Still Missing CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee Co, 10 May 2020 *arrest* #95

[DizzyB]

WOW

My Cousin Allegedly Killed His Wife and Cast Her Vote for Trump

This struck me:
“If Barry killed Suzanne—a human woman on earth, who seems to have sought happiness here and now—I suspect he would have done it because he thought she was losing sight of heaven, losing sight of God, losing sight of death. If he dismembered and buried, burned, or drowned her body, I believe he would have done it because “the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church.” If he did it, he seems to have subsequently tried to justify or at least explain it with his faith.”

 

[genuineusa77]

Looking at this from the defense point of view. JL is on the stand. IE asks him how many times in what time period Sm traveled out of state to meet him? 6 time in 18 months (from my recollection in the AA). The defense, She was a stay at home mom. Is the ability to take 6 solo out of State trips sound like some one married to a controlling husband?

I’m assuming BM is portrayed by the DA as a controlling husband who suddenly realizes he is losing control and kills SM, in their theory of what happened. How can 6 non family/non business trips in 18 months to meet her lover, not raise reasonable doubt to a juror about BM being a controlling husband. If a juror thinks the DA is not honest about this, why believe him about the rest of the story?

All the above is IMO.

I so agree. I don't buy this "control" thing at all. In the Affidavit, it says Suzanne attacked him. I see zero evidence of him ever having an affair in their marriage. Nothing adds up to me.

 

[genuineusa77]

Looking at this from the defense point of view. JL is on the stand. IE asks him how many times in what time period Sm traveled out of state to meet him? 6 time in 18 months (from my recollection in the AA). The defense, She was a stay at home mom. Is the ability to take 6 solo out of State trips sound like some one married to a controlling husband?

I’m assuming BM is portrayed by the DA as a controlling husband who suddenly realizes he is losing control and kills SM, in their theory of what happened. How can 6 non family/non business trips in 18 months to meet her lover, not raise reasonable doubt to a juror about BM being a controlling husband. If a juror thinks the DA is not honest about this, why believe him about the rest of the story?

All the above is IMO.

I so agree. I don't buy this "control" thing at all. In the Affidavit, it says Suzanne attacked him. I see zero evidence of him ever having an affair in their marriage. Nothing adds up to me.

 

[genuineusa77]

Can you quote something someone said on twitter?

 

[Seattle1]

Also, I believe BM was calling SM not to give her a warning, but to make sure she was home. IMO, he had already decided that he was going to carry out his plan - exactly when, I don't know. Friday? Saturday morning? I think that's why he was so anxious and antsy all morning and sent MG home early. I'm with @mrjitty that perhaps his original plan was to kill her Saturday night before he left for Bloomfield. But I believe he was anxious about it and just decided to get it over with. Moving up his timeline. So once he made up his mind he was frantic to make sure she hadn't left - either on a bike ride...or forever. I know I'm in the minority but I don't believe that BM saw a text to JL from SM and snapped - just that day, having no thoughts of murder ever. No, he had made up his mind well before Saturday - it was just a question of when.

Im super interested in questions that establish the when of premeditation:

When and by whom was the girls' camping trip setup and decided upon?

When was each hotel room reserved in Broomfield?

All just my opinions.

For whatever reason, I do believe that BM was in a rage when he physically injected SM and killed her-- most likely by suffocation. I've always thought that BM believes that he simply put SM to sleep.

I think there was a very unhealthy pattern in the relationship between BM and SM where each and every time there was strife, BM would love bomb SM, followed by yet another elaborate family vacation to a warm beach, or expensive gift, etc., where all was good until the next blow-up.

And now BM had become increasingly paranoid, fearful, and anxious that his tried and true remedy to regain control over his family had repeatedly failed him as he watched for the first time, SM standing firm, not looking back.

Not only was BM facing a ticking clock -- the one where his daughters were expected to return home on Sunday, I also think BM prayed for one last sign that he was in-fact carrying out his god's plan to rid SM of her sinful ways. I think it's highly likely that BM planted the mini-spy camera inside SM's closet (even as late as May 6 when she told BM she was done) where she'd go for privacy with JL including the nude selfies.

According to MG, BM was very anxious on Saturday morning -- constantly checking his phone. I think BM relied on cell coverage in Salida to remotely check his webcams, maybe using his VPN. I do think BM was suspicious of SM on Saturday morning but I think BM definitely saw something that left no question in his mind that SM was communicating with another man just as he was headed back to PP for the second time. I think BM was furious when he got out of his truck on Saturday afternoon.

