Still Missing CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee Co, 10 May 2020 *arrest* #94

[sk716]

[very respectfully abbrev. by BDAJAG]

I noted on the USGS, too, prospect / prospector/prospecting symbology.
Good grief! There are undoubtedly thousands of these hopeful /futile scratchings near our posited crime scene.
Where? Well, ancient 'tailings' of prospector- sorted bric-a-brac would bear witness to these innumerable, shallow scars in the terrain. Rest assured, BM had an grey-celled inventory of scads of these.
Plus, many would be easily excavated using simple hand tools, as they would have in most cases been initially prospected by hand. Further, they could/might serve any number of functions, short or long-term, in Prospector Barr's master plan.
And covered/landscaped quickly/purposely with the original tailings/native brush, I'm thinking such a selected shallow burial site would be virtually indiscernible ...alas

I agree mines and animal dens everywhere, he found most of them over two years of hunting on those mountains. Based on the wildlife, I'm sure there are lots of animal dens and it would have been easier to put Suzanne in an old den. But he would have to rely on the local big cats to come along and handle the remains.

I believe she's in one of the three shafts right above PP. Two of them I can see on Google Earth by going through the past sat imaged. The third one is the lower, not named Prospect, and harder to get a good look at.

In theory, one with enough strength could lever a boulder up enough to slide a small body underneath with very few tools.

 

[sk716]

Did Grusing or anyone else say anything more specific about the .22 being able to fire the Tranq darts?

Sorry to ask - but I was not around for the PH, and can't invest the time to wade through the YouTube videos of the hearing - so I was wondering if you could direct me to where that issue was discussed?

You quoted it. There isn't anything more to it that that in text I have available.

 

[mrjitty]

You quoted it. There isn't anything more to it that that in text I have available.

Thank you

 

[NothingSurprisesAnymore]

Wow and OMG.
"Dealing with the devil".
"Payed cash, hired a lot of illegals." (Very red flag.)
"Dad's dying affected him so badly, he couldn't run his own business." (Poor, poor Barry. A disease/death of another person always good for every excuse, it seems.)
-.-.-
In 2004 BM became self-employed, and in 2018 he had already two million dollar homes, expensive cars, machines, expensive vacations with a family of 4 and what else. Is that possible without being extremely shady in business dealings and without some corpses in the basement? Is that possible without something like a mafia (dependent illegals) around him? - If Suzanne hadn't been missing since May 2020, when would criminal business practices have been exposed one day? Does bring me to the thought again: What did Suzanne know about him and his "business" and wanted to use it against him perhaps? I think of something really, really bad, which she for heaven's sake couldn't tell her best friend or her sister or her girls or JL.

Speculation and IMO.

Regarding mafia, big crime, and their lifestyle on a landscaper's income...

In the beginning I thought his financials might look far shadier, in a big way, than what's been revealed so far.

Now I just think he's good at manipulating and using other people, or at least used to be. It's been said he's burned a lot of bridges.

He is industrious though, I'll give him that!

JMO

 

[sk716]

I agree it opens the door to lazy/corrupt cop fits up the husband narratives

On the plus side, Grusing will be the star protagonist for law enforcement, and he is highly credible, plus the state has more than enough time to prepare expert testimony about the DNA

I worry much more that bureaucratic incompetence may mean the state doesn't present its case as well as it could. But hopefully the fear of media spotlight will motivate them to devote proper resources to this.

Grusing will be the star of LE, but I think Deputies Brown and Mullenax on the stand testifying to everything wrong with the initial scene will be devastating.

All of the body cam footage is one or the other of them, I think it's mostly Brown, though. Barry's terrible performance, caught on tape. How he makes himself small going into the house. This dude is an Alpha Male, an Alpha Male does not make oneself small when walking into his own home! How he completely fails to look around for his wife even though he walks the length of the first floor TWICE!

 

[MassGuy]

Grusing will be the star of LE, but I think Deputies Brown and Mullenax on the stand testifying to everything wrong with the initial scene will be devastating.

All of the body cam footage is one or the other of them, I think it's mostly Brown, though. Barry's terrible performance, caught on tape. How he makes himself small going into the house. This dude is an Alpha Male, an Alpha Male does not make oneself small when walking into his own home! How he completely fails to look around for his wife even though he walks the length of the first floor TWICE!

