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

[DellaC]

One sign references construction on US 50.

The other is a commercial billboard for Colorado real estate.

Peculiar building. Peculiar vehicle in the shed. Peculiar vehicles all around.

JMO

Posting this as it may be useful for sleuthing. Chaffee County Planning and Zoning site links to a property map of Chaffee County (and other counties) overlaid on earth view. You can zoom in on the parcel of interest and get information.

Link to CCPZ: Planning and Zoning

Link to Chaffee County property map: qPublic.net - Chaffee County, CO - Map

Link to property of interest to OP: qPublic.net - Chaffee County, CO - Report: R380504100032

 

[Love Never Fails]

It blows my mind that the Poncha Market video wasn't retrieved as soon as it was reported BM had been going through that trash bin and it was captured on video!

And it also blows my mind that, after LE had specifically asked that video be retained within a very specific time frame, the owner of that market - knowing that their own video may well be relevant - did not retain it, but allowed it to be overwritten!

Exactly.

 

[Cindizzi]

I blame CCSO for this one. It sounded like they had a pretty good handle on the case and didn’t need anybody calling anything in. They very specifically asked that you don’t call them with questions, just hold all your footage. Um okay. Does everyone here know how to preserve footage? Everybody got a spare card or whatever is necessary to upload onto another device? I think that whoever wrote that release should be kicking themself today. The husband was supposedly cooperating, and wouldn’t the sheriff’s department have an eye on him if they considered him a suspect? I would think that they would have known he was at the Poncha Market, and they would have come calling to take a look at any footage. Heck I would have thought they were filming him themselves.

To be fair to LE, they asked that citizens do not call the DISPATCH number. I can understand not tying that line up. They had sent out a Reverse 911 call to every phone in the County, business and residential with a recording about preserving footage and the dates. That’s a ton of citizens. The Reverse 911 system is typically only used to alert people to weather and fire related emergency information.

I did not snip the entire press release. The final line after what I snipped DID give the tip line number:

The Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office asks the public to continue to report any information about this case by calling (719) 312-7530.

I’m not saying that someone didn’t drop the ball on Poncha Market, though.

JMO

 

[marylamby]

Different woman altogether.

I do believe Barry had access to the Cushman home pretty much any the time. When you know and get along with your neighbors you usually leave a spare key with them. JR knew the code to get into the Morphew home, so it stands to reason that since the Cushmans lived elsewhere part of the year that the nearest neighbor knew how to access the house in case of emergency. Suzanne knew and trusted the Cushmans well enough to call them when Barry was stalking her and SO at PP.

I don't know about that. I know there's another housekeeper in the area - the one who thought she saw SM with BM at the singles dumpster (I still think she could've been mistaken, never having seen SM before, but that's beside the point) but I've been under the impression that Sho also worked as a housekeeper and was hired by the real estate office who handles some vacation properties, the Cushman's particularly.
I could be wrong, tho.

And sure, could be Barry had a key. Didn't know Suzanne called the Cushmans about Barry that time.

 

[marylamby]

SD maybe?

Maybe. Never know. I think Barry has always kept himself busy. You know what they say.. idle hands are the devil's workshop.
IMO

 

[justtrish]

Barry's nephew (TN) handled this whole thing as incompetently and bizarrely as anything I've ever seen.

He gave out very little information, refused to go on camera, made bizarre requests of the media, had that strangely worded crowd funding campaign (at the time called it an obvious scam), and appeared to use distancing language at one point. Then he dropped off the map, never to be heard from again.

I've thought all along that he must have had some reservations, but I think the encounter with Morgan (and George) was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Because that whole situation does sound like attempted witness tampering, and I imagine law enforcement called him on that and it scared him to death.

Then he went dark.

I hope to hear from him at trial.

I felt early on maybe conversation he had with Barry or things he saw/heard in the week he was helping there likely made him feel uneasy. Maybe he thinks Barry is guilty. If he things Barry killed his wife, then what's to stop him from killing others who don't go along with him? Maybe Barry wanted things his way or the highway and TN said good riddance?

It seems those closest to Barry that have not supported him are reluctant to speak about why. Could be to preserve evidence for the trial or maybe just plain fear of him.

 

[marylamby]

BBM

How did I miss that? Where was it shown he had profiles on dating sites? Somehow I never heard that before.

I've never been totally convinced Barry even had affairs. Suzanne's best friend and sister have said he did but as far as I know, that was based on statements they were told by SM. To my knowledge, there has never been any proof of an affair. (Not that it even matters in the death of SM.)

