Still Missing CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee Co, 10 May 2020 *arrest* #83

[TIGER0822]

I think Suzanne couldn't help but to be caring, considerate... an intermediary.... and she had been planning to carry on until the reported timeline but IMO something happened on May 5th or there's abouts.... wish Barry would join us here and enlighten us. Was it the zipper? Was it the doorframe? What pushed Suzanne to "I'm done"?

I think the Gulch house was for Barry. See, you still get nice things. Maybe she'd rent a nice townhouse....

I think Friday went better than she thought it would, Barry must have been pretending to be civil, so much so that she felt she could mention future real estate. Which tells me that SHE was developing a short term solution that would happen over some weeks/months (get money from Indiana, sell PP, Barry buys a million dollar house, Suzanne gets her inheritance+. Workable, reasonable, fair. Civil.) (And she'd move again in a year.)

He must've sounded VERY conciliatory...on Friday...afternoon.

Timeline had to be closing in. If he could have waited just a few weeks, they could have closed in Indiana with real signatures but maybe he thought that was worse...

I think something very bad happened Thursday night. A serious deal breaker .... hence the Friday text to her sister, hence the long visit next door, hence the text to Barry.

Barry's attorneys say the ground was still frozen. That has to be coming from Barry. So I have to put that through my reverse salad spinner.

Friday Barry did everything he could IMO to first, try to get Suzanne to "come to her senses" and when that didn't work, appeal to her heart (forgiveness, pity, anything) so, while Suzanne thought he agreed, he was likely planning her demise. Friday night. At the beach site. Swapping blades, swapping sims, borrowing machinery to dig a hole. He may have swapped multiple blades....

By Saturday, he needed nothing but a shovel, or two, a vehicle, maybe a cooler, maybe a Bobcat to lift a heavy cooler onto a tailgate....

When Barry backed up his truck, IMO, that was to free up a garage door AND unload a trailer and detrailer CatBob.

He needed it for just one last thing, loading a RR.

Alternately, if he didn't use a RR, he used his own truck first thing Sunday morning, those missing 18 miles (IMO NOTHING to do with a spa run ever, especially because Barry said so). (I think those 18 miles might be the first miles driven after a reset, just like how if your gas cap light goes on, it doesn't go off for two ignition cycles.

So what's 9 miles left of PP? A mine with a hole ... and eventually a boulder....but that's my guess.

JMO

Great post!

 

[Megnut]

Didn't CW bemoan his hands that he was unable to stop... and feels bad that this thing had to happen for him to find God in prison? It's the same perverse song-- "I wouldn't'a if you hadn't'a, but you did so I had to. I forgive you for making me." Zero remorse. Add in the gross misappropriation of religion and you get a lot of what we got here.

It's cringeworthy but if Suzanne had just remembered her place. I'm sorry -- but that's a steak she was done with. Imagine decades of AAspeak. Never wrong. Always a nearby animal to blame. So much bluster. IME you can never advance a conversation with someone like that.

Handing the Internets to the OP above who said Barry had his steak and ate it too.

I hope some way some how, Suzanne gets the last word.

JMO

 

[Topppps]

He could fire them and ask for the rest of his retainer back. He's a cheapskate, by his own admission. He could find a lawyer to do his bidding for far less money if he decides (stupidly) to do that.



Murder Two, Second degree is 8-48 in CO. It would be extraordinarily uncommon for a judge to give the minimum (if he expects to retain his post). Middle of the road all the way for Judge Murphy, in my view. Plus there are some other charges. Having all the charges run concurrently would be something I could see Murphy doing - but I still think there will be a public outcry. Still, I could see it happening.

I think 20 years would be the minimum for that. I don't think Barry can claim that he didn't know his actions would kill someone and had no idea that his. hands went and got a weapon or got around Suzanne's throat (Murder Two, Third Degree in CO).

Harder to explain is what happened to the body. If the jury says Barry did it, he also concealed/destroyed her body. Also, murdering one's intimate part is in fact DV.

Disabling the game cameras seems pretty deliberate, don't you think?

Yeah if you could prove Barry disabled the game cameras. As far as how much time he gets I wouldn't feel too comfortable with anything less than life without parole considering how generous parole seems to be in the country. Look at the bond, half of 10m is not $500k that's not in the middle.

