Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee Co, 10 May 2020 #100 *Case dismissed w/o Prejudice*

[mrjitty]

Can you imagine if Suzanne’s body is actually found? Will Barry and his girls actually have a press conference saying how happy they are that she can receive a decent burial and Rest In Peace? Will they ask DA Stanley to find the murderer?
I mean, they all act as if she went on a vacation and is returning soon. How will Mallory and Macy react a body being found? Did a mountain lion hide it intact? Did an abductor bother to dig a grave?

It's hard to pretend that someone else really did it.

I followed a case where the wrong man really was convicted on DNA evidence, then freed many years later after scientists and lawyers doggedly fought the appeals system. It looks nothing like this case.

 

[Cindizzi]

Remind me did LE recover the swimsuit she was wearing that day? I can't recall the details.

At the Preliminary hearing they said her swimsuit was found in her closet, but the brown towel in her last photo has never been found.

 

[al66pine]

BM & Defense Counsel, After Dismissal W'out Prejudice?

Looked to me like he kissed her. MOO

@WingsOverTX bbm Thx for noticing.

Could have been creepier if BM told IE: You're my Suzanne.
Or was that: To me, you're Suzanne.

 

[jakat]

I feel so much better seeing how pissed Iris was.

Her funds from Suzanne were cut off six weeks early.

 

[Kingsley]

Apologies if this line of thinking has already been posted. LE thinks they are close to finding the body but it’s buried under 5ft of snow.

So a potential body is under 5ft of snow on April 19, 2022.

SM was murdered May 12th (or 11th) 2020.

So wouldn’t it stand to reason that in May 2020 this same location would be under a substantial amount of snow?

FWIW, there has apparently been significantly LESS snow this year compared to two years ago. Please see "Past Snowfall" about a third of the way down. It also has colored blocks for when it snowed. It does appear that there wasn't snow early May 2020. Again, fwiw.
Snow forecast for Salida, CO (howmuchwillitsnow.com)

 

[Cindizzi]

Apologies if this line of thinking has already been posted. LE thinks they are close to finding the body but it’s buried under 5ft of snow.

So a potential body is under 5ft of snow on April 19, 2022.

SM was murdered May 12th (or 11th) 2020.

So wouldn’t it stand to reason that in May 2020 this same location would be under a substantial amount of snow?

Snowfall amounts can vary quite a bit from year to year.
For this year, 2022 from January through March 7 the Denver region received the most snow it’s seen since 1959

How much snow has Denver gotten this winter? | 9news.com

 

[Megnut]

A Busy B was very busy overnight on 5/9-10.

Maybe the Bee had to schlep many loads up the mountain.

Maybe the Bee had to spend hours making an old, abandoned mine look old, abandoned and undisturbed.

Foot tracks, bobcat tracks, how would you ensure erasure?

Bag o' feedcorn.

Within about 6 hours, a mountain-ful of winter-hungry deer would hoofstep that into oblivion.

Weather being what is, that mine might not be accessible until 5/9/2022.

Waiting on the spring melt.

Perhaps the mountains are preparing to divulge their secrets.

Mother's Day 2022 might be the day Suzanne is brought home...

For a proper burial this time.

JMO

 

[Cindizzi]

https://twitter.com/ricksallinger/status/1516484892141494276?s=21&t=nVx8oGcdmXMlzB3GVXxelw

Andrew Moorman, Brother of Suzanne Morphew, on dropping of murder charges against her husband Barry: I'm ok with what happened today. I’m all about finding Suzanne. I just want closure for my family.”

 

[Cindizzi]

https://twitter.com/laurenscharftv/status/1516487754963640337?s=21&t=nVx8oGcdmXMlzB3GVXxelw

#SuzanneMorphew sister tells me she remains hopeful. The murder case against #BarryMorphew has been dismissed without prejudice by the prosecution to allow more time to search for her body. Hear from his attorney tonight at 5 & 6:30 p.m. on @FOX21News

 

[SandyQLS]

@CarolAMcKinley

BREAKING:After months of uncertainty, unexplained DNA, the dismissal of most of 16 expert witness, two judges, and a change of venue, prosecutors have filed a motion to dismiss the high profile case Tuesday morning just 15 minutes before the motion started.The judge is reviewing.

8:13 AM · Apr 19, 2022

I just saw the article in DM! Wow. What a rollercoaster case.

 

[jakat]

Shocking! Lol

https://twitter.com/heekejack/status/1516464486428856324?s=21&t=nVx8oGcdmXMlzB3GVXxelw


Barry is not planning on talking today.

100%

 

[abams]

Dismissal - of course. The DA’s case was weak and they repeatedly blew deadlines and withheld information. They shot themselves in the foot.

Unless they come up with brand new evidence that can prove beyond a reasonable doubt Barry did it, they can’t refile. Considering this office’s poor performance, I’m not holding my breath on new admissible evidence coming to light.

That’s it.

Totally agree. Regardless of the "we're close to finding a body, we promise" narrative, it's never a good thing to walk into a pre-trial readiness conference and ask for a dismissal. Face-saving. (And possibly lowering risk of liability, but that's another can of worms.)