In the defense exhibits from the PH, the carplay/telematics show a named individual's phone pairing with BM's F350 numerous times. I believe this individual represents an Apple service and repair business in Salida that may have provided BM some tips on how to accomplish certain tasks on his phone(s) without detection.

Relative to hotel booking in Broomfield, I previously provided in the last thread where defense attorney DN stated in court that BM did not reserve rooms in advance for any of the crew and never advised them not to come to Broomfield due to his family emergency. It's not clear if BM booked a room for himself prior to Sunday, May 10. MOO

 

[Seattle1]

Can you quote something someone said on twitter?

No, random replies or comments violate TOS.

 

[Boxer]

Can you quote something someone said on twitter?

MOO quoting has to be from MSM or the police statements with a link to source.
MOO you can state your own opinion though.

 

[justtrish]

On May 10, 2020 at approximately 5:58PM, CCSO Deputy Damon Brown was notified by dispatch to contact Scott Ritter (later correctly identified as Martin Ritter) by phone regarding a “possible missing person who also has cancer.” Dispatch further informed that the missing person was named Suzanne Morphew and that her husband, Barry, was driving back from Denver and “did not have cell service,” when in fact, he was at his hotel in Broomfield with cell service. (In a separate interview, Martin Ritter told the FBI that Barry said he was “at a worksite with workers present” when he received the final call from Martin. Barry also told CBI Agents multiple times that he was at the Via Varra worksite in Broomfield, CO, when he received that call and had to drive to his hotel to drop his tools off for workers. The Broomfield hotel video, however, disproved those assertions by Barry(See Section 4).)
...
Barry stated, “I was at the job site when Jeanne called me,” adding that Jeanne called around 5:00PM. Barry left the jobsite and drove to the hotel where he dropped the tools off in the lobby. He then drove directly back to Salida. (On April 22, 2021, FBI Agents showed Barry surveillance photos of him being in his hotel room, not the job site, when Jeanne Ritter called him at 5:00PM.)
...
Barry stated that he was at the job site at “ten o-clockish.” He added, “It was just hotel and job, back and forth.” Barry stated he drove to a McDonald’s near the jobsite and cleaned his windshield. He then went back to the hotel room. He stayed in the room for about one hour and possibly watched television. Barry then returned to the jobsite.
...
When asked about working on Sunday he stated, “It’s Mother’s Day. It’s not like it’s husband day.”

He stated he stayed at the worksite with the quote, “I think I was there until probably 6:00.”

In regards to the call(s) to Jeanne Ritter, he stated, “She calls me and says, “Hey, her car is here.” And I said, “Well, is her bike there?” She goes, “Where does she keep the bike?” And I said, “Well, I pulled out (sic) her car. It should be right near the car.” She goes, “There’s no bike here. (Unintelligible) look here in the back.” And I said, “Well, she’s ridin’ her bike but I’m a little concerned, because I think she said she was gonna take a morning ride”.
...
Barry stated, “I’m pretty sure when she (Jeanne) called, I was right there at the wall,” adding that he loaded up his tools, took them directly to the hotel, told the lady working in the hotel lobby that he had an emergency and asked if he could leave the tools in the lobby.
​

It really is one of the more confusing lies he told.

If his wife goes missing and he has nothing to do with it, being at the hotel does not make him look guilty any more than being at the work site does. If he's out of town, he's out of town and if he has nothing to hide, why lie here about this?

If he did kill his wife, lying about where he is doesn't help either. It just draws more attention because now he lied about something so trivial as where he was when he got the call.

How could a truly shocked and concerned husband think to lie about where he is? Why did he even need to tell anyone "I'm at the worksite with workers". He's out of town for work. Why not just say, I'm on my way home, it'll take 2 or 3 hours?

I think he was trying too hard to have a story to tell. Innocent people don't need to have a story to tell, they just tell the truth and don't have a hard time later remembering the truth either.

 

[charminglane]

Has anyone seen or read of BM actually attending church in CO currently?
We hear he is religious, yet I have not read anywhere about where he attends or The Big "If" he still goes.
Edited to add - since he and defense are probably reading here - there will be a registered sighting soon.

 

[kkdj]

Has anyone seen or read of BM actually attending church in CO currently?
We hear he is religious, yet I have not read anywhere about where he attends or The Big "If" he still goes.
Edited to add - since he and defense are probably reading here - there will be a registered sighting soon.

