Found Deceased CO - BARRY ARRESTED AGAIN - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee Co, 10 May 2020 *Case dismissed w/o prejudice* *found in 2023* #117

[Mysti88c]

A Chaffee County woman missing after a neighbor said she went out for a bike ride and never returned
Chaffee County woman missing since Sunday after neighbor said she went out for bike ride

List of Case Players and Their Relationship to Discussion (Post #440)

Link to 2025 Grand Jury Indictment

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MEDIA, MAPS & TIMELINE *NO DISCUSSION*
MEDIA, MAPS & TIMELINE *NO DISCUSSION* #2

Detailed timeline of events in the Morphew case:
CO - CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 , MEDIA, MAPS &TIMELINE *NO DISCUSSION*

Arrest Affidavit
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Suzanne Morphew Case Archive (developed and maintained by WS member AmandaReckonwith)
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Hearing Notes (Compliments of @NoSI)
Preliminary:
Day 1


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Suzanne Morphew FB page
Suzanne Morphew Twitter page


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[thinker47]

I've just remembered.... the DNA found in the glove box and elsewhere in SM's car. I know they tied it in with unidentified DNA found at other crime scenes. Does anyone know if any definitive identification ever came of this and could it still be a loophole through which BM and his lawyers might conceivably try to climb?

 

[Nikynoo]

No, it's TAZER! TAZER! TAZER! BAM! in the US if you resist arrest. If BM resisted I hope there is body cam footage and a tazer is involved!

LE statement was that the arrest was made without incident.

 

[Momofthreeboys]

How do they know that he was the only person who had BAM?

they know who had legal prescriptions I presume.

 

[ChuckMaureen]

Interesting excerpts from the 2021 case file, Page 82:

2021 Case File

FBI Agents interviewing BM on March 10, 2021 (Part 2):

Barry met with SA Grusing and SA Harris at Fire Station 4, 2-150 La Plata Street, Poncha Springs, Colorado. Once seated, Barry asked about his scopes. SA Grusing replied that the scopes could be removed from the rifles, but if the Agents can clear Barry, he could get everything back. Barry agreed to wait and said if he was guilty, he would not be talking to Agents, adding, "Because I'm not stupid."

He said he has answered every question and wants it to be over. He commented that Agents sitting at his workplace makes him uncomfortable. SA Grusing said Barry does not return texts or calls, so Agents wait until he appears ready because he appears too nervous to talk. Barry said, "I think we've gotten through that," adding that he lost trust when "Joe and Derek turned on me."

Barry stated that Suzanne told Sheila about things that "has pitted Sheila against me." He said he thought Sheila would counsel her that "marriage is for life." Barry said he told Suzanne when they got married it was for life, specifically saying to her, "I'm a godly man. And you better make sure that you want me, because it's for life."

BANG BANG BANG .. that's a nail-in-the-coffin attitude, admitting his mindset regarding marriage and "it's for life". The only way BM would accept the end of a marriage is when a life ends.

Barry said, "I don't understand, I mean, she's (Suzanne's) a good woman. You guys probably think she's a piece of crap."

That's an odd comment, but reveals BM's mindset: he believes SM has done things that would make people believe "she's a piece of ....". Of course, HE doesn't think that.

SA Grusing said Agents do not think that and Barry said, "She's as good as they come. I don't understand what got her to this point."

BM knew Sheila provided FBI with text messaging between herself and SM. BM stated, "Suzanne told Sheila about things that has pitted Sheila against me."

Not that, "Suzanne pitted Sheila against me", but, "told Sheila about things". It's knowing about the "things" is what made Sheila be "against" BM. He's acknowledging the severity of the "things".

BM then claimed he expected Sheila to "counsel" SM that "marriage is for life", but again, that only emphasizes his attitude. BANG BANG, more nails in the coffin .. "for life".

"Because I'm not stupid." uh-huh

(From Pages 10 & 11 of the 2021 Case file)

Sheila provided texts with Suzanne, with the following:

March 25. 2020

Suzanne:
Tsking (sic) care of myself physically in a stressful marriage. Macy and I had a very tough talk yesterday ... She's weary of the tension here. She knows how he is toward me and almost begged me to divorce him.
Sheila:
What does he want? Have you talked anymore about splitting?

