978, to 2,479 square feet (230.3 m2) in 2007, and further still to 2,662 square feet (247.3 m2) in 2013.[6][7] Increased material wealth and individuals with high incomes are common reasons why homes sizes increased.[6]..." Tiny house movement - Wikipedia

"Annual 2019 Characteristics of New Housing
903,000 single-family homes completed in 2019
The median size of a completed single-family house was 2,301 square feet."
Characteristics of New Housing > Highlights

Just seems too big and grandiose for two people in their 50s with kids gone.

 

[Moonchime]

The other dynamic that bears watching re: the search. There is a caravan of people coming out to Salida from BMs hometown, Alexandria, IN. These are people who care deeply enough about SM to make the 19 hour drive out. Some of these people will have almost certainly known BM and SM from their youth. I think this will be added pressure on BM as certainly they will want to see him, interact with him, ask him what happened, etc. It has to be stressing him out.....

This will be wonderful to see. May God bless their efforts and lead them to Suzanne.

Just reading this makes me even more certain that BM will NOT be at the search. MOO

 

[Ontario Mom]

It just struck me again ... the disparity between Barry & Andy. Her husband is hiding & deflecting, her brother has put together an army of people to find her.

Barry could have done the same thing Andy is doing, but he has chosen to remain silent and not ask for help.

If you're on the fence about his guilt, think about this. Lauren Sharf asked Barry, "what were the last words you spoke to your wife". Barry could not answer her question ...

BM could have done the same thing AM is doing if,
he wanted SM found, the same way AM does.
That says it all to me, right there.

 

[10ofRods]

Could he have been baiting mountain lions to take care of a body?

I think that's highly unlikely. But I do think it's possible that someone wanted to attract a mountain lion to the property, to bolster a mountain lion theory.

I also find it very convenient that "road kill" occurred in the vicinity, as hunting season for elk was not in session.

It's odd to take part of the skull of road kill, along with the antlers, even more strange to keep it next to one's house. We don't know how long it was there, but if it was there before Suzanne went missing and if it is true (as AM states) that LE saw a mountain lion in the area...one has to wonder about it.

 

[oviedo]

Something like that crossed my mind too. I thought he could have been baiting, meaning he wanted cats to be seen in the area.

That's a pretty big leap though unless this was premeditated. Exactly when did he set the meaty rack out, do we know?

The long con ... it’s a possibility I’m not ready to eliminate
JMO

 

[LietKynes]

The road cameras near the house are for traffic control, those don't have cameras. I do not believe there is any camera capture between Monarch Pass and Salida - a big area. @Dave F. will know - I believe he's the one who has mentioned it in earlier threads.

We have no word directly from LE about any cooler - that's AM's statement.

I find AM very credible - more now after his latest appearance on PE. Was always credible, but is ticking all my boxes, linguistically, for "truthful person."

Cannot imagine AM's anguish.

As well as having to maintain a civilized demeanor around BM.
Reminds me of Laura Wallen's parents at the LE presser.

 

[Moonchime]

What do you press once you press the dots, to get the transcript?

You choose the middle option "Open Transcript".

 

[Boxer]

Great post!

Also, I would add that LE has never issued a warning to the public for a possible abduction.

We have NO clue what LE’s reasons are for not giving a timeline, warning, BOLO, etc... but I guarantee they know the reasons, and I would venture to guess it’s because SM never left that house alive.

Jmo.

If she was seen on Sunday there would have been a BOLO.