Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee Co, 10 May 2020 *Case dismissed w/o Prejudice* #103

[crhedBngr]

For those wondering about melting snowpack, I'd forgotten that Colorado has "seasonally-frozen ground".

Per the following link,

https://nsidc.org/cryosphere/frozenground/whereis_fg.html

Figure 2. Most frozen ground in the United States is seasonally frozen ground. The shaded areas on the map, between the dotted lines, mark the average depth that the soil freezes to in the winter. The actual depth that the ground freezes to in any particular place may vary due to local climate, soil type, elevation, and terrain.
Credit: Neil Davis

I can see why frozen ground might be another hurdle when excavating her remains.

JMVHO.

 

[K9Enzo]

It's more about whether he had the means to dispose of Suzanne at a separate location without the use of a car. He did. It reinforces that Barry had the means, the motivation, and the opportunity, to murder and disappear Suzanne Morphew.

I have a hard time believing BM (including most people) can negotiate a high peak mountain at that elevation & terrain with a body. No. Regardless of BM’s hunting skills he wasn’t carrying dead animals up a mountain either.

If DA Stanley stated she believes SM’s remains are en route to BM’s hotel room, or in a rugged area off a service road by Puma Path, etc. Okay. But SAR can’t access this location safely, but BM could? Nah. IMO

 

[mom2chloe]

Do we know if Barry had a snow mobile?

 

[crhedBngr]

Do we know if Barry had a snow mobile?

Excellent question!

I suspect if not, he could probably borrow one from someone.

JMVHO.

 

[sripey]

I have a hard time believing BM (including most people) can negotiate a high peak mountain at that elevation & terrain with a body. No. Regardless of BM’s hunting skills he wasn’t carrying dead animals up a mountain either.

If DA Stanley stated she believes SM’s remains are en route to BM’s hotel room, or in a rugged area off a service road by Puma Path, etc. Okay. But SAR can’t access this location safely, but BM could? Nah. IMO

I never said anything about a specific location, much less a high peak mountain. I never even said Barry used the ATV to transport Suzanne.
Were you responding to someone else?

 

[mom2chloe]

I have a hard time believing BM (including most people) can negotiate a high peak mountain at that elevation & terrain with a body. No. Regardless of BM’s hunting skills he wasn’t carrying dead animals up a mountain either.

If DA Stanley stated she believes SM’s remains are en route to BM’s hotel room, or in a rugged area off a service road by Puma Path, etc. Okay. But SAR can’t access this location safely, but BM could? Nah. IMO

I’m interested in your thoughts on Barry being to access and area other searches couldn’t especially if he owned or had access to a snowmobile? I realize we are not privy to the same search information that you are acquainted with so I value your thoughts on this. Thanks in advance!

 

[steeltowngirl]

I have a hard time believing BM (including most people) can negotiate a high peak mountain at that elevation & terrain with a body. No. Regardless of BM’s hunting skills he wasn’t carrying dead animals up a mountain either.

If DA Stanley stated she believes SM’s remains are en route to BM’s hotel room, or in a rugged area off a service road by Puma Path, etc. Okay. But SAR can’t access this location safely, but BM could? Nah. IMO

Don’t hunters typically drag deer out with rope or harness? If he did take her up the mountain and off-road without a vehicle, I thought perhaps that’s how he might have done it.

 

[steeltowngirl]

And I find it difficult to believe with 2 warrants at the house and the number of days LE had the home that they don’t know what vehicles and transportation were owned by the Morphews. So yes, it is reasonable to point out that chances are LE knows what was there or owned.

But we don’t know all of what LE knows, aside from the AA - since there wasn‘t a trial and all of the evidence isn’t known. I believe that’s why posters are still asking questions about vehicles. I don’t think people are posting questions in any attempt to enlighten LE.

jmo

 

[MassGuy]

Very few people I think disagree he had means, motive and opportunity. That is only the first hurdle :-(

I mean, it really comes down to Barry and aliens at this point, and even aliens wouldn't explain away all the evidence against Barry.