 

[Topppps]

I think Suzanne couldn't help but to be caring, considerate... an intermediary.... and she had been planning to carry on until the reported timeline but IMO something happened on May 5th or there's abouts.... wish Barry would join us here and enlighten us. Was it the zipper? Was it the doorframe? What pushed Suzanne to "I'm done"?

I think the Gulch house was for Barry. See, you still get nice things. Maybe she'd rent a nice townhouse....

I think Friday went better than she thought it would, Barry must have been pretending to be civil, so much so that she felt she could mention future real estate. Which tells me that SHE was developing a short term solution that would happen over some weeks/months (get money from Indiana, sell PP, Barry buys a million dollar house, Suzanne gets her inheritance+. Workable, reasonable, fair. Civil.) (And she'd move again in a year.)

He must've sounded VERY conciliatory...on Friday...afternoon.

Timeline had to be closing in. If he could have waited just a few weeks, they could have closed in Indiana with real signatures but maybe he thought that was worse...

I think something very bad happened Thursday night. A serious deal breaker .... hence the Friday text to her sister, hence the long visit next door, hence the text to Barry.

Barry's attorneys say the ground was still frozen. That has to be coming from Barry. So I have to put that through my reverse salad spinner.

Friday Barry did everything he could IMO to first, try to get Suzanne to "come to her senses" and when that didn't work, appeal to her heart (forgiveness, pity, anything) so, while Suzanne thought he agreed, he was likely planning her demise. Friday night. At the beach site. Swapping blades, swapping sims, borrowing machinery to dig a hole. He may have swapped multiple blades....

By Saturday, he needed nothing but a shovel, or two, a vehicle, maybe a cooler, maybe a Bobcat to lift a heavy cooler onto a tailgate....

When Barry backed up his truck, IMO, that was to free up a garage door AND unload a trailer and detrailer CatBob.

He needed it for just one last thing, loading a RR.

Alternately, if he didn't use a RR, he used his own truck first thing Sunday morning, those missing 18 miles (IMO NOTHING to do with a spa run ever, especially because Barry said so). (I think those 18 miles might be the first miles driven after a reset, just like how if your gas cap light goes on, it doesn't go off for two ignition cycles.

So what's 9 miles left of PP? A mine with a hole ... and eventually a boulder....but that's my guess.

JMO

Where do you guys get this stuff it's like you know them personally, it didn't look like she was acting kind it says in the AA she set a date to deliberately antagonize Barry, that isn't carrying on being nice considerate etc.

 

[Seattle1]

All that stuff isn't needed for first degree murder as we saw in the Donthe Lucas case. What they need is to show it was premeditated. Which as the judge says they havent done, so yeah they need to add second degree or get premeditation evidence.

^^bbm
Please provide the link where Judge says they did not show premeditation. Especially since Judge Murphy bound the case over for Murder 1 with deliberation.

 

[TIGER0822]

I think Suzanne couldn't help but to be caring, considerate... an intermediary.... and she had been planning to carry on until the reported timeline but IMO something happened on May 5th or there's abouts.... wish Barry would join us here and enlighten us. Was it the zipper? Was it the doorframe? What pushed Suzanne to "I'm done"?

I think the Gulch house was for Barry. See, you still get nice things. Maybe she'd rent a nice townhouse....

I think Friday went better than she thought it would, Barry must have been pretending to be civil, so much so that she felt she could mention future real estate. Which tells me that SHE was developing a short term solution that would happen over some weeks/months (get money from Indiana, sell PP, Barry buys a million dollar house, Suzanne gets her inheritance+. Workable, reasonable, fair. Civil.) (And she'd move again in a year.)

He must've sounded VERY conciliatory...on Friday...afternoon.

Timeline had to be closing in. If he could have waited just a few weeks, they could have closed in Indiana with real signatures but maybe he thought that was worse...

I think something very bad happened Thursday night. A serious deal breaker .... hence the Friday text to her sister, hence the long visit next door, hence the text to Barry.

Barry's attorneys say the ground was still frozen. That has to be coming from Barry. So I have to put that through my reverse salad spinner.