Suzanne: He threatens but I've never come out and said I wanted it today. He thinks I'm holding on ti! after Mace graduates at lesst (sic). He prob thinks I'm not strong enough to do it. Given finances.

Suzanne:
She (Macy) even mentioned a restraining order. I'm sick I had a conversations like that with my 16yr old.

Sheila: He's nuts

Suzanne: It's Jekyl and Hyde again ... Pretty much told him I can't be healthy and stay in this.

Sheila: What did he say?

Suzanne: He threatens to come home and pack. Ugh.

Suzanne: He won't speak of divorce.* Begging for another chance. I'm so torn. But I'm my heart I know who he is.

(* FBI Agents informed Barry of this message on 03/25/2020 that Suzanne discussed divorce with him. Barry stated he did not recall that discussion.)

His wife discusses *divorce* with BM and he claims to not recall that, noting that his attitude is, "marriage is for life"?

Also, the Morphew's youngest daughter (Macy) was made aware of the seriousness of the issues regarding her parent's marriage and her mother's concerns (assumed: for her safety): "She (Macy) even mentioned a restraining order."

Did the older daughter know what was going on? Is it reasonable to assume she did?

The younger daughter knew enough to mention, "restraining order", but maybe couldn't go so far as to believe her father would murder her mother? Same with the older daughter, given how they 'supported' him in the aftermath.

Barry said he did not want to fight with Suzanne because of her cancer. He added, "The next night it would be like nothing ever happened. And she'd be wonderful, she'd make love."

It appears he's admitting to a pattern of behavior: some nights: no fight, a next night: fight, and does the "she'd make love" comment indicate the fights were over sex/no sex?

SM had been enduring cancer treatments, and add to that the stress and other significant issues, that it's no stretch to conclude that mixture would lend anyone at times to not wanting to be intimate with their partner. Narcissists cannot easily handle rejection. They want what they want, when they want it. And, "marriage is for life."

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG .. coffin lid now tight.

This second go around at an indictment will be the last. It's only a matter of time. But if BM's counsel is intelligent and honest, he'll hope for a plea deal for his client, and since BM claimed he isn't "stupid", he should realize his situation and that it would be in his best interest to accept a plea.

Narcissists are stubborn, cannot admit their failures, and certainly cannot handle being held to account.

Therefore, the elephant in the room: CO does not have the death penalty, but a first-degree murder conviction is life imprisonment.

Can BM accept and deal with that? Given his appearance in his most-recent mugshot: NOPE.

 

[Megnut]

IMO for his own reasons, BM did what he did because he's done it hundreds of times.

In the western states, it's not uncommon to see people decorate.their homes and yards with animal carcasses. Whole elk skulls, for instance. Shiny white. How'd they get like that? Processes.

This case reads like a tale of intrique with BAM in bone marrow and bleached bones, but this is BM's trade. In this way, it makes perfect sense. He utilized what he had, did what he knew how to do, and seriously overthought it, without thinking straight.

How many times had he tranquilized prey? Why he did it with his wife, I just can't fathom. He didn't need to. Maybe he thought it stepped him one away from actual murder somehow, maybe he thought he could tranq her from a distance and she'd never know what hit her and somehow he'd be righter with God? I don't know. Looking at everything we know to this point, it was just such an unnecessary step in achieving her death, maybe he did it because he wanted to. A gross display of dominance. He wanted to and he could.

And then she was just dead to him. A body like everything else he'd ever killed. Reduce it to bones. He knows how. Result? No skin, no hair, little tissue, bleached bones.

Done it a hundred times.