 

[girlhasnoname]

Him boasting to anyone that his daughter was the only virgin at college is scary. How would he know? That’s a strange relationship he has with that girl.

All the women in Barry's life were trophies to 'hang on the wall' for all the world to admire. That image gave him power and admiration he didn't have on his own. MOO

 

[mrjitty]

The way I see it, BM removed SM from the house somehow and it seems the only reasonable possibility is a vehicle was used, but not his truck or the bobcat

So I think from a jurors point of view, you need to be comfortable than means and opportunity existed.

In some respects this aspect is self evident iMO (though we have to be careful of circular reasoning).

IIRC, the prosecution case in the prelim is simply that BM has hidden SM. They don't have to prove how he did it - rather they seek to prove he must have done so.

 

[mrjitty]

Don’t hunters typically drag deer out with rope or harness? If he did take her up the mountain and off-road without a vehicle, I thought perhaps that’s how he might have done it.

According to the logic in No Stone Unturned, it is unlikely she is far from vehicle access.

The problem is more that the area to be searched is so big and this applies often even if you have specific intel.

Necrosearch were involved in a search where they knew what town the killer had visited, but they struggled to find the body even when quite close to it - and that was only in a shallow grave.

It's why the body is often found due to animal activity.

 

[Momofthreeboys]

According to the logic in No Stone Unturned, it is unlikely she is far from vehicle access.

The problem is more that the area to be searched is so big and this applies often even if you have specific intel.

Necrosearch were involved in a search where they knew what town the killer had visited, but they struggled to find the body even when quite close to it - and that was only in a shallow grave.

It's why the body is often found due to animal activity.

Since it's been almost 2 years since this Chaffee County Press release I'm posting as a refresher of the original searches since being criticized regarding whether Barry owned a quad or a snowmobile. Plus there was the "people's search" with Andy Moorman. From the press release:

In this investigation resources were called in to assist with numerous searches. These resources have included Chaffee SAR South and North, The Colorado Department of Corrections S.O.R.T Team, the CBI Crime Scene Investigation Team, FBI Evidence Response Team, Chaffee County Combined Tactical Team, Salida Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Salida Police Department, Buena Vista Police Department, Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office Dive Rescue Team, Colorado State Patrol, El Paso County SAR Dog Team, Fremont County SAR Dog Team, Reach Air Medical Service, FBI Aviation Support Team, Necro Search International, Elizabeth Police Dog Team, Colorado Department of Corrections East Canon Tracking Team and the SAR Board of Colorado, which includes numerous SAR teams from around the state.

These above resources have contributed to numerous foot searches, Air Aviation searches and mapping, underwater imaging, dive team searches, several search dogs which includes air scent, tracking and HR Dogs. We have used numerous Drones for searches in several different areas.

Suzanne Morphew missing 4 months, investigation continues - Chaffee County Sheriff

CHAFFEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE Salida, Colorado PRESS RELEASE September 10, 2020 Today marks the 4 month anniversary when Suzanne Morphew was reported missing. Since that initial report the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office has joined forces with CBI, FBI and the 11th Judicial District in an...

chaffeesheriff.org

The home was seized for 16 days on the original search warrant: Suzanne Morphew disappearance: Law enforcement releases missing woman’s home to family and the home was again searched for a second time with a second warrant in July.

Finding Suzanne Morphew: Investigators Search Home Again, Say No One Has Been Ruled Out As Suspect

I have to believe that the focus of any new searches would be in places that have not been searched since I don't know if they could get a new warrant from the new owners without something substantial that has been discovered. I have never seen much info about areas outside of the property that were searched or any results from the people's search. If we are to believe that the area of interest per the DA was frozen and covered in snow in April, I have to assume the area is a very high elevation somewhere in the vicinity of Maysville that could be reached and returned from in early May from the Morphew home if I accept the DA's statement at face value. I think in May a snowmobile could be ruled out or it would have to be trailered to where there is snow. A quad possibly, but the speed of how far it could travel mph would need to be factored IMO.