BM might not be comfortable going to public places. After all, he is looked at, talked about and probably a bit feared and hated.
Imo it's not like he's welcome amongst most others.

 

[waldojabba]

This struck me:
“If Barry killed Suzanne—a human woman on earth, who seems to have sought happiness here and now—I suspect he would have done it because he thought she was losing sight of heaven, losing sight of God, losing sight of death. If he dismembered and buried, burned, or drowned her body, I believe he would have done it because “the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church.” If he did it, he seems to have subsequently tried to justify or at least explain it with his faith.”

Kudos to BM's cousin JM
Hero's die hard
IMO His opinion piece is heartfelt and courageous - beautifully raw in its honesty and clarity
It also confirms so much of what we have been writing over and over again here

 

[Momofthreeboys]

It really is one of the more confusing lies he told.

If his wife goes missing and he has nothing to do with it, being at the hotel does not make him look guilty any more than being at the work site does. If he's out of town, he's out of town and if he has nothing to hide, why lie here about this?

If he did kill his wife, lying about where he is doesn't help either. It just draws more attention because now he lied about something so trivial as where he was when he got the call.

How could a truly shocked and concerned husband think to lie about where he is? Why did he even need to tell anyone "I'm at the worksite with workers". He's out of town for work. Why not just say, I'm on my way home, it'll take 2 or 3 hours?

I think he was trying too hard to have a story to tell. Innocent people don't need to have a story to tell, they just tell the truth and don't have a hard time later remembering the truth either.

Maybe he had a habit of running from fights and that didn’t fit his manly image of himself.

 

[Momofthreeboys]

BM might not be comfortable going to public places. After all, he is looked at, talked about and probably a bit feared and hated.
Imo it's not like he's welcome amongst most others.

Churches would be welcoming

 

[charminglane]

BM might not be comfortable going to public places. After all, he is looked at, talked about and probably a bit feared and hated.
Imo it's not like he's welcome amongst most others.

True, however, if he can get himself to a Mexican restaurant to feed without a care, he certainly can get to church to feed his ugly soul.

 

[waldojabba]

Fascinating

I do feel this case is a poster child for how we do need to work on the traditional cultural norms which keep women down.

SM is hardly the only woman who comes to the end of the kids phase, and discovers she is stuck in an empty marriage, where her entire career building years have been sacrificed, which places her at a huge disadvantage in terms of living the rest of her life.

Obviously this doesn't normally result in murder, but this unhealthy template is very common

my 02c

BBM Thank you for this post - IMO there is a bottomless need for education on so many area's relating to this topic - all in the face of push to move the cultural norms back decades -

 

[Diddian]

It really is one of the more confusing lies he told.

If his wife goes missing and he has nothing to do with it, being at the hotel does not make him look guilty any more than being at the work site does. If he's out of town, he's out of town and if he has nothing to hide, why lie here about this?

If he did kill his wife, lying about where he is doesn't help either. It just draws more attention because now he lied about something so trivial as where he was when he got the call.

How could a truly shocked and concerned husband think to lie about where he is? Why did he even need to tell anyone "I'm at the worksite with workers". He's out of town for work. Why not just say, I'm on my way home, it'll take 2 or 3 hours?

I think he was trying too hard to have a story to tell. Innocent people don't need to have a story to tell, they just tell the truth and don't have a hard time later remembering the truth either.

IMO, that lie came easily to BM that day because BM had likely told that lie - "I was ..." or "I am busy here at work" a thousand times in the past. How many times over the years was BM out of SM's reach by phone - on Airplane mode or simply not answering calls - and he attributed his being out of reach to being busy at work when he was likely in fact doing whatever the hell he felt like doing, no questions allowed?

That Broomfield wall was rebuilt multiple times because the crew couldn't get it right. Clearly, BM didn't conduct on-site supervision and he wasn't working on the wall himself all those other times. So, what did he do instead with his time while those he hired did the work he was under contract for? Whatever the hell he wanted to do and he likely had a secret device to do it with. "Cute girls in Salida."

He was suspicious about SM's phone once she seemed like she was exercising a little agency over her own life because he knew about the secrets he kept on his own acting as his own agent. Projection.

BM made himself the unquestioned authority at home and he did the same at work. Look how MG jumped when he said to jump and how she accepted changes in plans without notice. Look how he talked about "his contractors" like they were "less than" himself - drug addicts and prison convicts.