That being said, his on scene reaction was totally normal.

Well, besides not calling out to her and asking if she had been mauled to death by a mountain Lion.

 

[Seattle1]

Barry speaking for Barry, indeed. Recall early on when Barry produced love letters from Suzanne to him? I tend to think that this was a pre-emptive strike to negate the obvious knowledge of divorce-related subject matter and/or affairs...which were going to counter Barry's "perfect marriage" narrative. Barry knew that those two issues were arrows pointing at him...and he tried to deflect them with dated love letters from his wife, even before they surfaced. What they didn't do was convince anyone of Barry's love for Suzanne.

Indeed -- much like MSM only reporting one side of the story-- excluding the other party's response in the report. Funny how I don't recall seeing any valentine from Barry to SM-- showing his mutual thanks, love, and admiration, perpetuating BM's phony appearance of bliss, ("we love each other to death)" JMO

 

[Murphy1950]

Did Grusing or anyone else say anything more specific about the .22 being able to fire the Tranq darts?

Sorry to ask - but I was not around for the PH, and can't invest the time to wade through the YouTube videos of the hearing - so I was wondering if you could direct me to where that issue was discussed?

No but in the AA page 73 , Barry drove his truck beside the Agents' car at about 5:03 PM and handed a weathered .22 caliber altered rifle with a newly mounted rifle scope to Agents. Begs the question, altered how (?)and why a new scope? Scopes aren't cheap.

 

[Megnut]

That being said, his on scene reaction was totally normal.

Well, besides not calling out to her and asking if she had been mauled to death by a mountain Lion.

Well, it's not like he might have received any incidental Search & Rescue training as a firefighter.

No point in letting that training kick in. When you can just stand there, with your hands in your pockets, and take up space.

Truth, I've been more frantic, more emotional and more engaged looking for my lost keys.

Worst. Performance. Ever.

JMO

 

[sk716]

Why did BM’s old rusty chipmunk gun that he handed over to Grusing and Harris have a newly mounted scope on it? Maybe there is another gun of the same vintage as the scope somewhere? Hmmm….

I think I got this:

Barry said that he owned firearms and all the firearms and ammunition are stored in a locked gun safe in the garage. It should be noted that on May 11, 2020, while law enforcement searched the Morphew residence, two firearms were located at the residence that were not inside a gun safe. A high-powered rifle was located in a closet on the ground floor in a closet. The rifle appeared to be spray-painted in a camouflage pattern and your affiant could not locate a serial number. A Benelli 12-gauge shotgun was found lying against the wall in the garage. Also, a loaded .22 long rifle cartridge was located lying on the floor in the master bedroom near the right side of the bed.12​

http://www.[link removed]/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/People-Exhibits-Prelim-Hearing_Page_91-300x300.png

This rusty old thing has been modified in a whole lot of ways. Note that bolt action.

I've got no doubt this thing fires the darts he owned and I'm reasonably certain that in the months that he still had it after he was supposed to have turned over all of his guns, that he altered the rifling in case the dart was ever found.

Speaking of, WTF was this weapon on the 10th? It wasn't in his truck when they seized it or they would have processed it. It wasn't in the house on the 12th.

 

[Seattle1]

We’ve had the Puffer Law here since 2011. If your vehicle is idling in the driveway you better be in it.
Fines starting at $100.
Warming up your car unattended is illegal in Colorado

It seems the law was enacted based on police nuisance of too many reports of auto theft.

From the link:

One ticket can cost about $100.

“It might take a few more minutes in the morning, but it’s worth it. Go out, start your car, sit in it, let it warm up. It’s not worth a ticket, and it’s certainly not worth getting your automobile, which is often valued at upwards of $10,000, stolen from your possession,” Davidson said.

 

[mom2chloe]

No but in the AA page 73 , Barry drove his truck beside the Agents' car at about 5:03 PM and handed a weathered .22 caliber altered rifle with a newly mounted rifle scope to Agents, Begs the question, altered how (?)and why a new scope? Scopes aren't cheap.

I’m still interested in people’s thoughts on why the gun was so rusty and whether that is normal wear and tear or had it been exposed to water?