 

[CGray123]

CCSO has issued a statement
Case update- Morphew Trial - Chaffee County Sheriff

SALIDA, COLO – On Tuesday, April 19th, Linda Stanley, District Attorney for the 11th Judicial District, filed a motion to dismiss the pending charges against Barry Lee Morphew, including the First Degree Murder of Suzanne Morphew. The motion is a request to dismiss all charges without prejudice, which allows for the opportunity to refile charges against Mr. Morphew in the future. On the District Attorney’s motion, Fremont County District Judge Ramsey Lama dismissed the current case without prejudice. The Morphew trial will not proceed as scheduled for April 28, 2022, but future prosecution may be pursued pending further investigation.

The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office acknowledges the decision of Judge Lama to dismiss the pending charges in the Morphew case. Sheriff John Spezze responded, “As an on-going, active investigation, we will not share additional information at this time. The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office maintains its commitment to this case and will continue to work tirelessly to find the body of Suzanne Morphew. While we are disappointed in the delay of the proceedings, we remain unwavering in our commitment to this investigation and the ultimate prosecution of Mr. Morphew. I stand behind the strong work of the investigators within the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and the many law enforcement agencies involved and the strong case we have built. Above all else, we remain dedicated to seeking justice for Suzanne and her family.”

The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office will not address questions or issue additional comment on the Morphew case dismissal at this time. The Sheriff’s Office will issue updates as relevant.

This was the optimal outcome for the prosecution, the only move they had left. The fact that Judge L excluded the forensic experts left them without the truck data, and without the DNA data. They could not count on Judge L to reconsider, so they asked for dismissal without prejudice. Thank heavens Judge L agreed, without hearing from the defense.

What will be interesting to observe next is whether BM files his civil suit and submits to discovery, including depositions, document production (not all communication with attorneys is privileged). Also, the daughters will feature prominently among the witnesses called for deposition and asked for cell phone data. We may have some of our questions answered if the case is actually filed and defended.

IMO, current public declarations of his innocence notwithstanding, I do not believe he will file the civil suit. E&N will doubtless seek to negotiate, but 11th JD defendants should not settle the claim. There's a great advantage to litigating it.

With the mountain of evidence that BM killed his wife admissible in the civil suit, I wonder if any jury, anywhere, could stomach awarding him damages, regardless of the claim. And I'd like to hear BM repeatedly responding to deposition questions, "I refuse to answer because it may tend to incriminate me..."

 

[LandManatee]

IMO it was human intel that led them to the area they will be searching for SM’s remains.

There has been plenty of chatter on other social outlets that have alluded to a possible witness account of BM during a time that would have placed him where he shouldn’t have been. I wonder if the location of the area for her remains stems from that ”informant”.

Are there any Salida locals that can report on the police activity in the area of interest (if it is known)? I wonder if it is taped off this morning and will remain so until it is accessible? Is it being monitored 24/7 by LE to ensure it isn’t being tampered with, especially now that BM is a free man? If I was an investigative reporter, I would be camped out nearby to get the latest developments in the discovery of SM’s remains. Fingers crossed.

It is also going to be interesting to see how the next few days play out with BM’s movements. I hope eyes are on him.

MOO

 

[OldCop]

The DA can only work with evidence from LE. Watts had a confession. I didn't follow the Stauch case. In this case we have a seasoned FBI investigator with over 30 hours seemingly "friendly" conversations with Barry Morphew. He was never pressed. He was never interrogated. Some posters believe that was a good strategy. I don't. After Barry stated he was with his wife all night Sat., then he woke up and got Ready for a made up Broomfield fake alibi for the wrong day, then goes to Broomfield and doesn't work on the job his "steak" should have been cooked with a proper interrogation.

He can dig a hole for himself, as deep as the one he buried his wife in, by running his mouth full of lies and contradictions during a series of friendly conversations with an exceedingly talented investigator. Sometimes, when someone is pressed, they just clam up and that’s the end of it.

 

[Cindizzi]

Yikes! IE going after reporter LS

https://youtu.be/7BJaamhfSsw

 

[KBlackRabbit]

Totally agree. Regardless of the "we're close to finding a body, we promise" narrative, it's never a good thing to walk into a pre-trial readiness conference and ask for a dismissal. Face-saving. (And possibly lowering risk of liability, but that's another can of worms.)

Yup. “We’re close to finding the body!” = Empty bluster. They got nuthin.’

Even if they did find the body they’d have to have enough evidence to prove BARD that he did it. I think he’s guilty, but what we know and what the state can prove to the appropriate legal standard are two different things.

 

[OldCop]

I have never known a case with so many twists and turns. My spirits drop and then I read they could be close to finding Suzanne's body and hope returns.

Think the wine might be opened early tonight.

Forget the wine. I’m getting into the hard stuff.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Yikes! IE going after reporter LS
https://youtu.be/7BJaamhfSsw

Yeah, catty accusation against Lauren. Way to keep it classy, IE.

 

[steeltowngirl]

Does Barry’s ankle bracelet now come off? Is he free to roam the country / world?