Friday Barry did everything he could IMO to first, try to get Suzanne to "come to her senses" and when that didn't work, appeal to her heart (forgiveness, pity, anything) so, while Suzanne thought he agreed, he was likely planning her demise. Friday night. At the beach site. Swapping blades, swapping sims, borrowing machinery to dig a hole. He may have swapped multiple blades....

By Saturday, he needed nothing but a shovel, or two, a vehicle, maybe a cooler, maybe a Bobcat to lift a heavy cooler onto a tailgate....

When Barry backed up his truck, IMO, that was to free up a garage door AND unload a trailer and detrailer CatBob.

He needed it for just one last thing, loading a RR.

Alternately, if he didn't use a RR, he used his own truck first thing Sunday morning, those missing 18 miles (IMO NOTHING to do with a spa run ever, especially because Barry said so). (I think those 18 miles might be the first miles driven after a reset, just like how if your gas cap light goes on, it doesn't go off for two ignition cycles.

So what's 9 miles left of PP? A mine with a hole ... and eventually a boulder....but that's my guess.

JMO

Great post!

 

[TIGER0822]

King Gulch Home Sq. Footage?
sbm
sbm
Per Coldwell Banker listing:* 4464 sf. 3/3 is on main level. "Additional 2160 square feet on lower walk out."
As @Seattle1 said, 4464 sf figure excludes some space.
Imo likely excludes some or all of lower level, as the listing says "mostly finished with space for 2 more bedrooms and baths." bbm
May/may not have been relevant to SM's house browsing.
___________________________________
* "3 bedrooms, 3 baths on main level, additional 2,160 square feet on lower walk-out, mostly finished with space for 2 more bedrooms and baths, as well as large family room adjacent to hot tub pad."
^ 5621 King Gulch Trail, Salida, CO 81201 - MLS 3340405 - Coldwell Banker

================================
O/T-ish. Tedious Detail Alert. Does it matter to anyone else anywhere?
No, for those not home shopping, not improving their lower level.
Yes, for those who are home shopping. If a prospective buyer needs a loan to finance the home purchase, the lender's appraiser determines a $ valuation for the property which in turn lender uses to calculate LTV (loan-to-value) ratio and then the max $ amt of loan the lender will make, secured by the prop.

So the way the lender's appraiser treats the 2160 sf (4464 total less 2,304 main living level = 2160 sf, lower level) may make a big difference to buyers seeking a mortgage. BTW not saying how an appraiser will assign value to lower level, but I’m aware of appraisers in other states giving virtually no value to fully finished lower level bedroom, bath, & family room which met building codes. Just IME.

Second, agent's "space for 2 more bedrooms"
phrasing does not necessarily mean new owner could convert that space into legal bedrooms. By 'legal' I mean complying w building codes for bedrooms. Even if lower level has a door or direct "walkout" to the exterior, a room may not meet code requirements to qualify as a bedroom. "Egress" and window size & placement issues, crucial to emergency exits, may disqualify a lower level room from being classified as a bedroom. Very specific req’mts in codes to facilitate rescues and address livability.*** Can a firefighter in gear go thru window to rescue someone and exit w. person too?

If lender's appraiser cannot include lower level room(s) as "legal" bedroom(s) then after the [hypo] conversion, the new owner/agent should not include them in RE listings as “bedroom(s).” This sort of building code technicality may lead to some rooms being called “bonus rooms” in RE sales listings.

And if house is in community w occupancy permit ordinances, well, that’s another potential issue, if number of residents will exceed maximum occupancy.
jmo, jme, my2cts.
__________________________________
** Loan-to-value ratio - Wikipedia
*** https://www.hunker.com/13711464/building-code-requirements-for-bedrooms. See sections re Egress and Bedrooms in Basements. <--- Plain English.

Question for locals. Why do many of these mansions eg. PP have only three bedrooms? Is it some planning rule, septic system limitations? There are multi million dollar mansions like PP with three bedrooms.

 

[Topppps]

^^bbm
Please provide the link where Judge says they did not show premeditation. Especially since Judge Murphy bound the case over for Murder 1 with deliberation.

I remembered it wrong edited the post. I think he's implying a 2nd degree murder, the way he worded it.

 

[Deleted member 222031]

Where do you guys get this stuff it's like you know them personally, it didn't look like she was acting kind it says in the AA she set a date to deliberately antagonize Barry, that isn't carrying on being nice considerate etc.