 

[Megnut]

I think I got this:

Barry said that he owned firearms and all the firearms and ammunition are stored in a locked gun safe in the garage. It should be noted that on May 11, 2020, while law enforcement searched the Morphew residence, two firearms were located at the residence that were not inside a gun safe. A high-powered rifle was located in a closet on the ground floor in a closet. The rifle appeared to be spray-painted in a camouflage pattern and your affiant could not locate a serial number. A Benelli 12-gauge shotgun was found lying against the wall in the garage. Also, a loaded .22 long rifle cartridge was located lying on the floor in the master bedroom near the right side of the bed.12​

http://www.[link removed]/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/People-Exhibits-Prelim-Hearing_Page_91-300x300.png

This rusty old thing has been modified in a whole lot of ways. Note that bolt action.

I've got no doubt this thing fires the darts he owned and I'm reasonably certain that in the months that he still had it after he was supposed to have turned over all of his guns, that he altered the rifling in case the dart was ever found.

Speaking of, WTF was this weapon on the 10th? It wasn't in his truck when they seized it or they would have processed it. It wasn't in the house on the 12th.

Bbm

Brilliant question!!

Secret cache is the home?
Nearby home.
Hidey ho

Very, very interesting.

JMO

 

[Megnut]

I think I got this:

Barry said that he owned firearms and all the firearms and ammunition are stored in a locked gun safe in the garage. It should be noted that on May 11, 2020, while law enforcement searched the Morphew residence, two firearms were located at the residence that were not inside a gun safe. A high-powered rifle was located in a closet on the ground floor in a closet. The rifle appeared to be spray-painted in a camouflage pattern and your affiant could not locate a serial number. A Benelli 12-gauge shotgun was found lying against the wall in the garage. Also, a loaded .22 long rifle cartridge was located lying on the floor in the master bedroom near the right side of the bed.12​

http://www.[link removed]/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/People-Exhibits-Prelim-Hearing_Page_91-300x300.png

This rusty old thing has been modified in a whole lot of ways. Note that bolt action.

I've got no doubt this thing fires the darts he owned and I'm reasonably certain that in the months that he still had it after he was supposed to have turned over all of his guns, that he altered the rifling in case the dart was ever found.

Speaking of, WTF was this weapon on the 10th? It wasn't in his truck when they seized it or they would have processed it. It wasn't in the house on the 12th.

Bbm

How would one alter the rifling? Would shooting a couple hundred bullets cause changes or would something manual have to be done? Like filing? Would that leave an obvious man-made artifact?

Would a dart, if retrieved, bear the rifling the same way a bullet does?

Forgive my staggering ignorance.

JMO

 

[Seattle1]

I think I got this:

Barry said that he owned firearms and all the firearms and ammunition are stored in a locked gun safe in the garage. It should be noted that on May 11, 2020, while law enforcement searched the Morphew residence, two firearms were located at the residence that were not inside a gun safe. A high-powered rifle was located in a closet on the ground floor in a closet. The rifle appeared to be spray-painted in a camouflage pattern and your affiant could not locate a serial number. A Benelli 12-gauge shotgun was found lying against the wall in the garage. Also, a loaded .22 long rifle cartridge was located lying on the floor in the master bedroom near the right side of the bed.12​

http://www.[link removed]/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/People-Exhibits-Prelim-Hearing_Page_91-300x300.png

This rusty old thing has been modified in a whole lot of ways. Note that bolt action.

I've got no doubt this thing fires the darts he owned and I'm reasonably certain that in the months that he still had it after he was supposed to have turned over all of his guns, that he altered the rifling in case the dart was ever found.

Speaking of, WTF was this weapon on the 10th? It wasn't in his truck when they seized it or they would have processed it. It wasn't in the house on the 12th.

I always thought BM turned over the shotgun because he knew it was illegal, as charged in Count #4 in the Amended Complaint:

COUNT 4-POSSESSION OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON (F5)
Between and including May 9, 2020 and March 4, 2021, Barry Lee Morphew unlawfully, feloniously, and knowingly possessed a dangerous weapon, namely: short rifle; in violation of section 18-12-102(3), C.R.S.

 

[MassGuy]

No but in the AA page 73 , Barry drove his truck beside the Agents' car at about 5:03 PM and handed a weathered .22 caliber altered rifle with a newly mounted rifle scope to Agents, Begs the question, altered how (?)and why a new scope? Scopes aren't cheap.