JMO

I don't remember where but I remember reading it in a document. Any help, anyone? TIA

 

[swedeheart]

This Friday!

DATELINE FRIDAY PREVIEW: Echoes in the Canyons

 

[marylamby]

I don’t know, but it was a very small town and high school they both attended. LE went to Indiana and interviewed many people. If JL had suddenly gone missing around the same time, news of that would probably make it’s way back “home” ( even though he lived in Michigan). News travels fast on Facebook.

Someone like SO might remember the incidents described in the screenshot below.

After that, LE would definitely have to see if there was a connection.
Perhaps they would find that JL’s business trips and vacations placed him in the same cities at the same time as SM.

Might sound far fetched lol. I’m just guessing at scenarios.
JMO

THIS ^^^ is what makes me think BM knew exactly what Jeff he was. Doubt he's ever forgotten it.

 

[DizzyB]

Side note-does saving footage “through May 12” include May 12? It’s like when a coupon is good through. I don’t know if I would have saved that much footage-what kind of loop are cameras like Poncha Market on-how many days worth before they are overwritten? Sounds like CCSO wanted approx 5 or 6 days worth. How much space would that be? I don’t know, maybe I would save day of or so, but it seems like a lot. I could be totally wrong, it could record a year at a time for all I know. Either way, I still think it was a big ask.

 

[Momofthreeboys]

They didn’t even send out the Reverse 911 to ask for footage until May 17.


May 17 Search Press Release - Chaffee County Sheriff
As the investigation into the Suzanne Morphew’s missing person case moves forward, Chaffee County residents are being asked to preserve any and all video footage from devices such as Ring doorbells, security cameras, game cameras, etc., from May 8th thru May 12th.

Citizens are only being asked to preserve the video at this time. Please do not send these videos to the sheriff’s office or call the sheriff’s office. As search areas are identified, investigators will contact residents in those locations to collect any camera footage within that May 8-12 window.

PLEASE DO NOT CALL CHAFFEE COUNTY DISPATCH WITH QUESTIONS.

“One of the most helpful ways the community can aid in the search of Suzanne Morphew is by preserving these recordings,” said Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze. “We are aware that some systems override video after several days, and we want to ensure video remains available if needed.”

Thanks I was thinking it was several days later. Barry was at Gas station on Tuesday. There is always woulda coulda shoulda :-( but the employee reported what they observed. Again we would need to know what the LE speculation is and if the manager is additive to the prosecution case or if it is all just innocuous.

 

[marylamby]

I agree, we don't know that he had profiles on dating sites. We do know that he or someone using his device did web searches for Ashley Madison and some other sex related searches. If investigators uncovered profiles that information has not been made public. And no, LE did not uncover an affair at the time they made that statement. There is all kinds of fascination and speculation out in chatland and here about Barry and his sex life both when they lived in Indiana and since they moved to Colorado but very little that we know for fact other than he seems to enjoy sex...like most people I suppose. I think I can buy into the possibility that he was unfaithful -- potentially one night stand type stuff or certainly attempts...but I think if he had something more continuing that LE would have uncovered it if it was local. Part of Suzanne's luck was it doesn't sound like she and JL were ever together in Salida so she was able to keep it super duper hidden although some have questioned that also and wonder if Liber visited Salida. Her texts the week before she went missing don't fit the dialogue one expects with a husband one is fed up with and thinking of divorcing so who knows. I personally think LE would have at minimum asked JL if he had ever visited Suzanne in Salida during the two years they were hooking up.

Didn't Barry blame those searches - the ashley madison, hot girls in salida etc - on his daughter? Of course he made them.
I could swear I saw in a document that he had profiles on a couple of dating sites. Maybe I dreamed I was reading a document? Anything's possible as my dreams are very vivid, I fully admit that. I wish someone would chime in if they read it too.
Suzanne's text allude to an affair Barry had in IN. She used some sort of 'nick name' or abbreviation for the woman's name. Her sister also said how he'd had an affair and that was the reason for a 'fresh start' in CO. It's not just gossip.

"super duper" cracked me up, thanks!

 

[Momofthreeboys]

I felt early on maybe conversation he had with Barry or things he saw/heard in the week he was helping there likely made him feel uneasy. Maybe he thinks Barry is guilty. If he things Barry killed his wife, then what's to stop him from killing others who don't go along with him? Maybe Barry wanted things his way or the highway and TN said good riddance?