Could you please share the page number where you found that stated as fact or inference? TIA

 

[Topppps]

Could you please share the page number where you found that stated as fact or inference? TIA

Pp79

 

[Charlot123]

I don't remember if they eventually said it was not blood in the affidavit, but there's just no way it's relevant here.

If they had crucial DNA evidence or anything, it would have been presented/mentioned.

Question is whether there was no Barry’s DNA found at the places where it could be expected. And if so, why. Also, DNA can be planted. Any of Suzanne’s things could be used for it.

Just because she was cheating on her husband doesn’t mean that she would miss a momentous occasion. Suzanne lied to her friends, because she knew that what she was doing was wrong. I can imagine that she had a crisis of conscience about it, as it went against everything that she appeared to be. Adultery is a pretty big sin to a religious person, and I think she felt incredibly guilty about it. But she continued. Why? Because she saw firsthand that a person can find their Fred at any stage in life?

Maybe between cancer, her kids growing up, moving away to an isolated location away from her support system, she was that miserable. Maybe she didn’t want to give up the secret thing, only for herself, that kept her spirit alive. Maybe JL made her feel things she had not felt in a very long time, and she didn’t want to give it up. You’re not automatically a bad friend because you cheat on your husband, or don’t divulge your affair. Suzanne kept secrets from her friend. If Suzanne told SO, SO would have been lying to her own husband if she didn’t tell him. And they’ll tell two friends… Barry could have divorced Suzanne-publicly shamed her even. He murdered her instead.

I still think he murdered her for the money, but infidelity gave him, in own eyes, a good reason to do it.

Technically speaking, Suzanne did not lie to her friends. She omitted information. JMO - Suzanne did not tell to her friends about the affair because she knew that it would generate rumors and that no friend could keep a secret.

Adultery is a sin in all religions, and yet cheating, like divorces, exist in all religions. Always did, always will.

I don’t know why Suzanne had an affair, but in the Affidavit, Barry comes across as a heavy, difficult person. Maybe, just to feel lighter and happier?

 

[crhedBngr]

Didn't CW bemoan his hands that he was unable to stop... and feels bad that this thing had to happen for him to find God in prison? It's the same perverse song-- "I wouldn't'a if you hadn't'a, but you did so I had to. I forgive you for making me." Zero remorse. Add in the gross misappropriation of religion and you get a lot of what we got here.

It's cringeworthy but if Suzanne had just remembered her place. I'm sorry -- but that's a steak she was done with. Imagine decades of AAspeak. Never wrong. Always a nearby animal to blame. So much bluster. IME you can never advance a conversation with someone like that.

Handing the Internets to the OP above who said Barry had his steak and ate it too.

I hope some way some how, Suzanne gets the last word.

JMO

It's the old "The Devil Made Me Do It" excuse.

I believe the AA indicated SM said BM was quoting the 70 x 7 forgiveness Bible verse to her.

Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"

Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven."
-- Matthew 18:21-22 of the Revised Standard Version

JMVHO.

 

[StarrDetective]

Just jumping off your post, but I don't think Barry did actually know about JL. I think it's obvious he suspected something was going on, with someone, but I think when LE actually informed him, he was genuinely surprised. I don't think Barry Morphew needed Suzanne's affair to be his excuse, I think Suzanne taking half of what they had when she divorced him, was all the excuse he needed to remove her, and remove any chance of losing his financial status.

Then... once he knew for sure about JL, then he started in about how God allowed "it" (whatever "it" is, Suzanne's death, disappearance, whatever) almost as if she deserved it, since she was having an affair.

I think he thought saying stuff like that actually made him look like a decent Christian man (oh Barry, not even close, all it did was put your blazing ignorance of genuine Christian faith on full display) and made folks feel sorry for him (strike 2, as he displayed his arrogance in flying colors, as he "forgave" the very woman he is charged with murdering - the audacity there makes me want to throw up, for real). Well, I guess it made a few folks feel sorry for him. Which is even creepier, I think. Whoever mentioned the Manson family girls was spot on. I had the same exact thought.

jmo

even his guest defense attorney referenced Manson during last day of PH. Who in their right mind wants to be associated with Manson? Only a monster, that’s who..a dumb, Neanderthal monster named Barry.

