Still Missing CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee Co, 10 May 2020 *arrest* #98

[sk716]

RSBM - right?

This is the rabbit hole I went down for some weeks on the Pistorius case.

Because 99.99% of men who engage in DA/DV don't murder their wives, there is a belief that it isn't predictive, or even to normalise it, as just the usual stuff that goes on in a failed marriage. You'll even hear that a bad assault was out of character or the abuser "snapped".

However when you look at the much smaller data set where men did murder their wives you will frequently find these red flags - so they actually do provide clear warnings

Given it's so obvious BM murdered SM, we can (even pre trial) look back at the warning signs and it is clear multiple people, including SM were worried about her safety - it's just that they under appreciated the risks. But the stuff about restraining orders, admitted violence, threats of suicide, secret camera, concealed affair, decision to divorce - these are all obvious indicators that built to a weekend that the vulnerable, isolated victim did not survive.

Unfortunately the judge decided this wasn't probative enough.

I disagree on a policy basis because we end up saying that victims need to raise the alarm in a way that a male judge thinks is meaningful, rather in a way that survivors and their close supporters understand as significant and safe.

I guarantee after this case, there will be the usual media platitudes of "how did this happen" when witnesses were tipping the police off as to the domestic angle in the first hours live on video!

We're learning that men who commit acts of violence start with their significant others. So maybe 99% of them don't go on to murder their wives, but what percentage kills/commits violence against someone else?

In my experience, men who hit their wives are cowards. They are unlikely to confront another male without a physical advantage, but they are the type to have a lot of weapons.

MOO

 

[BDAJAG]

He’s accessing the device each time on the 5th of the month. And SM texted, “I’m done. I could not care less what you’re doing or have been doing. I just want to handle this civilly” on the day after that 5/5/2020 access. And the PE guys emphasized “5” and also that something was going on on the dark web.

Is he using the device to view or access something on the dark web that releases new material the 5th of every month?

ETA: that second date, 8/5/2020 would have been the Morphew’s 26th wedding anniversary and it is the first time BM uses the device since SM disappeared.

<VR BBM for focus>

As the times are UTC , the correlative date would, I suggest, take the form "DAY/MONTH/YEAR".

• And thus, "5/5/2020" would be understood to be the fifth of May, 2020;
• Similarly, "8/5/2020" --> the eighth of May, 2020

Now to build on the foibles of what ought to be(?) fundamental, seemingly uncontroversial conventions, I'll dare to share this:

What is UTC or GMT Time? - National Hurricane Center
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov › aboututc.shtml
By convention, the world's weather communities use a twenty four hour clock, similar to "military" timebased on the 0° longitude meridian, also known as the Greenwich meridian. Prior to 1972, this time was called Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) but is now referred to as Coordinated Universal Time or Universal Time Coordinated (UTC). <-- ed. Note that our 'New World Order' cannot get together on even the word order here, viz. "UTC" as opposed to "CUT". This latter variation likely rejected as "unduly insensitive"? ...or "insufficiently placid"?

 

[sk716]

<VR BBM for focus>

As the times are UTC , the correlative date would, I suggest, take the form "DAY/MONTH/YEAR".

• And thus, "5/5/2020" would be understood to be the fifth of May, 2020;
• Similarly, "8/5/2020" --> the eighth of May, 2020

Now to build on the foibles of what ought to be(?) fundamental, seemingly uncontroversial conventions, I'll dare to share this:

What is UTC or GMT Time? - National Hurricane Center
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov › aboututc.shtml
By convention, the world's weather communities use a twenty four hour clock, similar to "military" timebased on the 0° longitude meridian, also known as the Greenwich meridian. Prior to 1972, this time was called Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) but is now referred to as Coordinated Universal Time or Universal Time Coordinated (UTC). <-- ed. Note that our 'New World Order' cannot get together on even the word order here, viz. "UTC" as opposed to "CUT". This latter variation likely rejected as "unduly insensitive"? ...or "insufficiently placid"?

Having spent hours converting the truck UTC data to Colorado's UTC-6 on a 24 hour clock, the US date format is used with the slashes. 8/5/20 would be August 5, 2020. May 8th would be 5/8/20. Hence why I chose to go with the 24 hour format on the spreadsheets to avoid confusion.