 

[Love Never Fails]

All the women in Barry's life were trophies to 'hang on the wall' for all the world to admire. That image gave him power and admiration he didn't have on his own. MOO

Yes I get that. His narcicissim knows no bounds. But even so, I have never heard a man discuss his daughter’s virginity in public. Does this disgust her? Is she fine with it? These are questions we will never have answers for but that guy is way beyond narcicisstic.

 

[mrjitty]

I have to believe that the focus of any new searches would be in places that have not been searched since I don't know if they could get a new warrant from the new owners without something substantial that has been discovered.

RSBM

Not necessarily. There are numerous cases of bodies turning up in areas that have been 'searched' - even with dogs.

If the body is not lying out in the open, it can easily be missed.

 

[Momofthreeboys]

RSBM

Not necessarily. There are numerous cases of bodies turning up in areas that have been 'searched' - even with dogs.

If the body is not lying out in the open, it can easily be missed.

Sure it happens. My point was just that there have been extensive searches by numerous agencies around the Morphew home and vicinity. I seriously doubt with new owners of the property that without some pretty strong reason they won't get a third search warrant for that property. I happen to be someone who thinks they did a pretty good job investigating the location in the early months after the disappearance. My "beef" if you can even call it a beef is they triggered the trial process too soon and didn't have their theories well vetted and well presented. So my hope is they are going back over all their notes, all the early investigation notes, and all the tips if they genuinely are interested in pursuing a second attempt at a trial. He's a free man for all practical purposes so balls in their court no pun intended.

 

[Diddian]

@Diddian : Is this the photo you're referring to? I've outlined what I think is an RTV in pink.

ETA: Click on the photo to view at full size.

JMVHO.

Sorry for the late reply. I've got two young pups in the house and things are very busy here so I visit Websleuths irregularly.

Yes, that is the photo and the vehicle onboard the rear of the trailer that you have outlined is what I was remembering.

 

[waldojabba]

Yes I get that. His narcicissim knows no bounds. But even so, I have never heard a man discuss his daughter’s virginity in public. Does this disgust her? Is she fine with it? These are questions we will never have answers for but that guy is way beyond narcicisstic.

Agree with your "way beyond narcissistic". He has a real creepy inappropropriate factor going when it come to sexuality.
That's why I was of the opinion that perhaps there might be a "broke back mountain componnent" to his story. I stil don't discount it. It is possible he is hiding something more than just his dead wife/ IMO only of course

 

[crhedBngr]

Agree with your "way beyond narcissistic". He has a real creepy inappropropriate factor going when it come to sexuality.
That's why I was of the opinion that perhaps there might be a "broke back mountain componnent" to his story. I stil don't discount it. It is possible he is hiding something more than just his dead wife/ IMO only of course

I've been wondering about this as well!

JMVHO.

 

[justtrish]

Agree with your "way beyond narcissistic". He has a real creepy inappropropriate factor going when it come to sexuality.
That's why I was of the opinion that perhaps there might be a "broke back mountain componnent" to his story. I stil don't discount it. It is possible he is hiding something more than just his dead wife/ IMO only of course

Exactly right! I wish we knew what the second device was, how it was connected to his accounts. This VPN he bought with his daughters card (or her account or something like that). He sure did search some odd things and I guess some of that could be innocent, but some of it really didn't have a good reason for the searching and he lied about it (I think we'd have an easier time making a list of what he didn't lie about at this point). He was hiding something shady beyond planning to kill Suzanne. Maybe a girlfriend or two, maybe Sho being the girlfriend before he was even supposed to have met her.. maybe illegal acts with his business or hunting related illegal things. He was up to no good.

I still think it's possible Suzanne discovered some illegal activity. She was working on his billing that week too in addition to the "I'm done" text, she texted him about the business stuff she was doing for him, maybe she uncovered more nonsense. We know they had a fight one day too. I just think there are so many reasons he could have snapped and finally did it and all of them point back to his narcissistic controlling ways.