It seems those closest to Barry that have not supported him are reluctant to speak about why. Could be to preserve evidence for the trial or maybe just plain fear of him.

Or they are being considered as defense witnesses. I still think someone knows something but my money is not on the nephew.

 

[Aloe]

If he even was on a hunting trip. He probably lied about those trips, too. He was with another woman. JMO

Or/and another "profession" perhaps?

 

[marylamby]

I won't be surprised if Suzanne's SECRET bank accounts were a SECRET from Suzanne. Particularly the ones in her name.

He thought he could govern her, vote for her, manage her money for her.

I imagine he was surprised when the Indiana house was closing that he couldn't sign for Suzanne because I'm imagining he always had.

JMO

Ooh, you may have something there! I've always doubted she ever knew about the Suzanne Morphew foundation.
Seemed very out of character for her to have a children's religious-related foundation and never hear about it's charitable works. Maybe they're even connected.
I was assuming she'd opened her own bank account when depositing her inheritance checks, as one does.

 

[FromGermany1]

O/T but because of the method of burying quite interesting:
Missing Colo. Model Kara Nichols Found Buried in Horse Grave Nearly a Decade After She Vanished

She allegedly said Hollendorfer told her he took Nichols' body to his parents' land, "where he buried her on an old horse grave with plastic bags and lime," affidavit.
Authorities excavated an area of the property where Hollendorfer's mother said her favorite horse had been buried — a spot marked by the cadaver dogs a decade earlier.

 

[swedeheart]

O/T but because of the method of burying quite interesting:
Missing Colo. Model Kara Nichols Found Buried in Horse Grave Nearly a Decade After She Vanished

She allegedly said Hollendorfer told her he took Nichols' body to his parents' land, "where he buried her on an old horse grave with plastic bags and lime," affidavit.
Authorities excavated an area of the property where Hollendorfer's mother said her favorite horse had been buried — a spot marked by the cadaver dogs a decade earlier.

How about a road-kill elk's grave?

 

[Aloe]

Or they are being considered as defense witnesses. I still think someone knows something but my money is not on the nephew.

On whom is your money, pray tell?

 

[MassGuy]

DATELINE FRIDAY PREVIEW: Echoes in the Canyons

We asked some Coloradans to tell us about the city of Salida where Friday’s story takes place.
One of the residents said, “If anything happens, we come together no matter what.”
Something did happen. And we’ll tell you all about it Friday at 10/9c…
https://twitter.com/datelinenbc/status/1496632213055569922?s=21

 

[Aloe]

BM's Nephew & GD. Charges re 'Talk' w MG?
@notbornyesterday sbm for focus. Why has Dist Atty not yet filed charges against either man? Imo main factor: Bigger fish to fry.
Other factors: What chg?* Bribing, Intimidating,
or Tampering w a Witness? Did MG have "knowledge of the existence or nonexistence of facts relating to any crime"*

Did any of the three participants record the convo? Provide to LE? If not, easy to imagine MG's stmts to LE and TN's & GD's stmts contradict one another.
Were threats, payment, or promises made? Subtle or explicit? Exactly who said what and when? The more recent stmts of all three to LE may vary slightly or substantially w their own earlier stmts to LE. Was $ withheld from MG for labor she had already provided? Or did they provide $ to her in excess of her legit labor? Perhaps at a later time? In sum, a clustercluck of a swearing contest. Imo, not so cut & dried as some here think.

Is MG willing to appear, take the stand, & to testify?

Does Dist Atty have sufficient evd to prove TN and/or GD committed any one of those three types of offenses?

Considering the above, I understand why charges have not been made to date and also don't predict future charges.** my2ct.Could be wrong.

________________________
* PART 7 VICTIMS AND WITNESSES PROTECTION
"18-8-701. Short title. This part 7 shall be known and may be cited as the "Colorado Victim and Witness Protection Act of 1984".
18-8-702. Definitions. ...
(2) "Witness" means any natural person:... Having knowledge of the existence or nonexistence of facts relating to any crime..."
18-8-703. Bribing a witness ...
18-8-704. Intimidating a witness ...
18-8-707. Tampering with a witness ..."

** Statute of limitations, Class 4 felonies. Dist Atty has three yrs from date the offense allegedly occurs to press charges. Iirc this convo (maybe, the one and only convo?) happened w'in first week of SM's disappearance. So possibly another yr to file?

Great points.