 

[susiQ]

Came across this interesting article published last month by a former District Attorney of Colorado’s 18th Judicial District. The credits say former DA Brauchler is also a frequent columnist for the Denver Post. I couldn’t pull up the article in the Post as it required a subscription but found the article at link below. Anyway, just thought I’d share as I found it interesting and good to know that a former Colorado DA is advocating for more judicial transparency and accountability in the CO court system/judiciary.
Snipped from the article:

Brauchler: Colorado’s judges need more oversight and occasional ouster

This week, the Colorado Commission of Judicial discipline made the unprecedented decision to ask the Colorado General Assembly to give it complete autonomy from the Colorado Judicial Branch it is charged with investigating.

This seems so obvious, it is difficult to imagine why it has not been the case until now. In fact, it is such common sense that the Colorado Supreme Court echoed the request for investigative autonomy from itself. I cheer on this change, despite how long overdue it is. More is needed.

While Colorado looks under the judicial hood at needed reform, here are some others this legislature can work on right now.

Make Colorado’s Open Records Act apply to the entire judicial branch, just like it applies to the other branches of state government. I have argued for just such a needed improvement to judicial transparency and accountability to Coloradans on these pages and testified to the same multiple times under the Gold Dome. Those currently in power continue to allow the judicial branch to write its own rules for what it will disclose to the public who funds them. That must change.

Insist on attorneys being experts in the legal field in which they will serve as a judge … before they start serving as a judge. Even the best, most experienced podiatrist is ill-suited to render opinions on infectious diseases. Yet, in our state, the only requirement to be eligible to put on a robe is that a lawyer has practiced for a mere five years and is in good standing with the bar. There is no requirement that they have achieved any level of expertise in any area of the law, and even if they had, there is no requirement that they serve as a judge only in the area of their expertise. The result is that a ten-year divorce lawyer who has never been in front of a jury could be appointed by a governor to serve as a felony-level judge and the next day, pick a jury for a murder case, sentence a convicted child molester, or rule on the admissibility of rape shield evidence.
That is bonkers.

Put cameras in the courtroom. It is unjustifiable that in 2022, seven years after every moment of the Aurora Theater Shooting trial was broadcast online and elsewhere that the only way for taxpayers and voters to learn what judges do is to physically be in our tiny courtrooms.

The judicial branch should be commended for how much of the criminal justice process has been made accessible through WebEx, but it is time to take off the training wheels. With exceptions for cases involving juveniles, sexual assault victims, domestic relations, and a few others, everything should be accessible to the public all the time. Simple rule: If the public is allowed to watch it in court, they ought to be allowed to watch it online.

These are but a few of the easy, low-hanging fruit changes that will make our judicial branch more experienced, accessible, and accountable to Coloradans.

Brauchler: Colorado’s judges need more oversight and occasional ouster

IMHOO

#FindSuzanne
#BringSuzanneHome
#JusticeForSuzanne

Wow! I do like this former DA!! Straight up common sense. I sincerely hope his recommendations are taken into consideration and reform is forthcoming. Unfortunately, it will be too late for this case .

 

[susiQ]

The text exchange between SM and SO - SM stated: I feel like he's supporting someone else.

page 16: https://denver.cbslocal.com/wp-cont...06/2022/01/People-Exhibits-Prelim-Hearing.pdf

I kept waiting for SO to say who? Who do you think he's supporting? I was hoping she would become very nosey. IMO

ETA: peoples exhibit 15 (not page 16)

Hmmm….I missed this! Yet, I have always wondered if there’s a little Bare, Bare somewhere out there.

 

[Love Never Fails]

I think this is a manifestation of the general upchuck reaction among women to Judge L's ruling excluding the DV expert. It does not seem to be the product of someone who is exceptionally well informed, but it seems to be an authentic and widely shared sentiment in the community.

Also, I think it's important to understand that the Colorado judiciary has taken a media beating over the past year for lack of integrity and transparency (e.g. Auditor's report finds possible illegal activity among ex-Colorado Judicial Branch Employees and related articles), and to me it is completely understandable that a Colorado citizen might think Justice Boatright made insufficient inquiry into Judge L's credentials and potential conflicts before appointing him.