JMO

 

[Seattle1]

Grand Jury Indictments in Colorado are rare. Arrests and Charges are typically by Information & Complaint so prosecuting this case starts with a learning curve! My understanding is the Indictment replaced BM's probable cause hearing and he's therefore not entitled to a preliminary hearing. We did learn from the presser that Ann Kelly has Appellate guidance on standby for this case so I guess we should be prepared for anything. IMO, BM would much rather have been charged by Information & Complaint and not a secret Grand Jury. ​

Understanding The Right to a Colorado Preliminary Hearing

Understanding The Right to a Colorado Preliminary Hearing Preliminary Hearing Process ColoradoIntroduction - Preliminary hearings are a critical stage in Colorado felony cases. They provide [...]

www.denver-colorado-criminal-lawyer.com

​

Understanding The Right to a Colorado Preliminary Hearing​

Preliminary Hearing Process Colorado Introduction – Preliminary hearings are a critical stage in Colorado felony cases. They provide the criminal defense lawyer with an opportunity to exercise some of the only leverage the Defendant has during the prosecution of a case.

They serve the function of compelling the parties to closely examine the strength of the evidence and then either to start the plea bargaining process or to “try” the prelim. This Article examines all sides of the preliminary hearing in Colorado.

Colorado Preliminary Hearing Law, Analysis and Tactics -Preliminary Hearing Process Colorado​

Shortly after the initial appearance in certain serious Colorado felony matters, a defendant is entitled to a preliminary hearing or examination at which the prosecution must introduce sufficient evidence to justify holding the case for court (also known as “bind over”)

The defendant has a Sixth Amendment right to the assistance of counsel at this preliminary hearing.​

While a preliminary hearing is not constitutionally required, the Fourth Amendment does entitle the defendant to some judicial review of probable cause.

This hearing is different from the review for probable cause for a warrantless arrest which must occur if detained beyond 48 hours. [County of Riverside v. McLaughlin, 500 U.S. 44, 56-57 (1991) (an arrested person must receive a probable cause determination within 48 hours unless the prosecution establishes a “bona fide emergency or other extraordinary circumstance”).]

There is a statutory right to cross-examine the prosecution’s witnesses at the preliminary hearing.

Preemption by Grand Jury Indictment​

If the defendant is indicted by a Colorado statewide grand jury, a prosecutor is not required to conduct a preliminary hearing.

 

[ChuckMaureen]

IMO for his own reasons, BM did what he did because he's done it hundreds of times.

In the western states, it's not uncommon to see people decorate.their homes and yards with animal carcasses. Whole elk skulls, for instance. Shiny white. How'd they get like that? Processes.

This case reads like a tale of intrique with BAM in bone marrow and bleached bones, but this is BM's trade. In this way, it makes perfect sense. He utilized what he had, did what he knew how to do, and seriously overthought it, without thinking straight.

How many times had he tranquilized prey? Why he did it with his wife, I just can't fathom. He didn't need to. Maybe he thought it stepped him one away from actual murder somehow, maybe he thought he could tranq her from a distance and she'd never know what hit her and somehow he'd be righter with God? I don't know. Looking at everything we know to this point, it was just such an unnecessary step in achieving her death, maybe he did it because he wanted to. A gross display of dominance. He wanted to and he could.

And then she was just dead to him. A body like everything else he'd ever killed. Reduce it to bones. He knows how. Result? No skin, no hair, little tissue, bleached bones.

Done it a hundred times.

JMO

bbm
It is possible he did it to have his way with her. Maybe she refused his advance that afternoon, which led to accumulated rage after having been denied 'too many' times previous. Narcissists want what they want, when they want it. To them, a ring-on-a-finger is a property marker. "No? <BAM!> Now, it's YES, and I dont need your approval!"

Did BM intend for it to end up the way it did? Murder? If the above speculative scenario were accurate, BM would have had little choice than to 'end' the marriage, and on his terms, not hers .. and his adamant belief, "marriage is for life", signed that deal.

 

[girlhasnoname]

bbm
It is possible he did it to have his way with her. Maybe she refused his advance that afternoon, which led to accumulated rage after having been denied 'too many' times previous. Narcissists want what they want, when they want it. To them, a ring-on-a-finger is a property marker. "No? <BAM!> Now, it's YES, and I dont need your approval!"

Did BM intend for it to end up the way it did? Murder? If the above speculative scenario were accurate, BM would have had little choice than to 'end' the marriage, and on his terms, not hers .. and his adamant belief, "marriage is for life", signed that deal.