 

[10ofRods]

It's the old "The Devil Made Me Do It" excuse.

I believe the AA indicated SM said BM was quoting the 70 x 7 forgiveness Bible verse to her.

JMVHO.

Yes, sort of. Although it's clear that male biology and the way adrenalin works...with hands...may be perceived by the hand-owner as "beyond their control."

The key is of course not to get into a murderous state in the first place. Self-defense is different (great if you can get your hands to work in that case).

But the biological predisposition to punch and/or strangle is there. In all male primates (not seen in non-human female primates...or vanishingly rare).

We are physical creatures and our minds only do part of the work. We instinctively avoid certain situations and use our hands and arms to defend/assault. Women are not as likely to do this, due to different biological impulses. I think women sometimes don't understand how "natural" it is for men to ball up a fist or grab/control.

Then, on top of that, the Bible urges everyone to forgive but oddly, it's only some people who try to impose that on others (it was meant, IMO, to be imposed on oneself).

Anyway, many many people sitting in jail or prison for crimes against others...truly believe that control was taken away from them, as if by some supernatural force (whereas science simply says...it's genes and biology).

 

[10ofRods]

Question is whether there was no Barry’s DNA found at the places where it could be expected. And if so, why. Also, DNA can be planted. Any of Suzanne’s things could be used for it.


I still think he murdered her for the money, but infidelity gave him, in own eyes, a good reason to do it.

Technically speaking, Suzanne did not lie to her friends. She omitted information. JMO - Suzanne did not tell to her friends about the affair because she knew that it would generate rumors and that no friend could keep a secret.

Adultery is a sin in all religions, and yet cheating, like divorces, exist in all religions. Always did, always will.

I don’t know why Suzanne had an affair, but in the Affidavit, Barry comes across as a heavy, difficult person. Maybe, just to feel lighter and happier?

You know what? I also think he simply didn't like or love her. I'm sorry, but I think that's really important. I am now just giving my personal opinion, not a professional opinion, but IME, people often don't like the people they live with. Having people promise to live with someone else forever is a bad deal for some. Don't stay with someone you can't stand (or don't like).

I know why Suzanne had an affair. Humans are very prone to pair-bonding and they want someone who suits them. Barry was more than just difficult (definitely heavy - in terms of muscles). Many humans (men included) want a relationship where there's shared dialogue, support and mutual decision-making. Research shows that this is a good thing. Sexual attraction is likely very closely aligned with support and shared (good) decision-making.

I like a lot of people (but wouldn't marry them). Marriage is this weird situation where you have to promise to love (and like?) people in advance. Good luck with that. Seriously, some of us get lucky by choosing the right partner the first time (about half of us), but the other half of us had no clue what we were getting into. People change. After the birth of children, those wonderful gun-wielding behaviors that some think are so sexy and wonderful...are not.

Barry did not like Suzanne, no matter how much he considered her an "angel." He has a very narrow perspective on women, on the world in general. I can't even begin to understand it - and I don't think Suzanne could understand it either. I get it now, but only after a couple of decades of intense reflection on the problem.

People can marry people they don't like and then grow to hate them, without any consciousness...that it's happening. They can also marry people they like and ifnd out they were wrong.

"Ontario Mom, post: 17128306, member: 101388"]Just jumping off your post, but I don't think Barry did actually know about JL. I think it's obvious he suspected something was going on, with someone, but I think when LE actually informed him, he was genuinely surprised. I don't think Barry Morphew needed Suzanne's affair to be his excuse, I think Suzanne taking half of what they had when she divorced him, was all the excuse he needed to remove her, and remove any chance of losing his financial status.

Then... once he knew for sure about JL, then he started in about how God allowed "it" (whatever "it" is, Suzanne's death, disappearance, whatever) almost as if she deserved it, since she was having an affair.

I think he thought saying stuff like that actually made him look like a decent Christian man (oh Barry, not even close, all it did was put your blazing ignorance of genuine Christian faith on full display) and made folks feel sorry for him (strike 2, as he displayed his arrogance in flying colors, as he "forgave" the very woman he is charged with murdering - the audacity there makes me want to throw up, for real). Well, I guess it made a few folks feel sorry for him. Which is even creepier, I think. Whoever mentioned the Manson family girls was spot on. I had the same exact thought.

jmo

He knew. At some level, people always know. People have affectional bonds that are real and they know when those bonds are disrupted. It isn't talked about and maybe there's not language for it - but he knew. And he acted. And he was right.