If the petition demonstrates concern among the community and stimulates more participation in the public dialog and especially more media comment from experts on DV, I think it will have served a beneficial purpose. It it won't hurt to have greater public scrutiny of judges either, including but not limited to Judge L.

agree with all you said.

 

[CGray123]

Wow! I do like this former DA!! Straight up common sense. I sincerely hope his recommendations are taken into consideration and reform is forthcoming. Unfortunately, it will be too late for this case .

IMO, the article greatly oversimplifies the issues, suggesting the rights of defendants and the wrongly accused are not important, and includes the suggestion that anyone who disagrees is "soft on crime." Irresponsible. MOO.

 

[susiQ]

IMO, the article greatly oversimplifies the issues, suggesting the rights of defendants and the wrongly accused are not important, and includes the suggestion that anyone who disagrees is "soft on crime." Irresponsible. MOO.

With all respect, I disagree. Are we reading the same article?? I did not read into it that “the rights of defendants and the wrongly accused are not important.” On the contrary, improvements to the Judiciary will protect everyone, including the VICTIMS. JMHO IANAL

 

[justtrish]

For the 5th and 8th we have BM using his second phone, which he owned since Nov 30th 2019:
05.05.2020 Tuesday 12:48 PM
08.05.2020 Friday 3:43 PM
(UTC -6)
Then he didn't use this phone until 10.05.2020 Saturday 08:47 AM.

Does starting with his second device have a certain meaning re his car using also? Any logical conclusions by my smart fellow members just as you are? With logic I'm at war sometimes.

I am no tech expert and so this is definitely just my curious mind thinking.. lol

If they do not have the second device to analyze all the data for, then it's possible he used that device much more than what is shown in records. I think that second device shows up when it is paired with Barry's phone or his truck. They wouldn't have access to all the data on that device without having the actual device if I understand correctly. I think with Suzanne's all they have is what was saved to the cloud or what they could get from other phones like SO or Barry's that had interactions with hers.

So I am thinking in Mexico when we first see his device maybe it's connected to his phone's hot spot? Then in the other cases it could be paired with his truck or again using the hot spot on his phone. I'm not sure how else they have info from that device if they don't have the device to physically analyze it.

 

[Momofthreeboys]

I agree with the the gist of the article and I agree that public awareness is important. It's difficult here I think because it seems the anger is directed at a particular judicial decision more than the legal basis for that decision. Changing a judge doesn't negate the basis necessarily for the legal decision. As far as Judge Lama goes....my gut says there are far, far better "cases" to use for advocacy around domestic violence than this one but maybe not in Colorado though...so it goes as the saying something might be better than nothing.

 

[sk716]

I am no tech expert and so this is definitely just my curious mind thinking.. lol

If they do not have the second device to analyze all the data for, then it's possible he used that device much more than what is shown in records. I think that second device shows up when it is paired with Barry's phone or his truck. They wouldn't have access to all the data on that device without having the actual device if I understand correctly. I think with Suzanne's all they have is what was saved to the cloud or what they could get from other phones like SO or Barry's that had interactions with hers.

So I am thinking in Mexico when we first see his device maybe it's connected to his phone's hot spot? Then in the other cases it could be paired with his truck or again using the hot spot on his phone. I'm not sure how else they have info from that device if they don't have the device to physically analyze it.

What we know about the second device is that it connected with his phone (which I noticed earlier used to be MM2's phone) as recorded in the AA. I haven't seen any sign of it in the truck data we got from the defense. I've only glanced at the phone data, but since it came from the defense, I doubt it'll be in there either.

 

[justtrish]

What we know about the second device is that it connected with his phone (which I noticed earlier used to be MM2's phone) as recorded in the AA. I haven't seen any sign of it in the truck data we got from the defense. I've only glanced at the phone data, but since it came from the defense, I doubt it'll be in there either.

Okay! So curious if "connected to" his phone means maybe by the hot spot? How would phones connect with each other or how would another device connect with your phone? Bluetooth? I was thinking maybe this device paired with his truck, but if it's his phone then I don't know. ugh I wish things were clear here. I'm sure investigators have the same frustrations.