That scenario is Rape. I fully believe BM intended to kill Suzanne because he could not/would not go through the publicity of the dreaded D-I-V-O-R-C-E. This was the first time Suzanne had actually put her foot down and spelled it out in a text. "I'm Done, you can do whatever you have done for years. Let's just try and be civil to each other".

No, nope, nopers...the pious, hypocritical, egotistical, small, little man BM wasn't going to stand for that and his interpretation of the Bible says it's okay. He unalived her civilly in his mind I bet.

JMO

 

[Megnut]

bbm
It is possible he did it to have his way with her. Maybe she refused his advance that afternoon, which led to accumulated rage after having been denied 'too many' times previous. Narcissists want what they want, when they want it. To them, a ring-on-a-finger is a property marker. "No? <BAM!> Now, it's YES, and I dont need your approval!"

Did BM intend for it to end up the way it did? Murder? If the above speculative scenario were accurate, BM would have had little choice than to 'end' the marriage, and on his terms, not hers .. and his adamant belief, "marriage is for life", signed that deal.

O.M.G.

I did say, maybe he did it that way because he wanted to. Dominance.

What you say makes perfect sense.

She was done with him, but he wasn't done with her.

A way to roofie her, in effect. Take back what was rightfully his. Dominate her over JL. THAT'S where the RAGE came from. (I think he witnessed/heard her/them on his trail cams/mini spy cam that morning and he was irate. Suzanne WAS HIS.)

It also accounts for the gouges.

And ended in DHV.

JMO

 

[Skigh]

.

O.M.G.

I did say, maybe he did it that way because he wanted to. Dominance.

What you say makes perfect sense.

She was done with him, but he wasn't done with her.

A way to roofie her, in effect. Take back what was rightfully his. Dominate her over JL. THAT'S where the RAGE came from. (I think he witnessed/heard her/them on his trail cams/mini spy cam that morning and he was irate. Suzanne WAS HIS.)

It also accounts for the gouges.

And ended in DHV.

JMO

I too think he saw her on his trail /spy cams and that fuelled his rage. I think it is highly likely he raped her.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

.

I too think he saw her on his trail /spy cams and that fuelled his rage. I think it is highly likely he raped her.

Unfortunately so do I. Because he made a point about their “romantic” night leading up to it

 

[Tricia]

Please continue here

 

[Tragg]

Legally, this could be a fascinating case with rare and even unique issues. It is rare to have a defendant who was previously charged, with issues as extensively litigated as Morphew's prior case. Add the civil complaint with its many accusations, and the procedural complexity of challenging a grand jury indictment, and you'll have the makings of a legal donnybrook. Eytan may be out of the picture as defense counsel, but David Beller is more than capable of exploiting every legal angle for Morphew's benefit.

I believe Kelly's decision to have appellate counsel on the case from the beginning will be of critical importance, as there will be many appealable issues.

The first question is, will Morphew exercise his right to inquire as to how the grand jury reached its decision? Second, will there be a "proof evident/presumption great" hearing? What will be Kelly's strategic decisions at the beginning?

As grateful as I am to see the case filed, I will keep my expectations modest. This case will not be a walkover.

All that said, Morphew is not facing the fiasco of a district prosecutor's office led by an attorney with no felony trial experience: Kelly and Johnson are definitely up to this task.

 

[Florida_marlin]

I've just remembered.... the DNA found in the glove box and elsewhere in SM's car. I know they tied it in with unidentified DNA found at other crime scenes. Does anyone know if any definitive identification ever came of this and could it still be a loophole through which BM and his lawyers might conceivably try to climb?

I you open the affidavit from thus latest arrest you see this is addressed in the text. They addressed this proactively in the doc. Cheers!

 

[thinker47]

I you open the affidavit from thus latest arrest you see this is addressed in the text. They addressed this proactively in the doc. Cheers!

Thanks Florida_marlin.... will go for a trawl

 

[New Penny]

LE statement was that the arrest was made without incident.

I’m so disappointed! I was REALLY hoping for footage of a K9 Officer takedown!