He almost certainly put the scope on the gun after the fact so he could sell his "chipmunk alibi."

SA Grusing asked if the scope was mounted on the gun at the time and Barry said, "Yeah," nodding his head (page 98).

SA Grusing showed Barry a photo of the contents of the bottom of the safe, noting that the scope looked like the scope mounted on the chipmunk gun. Barry looked at the photo and stated, "Yeah, it does." (Page 108).

 

[Cindizzi]

I think I got this:

Barry said that he owned firearms and all the firearms and ammunition are stored in a locked gun safe in the garage. It should be noted that on May 11, 2020, while law enforcement searched the Morphew residence, two firearms were located at the residence that were not inside a gun safe. A high-powered rifle was located in a closet on the ground floor in a closet. The rifle appeared to be spray-painted in a camouflage pattern and your affiant could not locate a serial number. A Benelli 12-gauge shotgun was found lying against the wall in the garage. Also, a loaded .22 long rifle cartridge was located lying on the floor in the master bedroom near the right side of the bed.12​

http://www.[link removed]/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/People-Exhibits-Prelim-Hearing_Page_91-300x300.png

This rusty old thing has been modified in a whole lot of ways. Note that bolt action.

I've got no doubt this thing fires the darts he owned and I'm reasonably certain that in the months that he still had it after he was supposed to have turned over all of his guns, that he altered the rifling in case the dart was ever found.

Speaking of, WTF was this weapon on the 10th? It wasn't in his truck when they seized it or they would have processed it. It wasn't in the house on the 12th.

Is the rusty old chipmunk gun or ROCG the same short rifle he’s been charged with ?

The AA says he handed it over to the FBI on February 29 and the weapons charge says it was in his possession until March 4.

I realize that’s only 4 days, just thought it odd.
The PP home sold on March 3.

He also insists that he shot it even after SM went missing.
Notice he almost said “ before “.

 

[NothingSurprisesAnymore]

Well, it's not like he might have received any incidental Search & Rescue training as a firefighter.

No point in letting that training kick in. When you can just stand there, with your hands in your pockets, and take up space.

Truth, I've been more frantic, more emotional and more engaged looking for my lost keys.

Worst. Performance. Ever.

JMO

Yes!
I've spent more time looking for chickens that failed to roost than Barry's spent looking for Suzanne.

We even had some little skunks that drowned in our culvert and I cried.

 

[sk716]

He walked down towards there on Saturday afternoon. Was he looking for a good hidey hole?

Q (Lindsey): May 9, 2020, 11:27 am, does Mr. Morphew return to the residence from the 105 Poncha Springs area?

A (Grusing): He does.

Q (Lindsey): What does he tell you he’s doing?

A (Grusing): We don’t discuss this with Mr. Morphew until the very end. But from his phone records we could see that when he pulled up to the house his phone was towards the river a little bit in the tree area before he would get to the residence. Agent Harrison and I asked him why are you in that area. He said he might have been looking for turkeys.

Q (Lindsey): So 12:20 pm, what is the next significant piece of information that you obtained from either the phone or the truck?

A (Grusing): The truck appears to be stationary at the residence. After that for about — again it was 11:50 to 12:20, we had Barry’s phone pinging in a trail going down towards the trailer park. I showed Barry these photos and asked him what he was doing there and he said he was looking for a turkey that Mallory had shot previously.

Q (Lindsey): Did he tell you when that happened?

A (Grusing): He said she had shot a turkey some time ago. That wasn’t recent. But this was in conflict with what he had told CBI that he was outside with Suzanne in the sun and they were eating veggie soup together for lunch.

Q (Lindsey): During the course of this investigation are you familiar with game cameras being recovered?

A (Grusing): I am.​

 

[sk716]

This has probably already been discussed and ruled out, and I have tried to find out on my own but cannot. Does anyone know if Suzanne’s home in Salida had a septic system? I read that it does have a well. I suppose they would have been looked into and ruled out long ago.

I believe the septic tank is under that paved space next to the garage.

 

[Murphy1950]

He almost certainly put the scope on the gun after the fact so he could sell his "chipmunk alibi."

RSBM

Hmm... Here's a textbook example of being "cunning." The trait in Barry that David Moorman spoke of.