 

[Megnut]

I still contend that IMO Suzanne would've been careful about what she left out in plain sight. Thousands of texts to SO that didn't contain allegations of DV. Spy pen hidden in her closet. She kept her journal on her nightstand! I believe it was sanitized. About hope, joy, motherhood, hopes, dreams. A gratitude journal.

I think she may have had a second journal. One just for herself. With entries she wouldn't want anyone else to read.

I did.

One was a journal anyone could read.

The other documented every encounter during a very ugly divorce. Saved on my computer. Under a file name no one would notice because I did not want him to find it.

I hope LE has scoured every single device to which Suzanne had access, in search of embedded text. My secret journal was saved in the center of file, with expected text on the front and back ends.

If Suzanne did something like that, I hope LE is looking for it.

JMO

 

[Megnut]

We need so much DV education.

Most DV happens behind closed door.

Frequently both parties locked in DV keep it the secret. The victimizer, for obvious reasons. The victim, for many complicated reasons. Believes it was an accident, wants to believe it won't happen again. Internalizes the reason it happened (I shouldn't have made him mad...), doesn't want others to form a poor opinion of the victimizer, isn't ready to leave, etc, etc, etc.

When Barry says " the only time" his weird reflex clipped her, he apologized and held her.

Boy, there's a pattern we've never seen before.

Classic DV.

It happened, I said sorry, now it's on you to forgive me. 7 x 70... and it was only an accident. I didn't do it on purpose. Listen, you know I love you.

And round and round it goes.

It is TRAGIC that so many people believe that it's not DV if it's not constant. It's precisely because it's not usually constant that it's so effective -- many women don't, won't or can't leave -- because it's not constant.

That damaged door frame was Barry's door to. I wonder if LE asked him aviut it directly. How'd that happen, Barry? Team of wild ox?

Poor Suzanne. She was only just learning for herself that control is not love....

He said he love her to death.

Or controlled her to it.

Such a sad ending for such a beautiful light.

JMO

 

[waldojabba]

We need so much DV education.

Most DV happens behind closed door.

Frequently both parties locked in DV keep it the secret. The victimizer, for obvious reasons. The victim, for many complicated reasons. Believes it was an accident, wants to believe it won't happen again. Internalizes the reason it happened (I shouldn't have made him mad...), doesn't want others to form a poor opinion of the victimizer, isn't ready to leave, etc, etc, etc.

When Barry says " the only time" his weird reflex clipped her, he apologized and held her.

Boy, there's a pattern we've never seen before.

Classic DV.

It happened, I said sorry, now it's on you to forgive me. 7 x 70... and it was only an accident. I didn't do it on purpose. Listen, you know I love you.

And round and round it goes.

It is TRAGIC that so many people believe that it's not DV if it's not constant. It's precisely because it's not usually constant that it's so effective -- many women don't, won't or can't leave -- because it's not constant.

That damaged door frame was Barry's door to. I wonder if LE asked him aviut it directly. How'd that happen, Barry? Team of wild ox?

Poor Suzanne. She was only just learning for herself that control is not love....

He said he love her to death.

Or controlled her to it.

Such a sad ending for such a beautiful light.

JMO

BBM Totally classic spousal/intimate partner abuse. I hit you then I apologize and tell you I love you. Until the next time. Or maybe next time I don’t have to hit you because you “behave” bc you know what can happen. They call it a cycle of abuse for a reason. If you don’t shine a light on it and call it what it is - the risk is it becomes generational and your kids perpetuate the same behavior they have seen modeled in the house between their parents in their own relationships. Just my opinion

 

[al66pine]

.... She was trying to speak out in the days before she disappeared.... The texts from her daughter to her boyfriend, being worried....

@justtrish sbm for focus bbm I recall reading/hearing references to the dau's texts to BF but do not recall reading the actual texts themselves.
If someone could point me to a link, I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

[swedeheart]

He’s accessing the device each time on the 5th of the month. And SM texted, “I’m done. I could not care less what you’re doing or have been doing. I just want to handle this civilly” on the day after that 5/5/2020 access. And the PE guys emphasized “5” and also that something was going on on the dark web.

Is he using the device to view or access something on the dark web that releases new material the 5th of every month?

ETA: that second date, 8/5/2020 would have been the Morphew’s 26th wedding anniversary and it is the first time BM uses the device since SM disappeared.