MOO

 

[Auntie Cipation]

@Soulmagent , bringing over your question from the closed thread, the ME said "homicide by unspecified means in the setting of BAM" (only using the actual chemical names for BAM). And left open the possibility of adding more information later if it becomes known.

 

[Knox]

This story previously aired on April 30, 2022. It was updated on July 1, 2023.]

This past week, a prosecutor working on the case of Suzanne Morphew, a missing mother of two, said in open court that investigators suspect they know the location of her body. "She is in a very difficult spot," said Deputy District Attorney Mark Hurlbert. "We actually have more than just a feeling … and the sheriff's office is continuing to look for Mrs. Morphew's body."

It was a major update in the Morphew case which began on Mother's Day 2020, when she disappeared from her Colorado home. Hurlbert said there was no timetable for bringing a murder case to trial. "That could be a long time. It could be quick, it could be long. It depends on a lot of our investigation," he said.

Authorities hint they know location of Suzanne Morphew's body: "She is in a very difficult spot," says prosecutor

With no shortage of bizarre clues, "nothing is what it seems" in the investigation into Suzanne Morphew's untimely disappearance.

www.cbsnews.com

Bringing this forward for discussion, as I feel it could be relevant to when and why he moved Suzanne’s body. LE had some sort of basis for this suspicion?

 

[Love Never Fails]

Interesting excerpts from the 2021 case file, Page 82:

2021 Case File

FBI Agents interviewing BM on March 10, 2021 (Part 2):







BANG BANG BANG .. that's a nail-in-the-coffin attitude, admitting his mindset regarding marriage and "it's for life". The only way BM would accept the end of a marriage is when a life ends.



That's an odd comment, but reveals BM's mindset: he believes SM has done things that would make people believe "she's a piece of ....". Of course, HE doesn't think that.



BM knew Sheila provided FBI with text messaging between herself and SM. BM stated, "Suzanne told Sheila about things that has pitted Sheila against me."

Not that, "Suzanne pitted Sheila against me", but, "told Sheila about things". It's knowing about the "things" is what made Sheila be "against" BM. He's acknowledging the severity of the "things".

BM then claimed he expected Sheila to "counsel" SM that "marriage is for life", but again, that only emphasizes his attitude. BANG BANG, more nails in the coffin .. "for life".

"Because I'm not stupid." uh-huh



His wife discusses *divorce* with BM and he claims to not recall that, noting that his attitude is, "marriage is for life"?

Also, the Morphew's youngest daughter (Macy) was made aware of the seriousness of the issues regarding her parent's marriage and her mother's concerns (assumed: for her safety): "She (Macy) even mentioned a restraining order."

Did the older daughter know what was going on? Is it reasonable to assume she did?

The younger daughter knew enough to mention, "restraining order", but maybe couldn't go so far as to believe her father would murder her mother? Same with the older daughter, given how they 'supported' him in the aftermath.



It appears he's admitting to a pattern of behavior: some nights: no fight, a next night: fight, and does the "she'd make love" comment indicate the fights were over sex/no sex?

SM had been enduring cancer treatments, and add to that the stress and other significant issues, that it's no stretch to conclude that mixture would lend anyone at times to not wanting to be intimate with their partner. Narcissists cannot easily handle rejection. They want what they want, when they want it. And, "marriage is for life."

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG .. coffin lid now tight.

This second go around at an indictment will be the last. It's only a matter of time. But if BM's counsel is intelligent and honest, he'll hope for a plea deal for his client, and since BM claimed he isn't "stupid", he should realize his situation and that it would be in his best interest to accept a plea.

Narcissists are stubborn, cannot admit their failures, and certainly cannot handle being held to account.

Therefore, the elephant in the room: CO does not have the death penalty, but a first-degree murder conviction is life imprisonment.

Can BM accept and deal with that? Given his appearance in his most-recent mugshot: NOPE.

It’s only my opinion, but having dealt with a narcicisst, I do not believe Barry will ever admit the truth. He can’t. A narcicisst always justifies what they do. They are always right. Everyone else is wrong. He will spend his last penny, that of his mother, sister, daughters and friends to fight this and he will believe he can win.