BM chose a wife several years younger than himself and with cancer besides. Why didn't he choose someone his own age who was, as he was, launching into adulthood without obstacles? And he appointed himself authority over her. He had an SM farm just like he had a deer farm. Weakened, and in need. So, captured and fenced. He chose workers who had limited employment choices. And he made himself authority over them. Weakened, and in need. And now at least one of them is in fear for her life because she crossed him.

JMO, MOO, based on over a year of observing him and his relationship to others.

 

[sk716]

We discussed this some days ago.

The texts that have been ruled inadmissible are the ones that relate to the abuse allegations to her friend, as the prejudicial effect was held to outweigh the evidential value.

So far, I don't think any of the digital data, including texts have been ruled inadmissible. The ruling y'all are thinking of says that SO may not make any statements about abuse Suzanne told (verbally) her about unless they have a timestamp. I'm simplifying but any text/message from Suzanne about the abuse is admissible. If it has a time and date stamp and it was sent from a device known to be in Suzanne's possession, then it's as good as testimony from Suzanne herself. Anything else is hearsay unless SO saw it with her own eyes. That means if they find one in the data, it won't fall under that ruling.

Suzanne's grievances list, MM2s text, and Suzanne's voice on the spy pen telling Barry off for his controlling behavior will do a pretty good job of letting the jury know just how trapped Suzanne was. She wanted to leave and Barry wasn't going to let that happen. She was even afraid, just not afraid enough.

Toss in this run of images at the end of that...
http://www.[link removed]/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/People-Exhibits-Prelim-Hearing_Page_24.png
http://www.[link removed]/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/People-Exhibits-Prelim-Hearing_Page_54.png

http://www.[link removed]/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/People-Exhibits-Prelim-Hearing_Page_76.png
http://www.[link removed]/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/People-Exhibits-Prelim-Hearing_Page_83.png

 

[genuineusa77]

No, random replies or comments violate TOS.

Thanks!

 

[Momofthreeboys]

I so agree. I don't buy this "control" thing at all. In the Affidavit, it says Suzanne attacked him. I see zero evidence of him ever having an affair in their marriage. Nothing adds up to me.

Because he is perceived by some as overly aggressive…beyond the culture of man as the head of the household. He is perceived as physically aggressive while concurrently his spouse is seen as passive until recently. We don’t know the exact dynamics of their arguments… we do know that Barry reported that Suzanne had become more assertive. Man as head of household exists and there are families for which that is the perfectly accepted norm. As I said and some others this is thin ice for prosecution and not essential for the trial. Suzanne seems to have struggled and her affair supports her desire to leave her marriage and there is a suggestion that she wanted more equal say in their marital dynamics none of which support anything related to Barry other than Suzanne no longer wanted a marriage with those dynamics. Other than Barry claiming Suzanne has become more aggressive and that he was upset she was drinking and perhaps taking some medication there is very little evidence of him making denigrating statements about his wife.

 

[genuineusa77]

IMO, that lie came easily to BM that day because BM had likely told that lie - "I was ..." or "I am busy here at work" a thousand times in the past. How many times over the years was BM out of SM's reach by phone - on Airplane mode or simply not answering calls - and he attributed his being out of reach to being busy at work when he was likely in fact doing whatever the hell he felt like doing, no questions allowed?

That Broomfield wall was rebuilt multiple times because the crew couldn't get it right. Clearly, BM didn't conduct on-site supervision and he wasn't working on the wall himself all those other times. So, what did he do instead with his time while those he hired did the work he was under contract for? Whatever the hell he wanted to do and he likely had a secret device to do it with. "Cute girls in Salida."

He was suspicious about SM's phone once she seemed like she was exercising a little agency over her own life because he knew about the secrets he kept on his own acting as his own agent. Projection.

BM made himself the unquestioned authority at home and he did the same at work. Look how MG jumped when he said to jump and how she accepted changes in plans without notice. Look how he talked about "his contractors" like they were "less than" himself - drug addicts and prison convicts.

BM chose a wife several years younger than himself and with cancer besides. Why didn't he choose someone his own age who was, as he was, launching into adulthood without obstacles? And he appointed himself authority over her. He had an SM farm just like he had a deer farm. Weakened, and in need. So, captured and fenced. He chose workers who had limited employment choices. And he made himself authority over them. Weakened, and in need. And now at least one of them is in fear for her life because she crossed him.

JMO, MOO, based on over a year of observing him and his relationship to others.

Wasn't Suzanne only 2 years younger than him! That's not years younger. How do you know all this about him?