Interesting observation. Paying rent for the daughter in Gunnison? The 5th of the month is often when rent is due before a late fee. Or a recurring bill of some sort? But odd that he would use a different device although is it determined and known that the device was a different phone? Or do we not know what type of device?

Huh. Very interesting idea @rent payments being due before the 5th. Didn't Barry "start" paying (and still continues to pay) for Sho's rent, very shortly after his wife went missing?

I think you might be on to something, especially since Suzanne was also suspicious that Barry was "supporting" someone else. Perhaps this was the final straw, and part of the reason she was done and planning to move forward with the divorce. Did she find Barry's secret phone?

If he used the phone on 8/5/20 he couldn't have tossed the phone in his trash runs.

Where is this device now?

 

[FromGermany1]

BBM Did you mean this date to be 05.08.2020? Or is it as you wrote it August 5, 2020 / thx

Sorry, I did write it in the way, German people do (usually I do not and always try to be US-compliant).
May 5th and May 8th I meant.

 

[Diddian]

Interesting observation. Paying rent for the daughter in Gunnison? The 5th of the month is often when rent is due before a late fee. Or a recurring bill of some sort? But odd that he would use a different device although is it determined and known that the device was a different phone? Or do we not know what type of device?

IIRC, it is not known by LE what type of device it is. It is only known that it paired with BM’s phone (or was it the Bluetooth of B

Sorry, I did write it in the way, German people do (usually I do not and always try to be US-compliant).
May 5th and May 8th I meant.

Thank you so much for clarifying!

This eliminates the basis for my earlier post wondering if there was something to the pattern of repeated access on the 5th of the month.

 

[Love Never Fails]

We need so much DV education.

Most DV happens behind closed door.

Frequently both parties locked in DV keep it the secret. The victimizer, for obvious reasons. The victim, for many complicated reasons. Believes it was an accident, wants to believe it won't happen again. Internalizes the reason it happened (I shouldn't have made him mad...), doesn't want others to form a poor opinion of the victimizer, isn't ready to leave, etc, etc, etc.

When Barry says " the only time" his weird reflex clipped her, he apologized and held her.

Boy, there's a pattern we've never seen before.

Classic DV.

It happened, I said sorry, now it's on you to forgive me. 7 x 70... and it was only an accident. I didn't do it on purpose. Listen, you know I love you.

And round and round it goes.

It is TRAGIC that so many people believe that it's not DV if it's not constant. It's precisely because it's not usually constant that it's so effective -- many women don't, won't or can't leave -- because it's not constant.

That damaged door frame was Barry's door to. I wonder if LE asked him aviut it directly. How'd that happen, Barry? Team of wild ox?

Poor Suzanne. She was only just learning for herself that control is not love....

He said he love her to death.

Or controlled her to it.

Such a sad ending for such a beautiful light.

JMO

Dwelling on this case for too long at a time just hurts my soul. Just from the texts I can hear Suzanne’s voice. He doesn’t answer her questions, not about money or where he’s been or why his phone was turned off. He won’t look her in the eye when she tries to discuss their lives. He says he is going to kill himself when they get into arguments. He uses the kids against her and manipulated them. It’s all there for any lawyer, judge or jurist to see.

For the life of me, I can’t understand why there are some posters here who can’t or won’t see it. Did Suzanne have ONE affair? Yes. Did she pay for it? With her life! I wish she had never done that. But could she have escaped Barry ever? I don’t think so.

I don’t believe Suzanne is dead because she had an affair. I believe sooner or later she would have been murdered by Barry. Why? Because she questioned him. Because she had a second round of cancer and that was not on his bucket list. Because she inherited money and wanted to know where it was going. Because she had friends that were not Barry’s friends. Because she had a family that wasn’t Barry’s family. Because she wanted a say in how the girls were being raised. Because she didn’t want to be alone while he was doing who knows what and running around and leaving her alone at Puma Path. There are so many reasons that she wasn’t going to last and most of all, she was waking up to realizing she could have a life separate from him. She had an inheritance that would help her with her finances and medical expenses.

I have hopes that investigators never gave up and they have information we never knew about that will solidify the case.

Barry Morphew doesn’t deserve to be walking free right now or ever.