Still Missing CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee Co, 10 May 2020 *arrest* #99

[DizzyB]

I am very nervous about the thoroughness of the prosecution. I am hopeful that whoever leads has put together a clear and concise case. I do admit that I have been thinking about us getting together funding for a billboard if the unthinkable happens and Barry goes free. We would have to wait till Barry puts down stakes somewhere so we could make sure he sees it every day. My current thought is, “Still a Murderer”.

 

[Niner]

Docket update:

Date Len Appearance Name Hearing Type Case # Location Division
4/19/22
9:00 AM 1D IN PERSON MORPHEW, BARRY Pre-Trial Readiness Conference D222022CR47 Fremont County Division 1

4/28/22 - Jury selection
8:00 AM 1Hr IN PERSON MORPHEW, BARRY Jury Trial D222022CR47 Fremont County Division 1

4/29/22 - Skreck Hearing
8:00 AM 1Hr IN PERSON MORPHEW, BARRY Motions Hearing D222022CR47 Fremont County Division 1

4/29/22 - Jury selection continues
8:00 AM 1D MORPHEW, BARRY Jury Trial D222022CR47 Fremont County Division 1

5/3/22 - Voir Dire
8:00 AM 1D IN PERSON MORPHEW, BARRY Jury Trial D222022CR47 Fremont County Division 1

thru

6/3/22
8:00 AM 1D IN PERSON MORPHEW, BARRY Jury Trial D222022CR47 Fremont County Division 1

link: Colorado Judicial Branch - Court Docket Search

 

[Love Never Fails]

I know Grusing didn't testify as an expert during the prelim, but it appears the prosecution wanted him to testify as an expert at trial. He's one of a number of people already stricken in that regard, which is mentioned in a footnote in the motion.

I don't know how this affects the prosecution, as we don't know how they planned to use these witnesses (if they would ask them questions that would require them to be an expert), but it can't possibly be a good thing.

Somehow this thing has been derailed. Time to dismiss, get their act together and try again, rather than let him be acquitted. Can’t decide who is most at fault. I want to blame this defense loving judge but maybe the prosecution set it up for failure. Why???

 

[Nikynoo]

Somehow this thing has been derailed. Time to dismiss, get their act together and try again, rather than let him be acquitted. Can’t decide who is most at fault. I want to blame this defense loving judge but maybe the prosecution set it up for failure. Why???

IMO the prosecution did not set this up to fail. I think its a combination of a newly elected DA who wanted a high profile case to make a good impression, lack of experience of said DA and inepitutde of said DA.

 

[Kemug]

How about I put a couple of K9's in the zoo?

 

[abams]

On Wednesday, a judge ruled that a veterinarian, who had expected to testify about tranquilizers, will not be allowed to take the stand as an expert.

The judge also ruled that a K9 handler will not take the stand in the trial either. The K9 from the Department of Corrections was used on May 10 when Suzanne was reported missing to sniff out the area where Suzanne’s bike was found. The K9 did not pick up on a scent near County Road 225 and Highway 50. This was the only day this dog was used.

Prosecutors say they believe Suzanne Morphew was shot with a tranquilizer before she was killed. The sheath cap of a tranquilizer needle was discovered in the Morphews’ dryer in the days following her death.

rsbm. This is confusing because tweets posted from other reporters at the hearing say the K9 picked up and followed a scent (possibly Suzanne's) along the creek.

 

[Skigh]

How about I put a couple of K9's in the zoo?

Maybe the zoo keepers could keep them as pets rather than put them in the main zoo.

 

[Love Never Fails]

I know Grusing didn't testify as an expert during the prelim, but it appears the prosecution wanted him to testify as an expert at trial. He's one of a number of people already stricken in that regard, which is mentioned in a footnote in the motion.

I don't know how this affects the prosecution, as we don't know how they planned to use these witnesses (if they would ask them questions that would require them to be an expert), but it can't possibly be a good thing.

Somehow this thing has been derailed. Time to dismiss, get their act together and try again, rather than let him be acquitted. Can’t decide who is most at fault. I want to blame this defense loving judge but maybe the prosecution set it up for failure. Why???

IMO the prosecution did not set this up to fail. I think its a combination of a newly elected DA who wanted a high profile case to make a good impression, lack of experience of said DA and inepitutde of said DA.

Agree but that’s as good as it gets in setting it up for failure. Did she care about Suzanne or her ego?

 

[susiQ]

Maybe the zoo keepers could keep them as pets rather than put them in the main zoo.

We could have them guarding Bare’s enclosure . Make sure they have BIG teeth !

 

[Ontario Mom]

You just have to wonder, what the heck are they all so flipping happy about?

 

[Momofthreeboys]

Somehow this thing has been derailed. Time to dismiss, get their act together and try again, rather than let him be acquitted. Can’t decide who is most at fault. I want to blame this defense loving judge but maybe the prosecution set it up for failure. Why???

Agree but that’s as good as it gets in setting it up for failure. Did she care about Suzanne or her ego?

I think LE and the DA just fell in love with their theory and didn't have the foresight to think ahead to the flaws in the case. I still stand by my early belief they pulled the arrest too early and should have heeded the experienced CBI recommendation to delay the arrest and pulled the case together first. I was shocked to learn CBI team members had that opinion as I thought I was out standing in a field all by myself with my opinion. I equated it to a chess match many months ago...if the DA wasn't thinking ahead to what moves defense might make and be preemptive you can lose the chess match in my opinion. I get dissed and dismissed for thinking about the defense side of the case, but as a prosecutor if you don't, you end up with a mess of a case like this. The jury is most likely not going to be comprised of people that go in thinking "Barry is guilty and I don't care what anybody else says." It's salvageable as a prosecution but wow the risk of prosecution losing is a big one. Two judges cautioned the prosecution about their case....feels like they weren't listening.