(Sorry for the formatting, I trust you guys to figure out what I was trying to say)

 

[10ofRods]

Didn't CW bemoan his hands that he was unable to stop... and feels bad that this thing had to happen for him to find God in prison? It's the same perverse song-- "I wouldn't'a if you hadn't'a, but you did so I had to. I forgive you for making me." Zero remorse. Add in the gross misappropriation of religion and you get a lot of what we got here.

It's cringeworthy but if Suzanne had just remembered her place. I'm sorry -- but that's a steak she was done with. Imagine decades of AAspeak. Never wrong. Always a nearby animal to blame. So much bluster. IME you can never advance a conversation with someone like that.

Handing the Internets to the OP above who said Barry had his steak and ate it too.

I hope some way some how, Suzanne gets the last word.

JMO

I can imagine and I admire her for at least trying. I feel that it's only the Grace of God (or luck) that kept me from the same situation. Very well put, Megnut - this is why I am a member here. I need these different perspectives.

 

[clearskies1]

Disabling the game cameras seems pretty deliberate, don't you think?

RSBM. I'm wondering what the evidence of that is. The prosecution claimed in their closing that BM disabled the cameras between 11:30 am and 1 pm, but I don't recall any evidence of that being admitted in the hearing and there is also no evidence of that in the AA.

 

[Kemug]

DBM

 

[Kemug]

IIRC, LE made reference to Suzanne's pattern of communication..and she consistently contacted JL as soon as Barry left to go to work. But that didn't happen on Mother's Day.

But to be fair, she might not have contacted JL on Mothers Day anyway, and he might not have expected her to. Mrs JL would/should have been the centre of attention in her large family that morning.

 

[FromGermany1]

You know what? I also think he simply didn't like or love her. I'm sorry, but I think that's really important. I am now just giving my personal opinion, not a professional opinion, but IME, people often don't like the people they live with. Having people promise to live with someone else forever is a bad deal for some. Don't stay with someone you can't stand (or don't like).

I know why Suzanne had an affair. Humans are very prone to pair-bonding and they want someone who suits them. Barry was more than just difficult (definitely heavy - in terms of muscles). Many humans (men included) want a relationship where there's shared dialogue, support and mutual decision-making. Research shows that this is a good thing. Sexual attraction is likely very closely aligned with support and shared (good) decision-making.

I like a lot of people (but wouldn't marry them). Marriage is this weird situation where you have to promise to love (and like?) people in advance. Good luck with that. Seriously, some of us get lucky by choosing the right partner the first time (about half of us), but the other half of us had no clue what we were getting into. People change. After the birth of children, those wonderful gun-wielding behaviors that some think are so sexy and wonderful...are not.

Barry did not like Suzanne, no matter how much he considered her an "angel." He has a very narrow perspective on women, on the world in general. I can't even begin to understand it - and I don't think Suzanne could understand it either. I get it now, but only after a couple of decades of intense reflection on the problem.

People can marry people they don't like and then grow to hate them, without any consciousness...that it's happening. They can also marry people they like and ifnd out they were wrong.



He knew. At some level, people always know. People have affectional bonds that are real and they know when those bonds are disrupted. It isn't talked about and maybe there's not language for it - but he knew. And he acted. And he was right.

(Sorry for the formatting, I trust you guys to figure out what I was trying to say)

I can imagine, BM very much hated, that SM was always the beautiful, lovely, delicate woman in the eyes of others. Maybe, he was always the unpolished, rough chunk besides her, only respected for his beautiful appendix Suzanne and daughters. He has to brag about Suzanne all the time, even if he just murdered her and is sitting in a police interview. But his non-true-love is shown in between, before he verbally returns to "angel", "looking like 30 yo", "love of his life" (when he just had said, "she made him a monster" or drank or "had something in her system").
How he must have hated all the news about Suzanne, when she has been praised in the highest tones, first for her pretty look, then for her pretty soul. I believe, he thinks, it is exactly right, what he did. He is rid of his burden now.
IMO