 

[susiQ]

Somehow this thing has been derailed. Time to dismiss, get their act together and try again, rather than let him be acquitted. Can’t decide who is most at fault. I want to blame this defense loving judge but maybe the prosecution set it up for failure. Why???

Agree but that’s as good as it gets in setting it up for failure. Did she care about Suzanne or her ego?

I’m disappointed too at the moment, but I’m going to give the judge a pass. Who wants to see an appeal? With regard to LS, I just don’t know. I don’t think it’s ego, I think she truly wants justice for Suzanne, but something’s definitely lacking. Like you, I would absolutely hate to see this murderer get off, when there is SO much circumstantial evidence that points at him being the only possible reason Suzanne is no longer here. If they do go ahead, without being able to use their expert witnesses as experts and now the possibility of even lay witnesses not being allowed because they are indeed experts in their field, I’m not as confident that they can pull it off, UNLESS, there’s something really big we don’t know about that’s not coming from an expert.

So, in the event that the judge prevents the prosecution from using those the defence is labelling as “stealth witnesses” from testifying, I imagine it would be best to call it a day and start over?? JMO.

 

[WingsOverTX]

This is what I mean. The smiles. Literally makes me sick. JMO

Reminds me of a country song : "Now Mama's in the graveyard and Papa's in the pen."

These young women are enduring something people of any age would find unbearably difficult. Yes, they do appear nonchalant.

But when the cameras are off, they have a lifetime of heartache ahead no matter the outcome.

It's a sad country song that never ends. And they are so young.

MOO

 

[WingsOverTX]

I think LE and the DA just fell in love with their theory and didn't have the foresight to think ahead to the flaws in the case. I still stand by my early belief they pulled the arrest too early and should have heeded the experienced CBI recommendation to delay the arrest and pulled the case together first. I was shocked to learn CBI team members had that opinion as I thought I was out standing in a field all by myself with my opinion. I equated it to a chess match many months ago...if the DA wasn't thinking ahead to what moves defense might make and be preemptive you can lose the chess match in my opinion. I get dissed and dismissed for thinking about the defense side of the case, but as a prosecutor if you don't, you end up with a mess of a case like this. The jury is most likely not going to be comprised of people that go in thinking "Barry is guilty and I don't care what anybody else says." It's salvageable as a prosecution but wow the risk of prosecution losing is a big one. Two judges cautioned the prosecution about their case....feels like they weren't listening.

Now, about those judges...I'll reserve comment but really?

You are going to let the opinion of Cahill, a man in a critical position of trust who admits to not handling stress well and whose actions prove it, to paint CBI with the same cowardly yellow paintbrush he used on himself?

While there are no perfect actors here, I don't think the smears of the defense are fair or fact-based in many instances. They are providing the defendant with reason for hope. But then, he thought he could get away with murder one after leaving her silent from his return home the day before Mother's Day 2020.

Mother's Day 2022 will be his day of reckoning. I think the case is remarkably good for one with no body and a defendant who by his own admission has a gun in his hand when she disappears from all contact.

JMO

 

[mrjitty]

I think the case is remarkably good for one with no body and a defendant who by his own admission has a gun in his hand when she disappears from all contact.

RSBM

Exactly. The core prosecution case remains untouched. Grusing will testify just like he did in the prelim or in the Redwine case. It doesn't matter about some dog man report.

 

[susiQ]

Now, about those judges...I'll reserve comment but really?

You are going to let the opinion of Cahill, a man in a critical position of trust who admits to not handling stress well and whose actions prove it, to paint CBI with the same cowardly yellow paintbrush he used on himself?

While there are no perfect actors here, I don't think the smears of the defense are fair or fact-based in many instances. They are providing the defendant with reason for hope. But then, he thought he could get away with murder one after leaving her silent from his return home the day before Mother's Day 2020.

Mother's Day 2022 will be his day of reckoning. I think the case is remarkably good for one with no body and a defendant who by his own admission has a gun in his hand when she disappears from all contact.

JMO

RSBM

Exactly. The core prosecution case remains untouched. Grusing will testify just like he did in the prelim or in the Redwine case. It doesn't matter about some dog man report.

Oh thank you both! I needed that slap in the face this morning!!

 

[Skigh]

Oh thank you both! I needed that slap in the face this morning!!

A bit like a night at the Oscars!

 

[MrsWatson]

When did Suzanne go dark?

Right after BM got home.

When was Suzanne's last proof of life?

Right before BM got home.

That, imo, is a huge obstacle to overcome. We are not hearing some bombshell revelations from the defense that create any doubt about who disappeared Suzanne. If they had any sort of hard evidence that shows BM is blameless, we'd know from their plural motions to dismiss.

 

[justtrish]

She never took a ride on her bike. She was dead. Maybe she had walked there before. I doubt the dog picked up her scent.

Oh I agree! I meant if the dog handler could explain that if she was in fact just there 12 hours prior and had wrecked and got up, the scent would be very strong and the dog would have been able to follow it away from the "wreck" area.

 

[COHinkyMeter]

Some of ya'll might be interested to learn who owns property up on Garfield.

I'll bite...