Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #54 *ARREST*

[JnRyan]

Can some of our longtime sleuths name missing wife cases where the husband never looked for her, sold all properties, her car and possessions, declared her deceased or obtained guardianship and didn’t have anything to do with the disappearance?
TIA

Karen Swift. For the longest time the husband was the one and only suspect. Then a PI found other suspects ignored by LE. To be sure, David Swift is still a suspect or POI, but thanks to the PI not the only one.

 

[Janeumayer]

Karen Swift. For the longest time the husband was the one and only suspect. Then a PI found other suspects ignored by LE. To be sure, David Swift is still a suspect or POI, but thanks to the PI not the only one.

I had forgotten about and I followed Karen’s case. That one has some similarities to this one. Such a sad case.

 

[Error505]

I was speaking cases in general not specific to this case. Trying to look at the odds with these kind of facts. I always leave room for another suspect.

In Suzanne’s case she has not been declared deceased but guardianship was acquired to sell her properties.

Is BM leaving CO? We don’t know.

BM was seen at a second hand store trying to get rid of Suzanne’s clothes and the store owner declined them.

MOO

BBM for emphasis. BM definitely knows SM is NEVER coming back!
Is BM that hard up for cash? Why not donate clothing to a women’s shelter or something? You couldn’t be talking about more than several hundred dollars (used clothes don’t bring high prices). I’d be very surprised if she had tons of designer clothes.
Wonder whatever happened to her wedding ring seen in photos? BM would never have left it on her finger if he’s enough of a jerk to try selling her clothes! All MOO #JusticeForSuzanne

 

[swedeheart]

BBM for emphasis. BM definitely knows SM is NEVER coming back!
Is BM that hard up for cash? Why not donate clothing to a women’s shelter or something? You couldn’t be talking about more than several hundred dollars (used clothes don’t bring high prices). I’d be very surprised if she had tons of designer clothes.
Wonder whatever happened to her wedding ring seen in photos? BM would never have left it on her finger if he’s enough of a jerk to try selling her clothes! All MOO #JusticeForSuzanne

Agree. I think it's also very telling that the family left this statue, that was obviously very sentimental and meaningful to Suzanne, in a spot that they are not even close to anymore. In the video, Lauren said she saw the statue at the front entrance to Puma Path when she was there. I can only imagine that if my mom/husband disappeared, that statue would be one of the first things I took with me to my new place (if I moved away so soon after), to remind of me of my mom/husband and how much it meant to her/him. The last thing I would want to do with that statue is leave it in a place I had no connection to any longer, and in a public space for random people to come across. But that's just me, and my opinion.

 

[Trackergd]

Since it was brought up on page 2 (I think) the attachment for the Bobcat would not have had a GPS. I think it a high probability the Bobcat did not have a GPS as it appears BM runs it back and forth, rather than leave it at a jobsite. To me, the most probable attachment he could have used is a hydraulic powered post hole digger with a 24" auger and extension. A nice deep 2' wide hole, 8' + deep and SM goes in vertical which is much less of a target for Ground Penetrating Radar to see. Easy to fill with dirt and tamp down every couple of feet with the auger (not turning). Any new ornamental trees on any of the sites BM was working at? Rather than a rectangular hole that was slowly settling, it would be a round one, which probably would not attract much attention. If you need a visual, think of the big corkscrew device that the power companies use to dig deep round holes to put power poles in. They make them for Bobcats (skid loaders) for making holes for fenceposts and small trees.

 

[Trackergd]

Picture of a Bobcat with an auger unit.

 

[swedeheart]

Since it was brought up on page 2 (I think) the attachment for the Bobcat would not have had a GPS. I think it a high probability the Bobcat did not have a GPS as it appears BM runs it back and forth, rather than leave it at a jobsite. To me, the most probable attachment he could have used is a hydraulic powered post hole digger with a 24" auger and extension. A nice deep 2' wide hole, 8' + deep and SM goes in vertical which is much less of a target for Ground Penetrating Radar to see. Easy to fill with dirt and tamp down every couple of feet with the auger (not turning). Any new ornamental trees on any of the sites BM was working at? Rather than a rectangular hole that was slowly settling, it would be a round one, which probably would not attract much attention. If you need a visual, think of the big corkscrew device that the power companies use to dig deep round holes to put power poles in. They make them for Bobcats (skid loaders) for making holes for fenceposts and small trees.

I think you are spot on, @Trackergd. I think if she's ever found, it will be on or adjacent to the PP property, vertically buried by that incredible cat up there ^^^, and somehow missed by any of LE's equipment that was there in the early days of the warrant(s). I've never wavered in my opinion that's where she is. I hope one day, in the very near future, that they do go back there again to search further.

I was watching some random Youtube videos of the area, specifically the river, and had the idea that perhaps what BM was retrieving from the river that day TD saw him, sweating and stressing, was boulders for her place of burial, not unlike the ones that are placed around the memorial. I think it could likely be that he buried her deeply, then planted a tree or some other landscape item on top, then surrounded by those same boulders that he seems to have a thing for.

Imo.

 

[jondaba]

Would planting trees or placing large rocks over a burial side interfere with detection efforts using Ground Penetrating Radar?

 

[Ontario Mom]

BM was seen at a second hand store trying to get rid of Suzanne’s clothes and the store owner declined them.

MOO

Is there a link for this info?

 

[Trackergd]

Would planting trees or placing large rocks over a burial side interfere with detection efforts using Ground Penetrating Radar?

For the most part, yes. The GPS antenna has to pass over the spot to get a good return signal. You don't really "see" a body, you see a return that indicates disturbed soil or a void.

 

[OldCop]

Since it was brought up on page 2 (I think) the attachment for the Bobcat would not have had a GPS. I think it a high probability the Bobcat did not have a GPS as it appears BM runs it back and forth, rather than leave it at a jobsite. To me, the most probable attachment he could have used is a hydraulic powered post hole digger with a 24" auger and extension. A nice deep 2' wide hole, 8' + deep and SM goes in vertical which is much less of a target for Ground Penetrating Radar to see. Easy to fill with dirt and tamp down every couple of feet with the auger (not turning). Any new ornamental trees on any of the sites BM was working at? Rather than a rectangular hole that was slowly settling, it would be a round one, which probably would not attract much attention. If you need a visual, think of the big corkscrew device that the power companies use to dig deep round holes to put power poles in. They make them for Bobcats (skid loaders) for making holes for fenceposts and small trees.

And didn’t the Profiling Evil guys make much noise about a receipt for 3 trees purchased by BM?

 

[Trackergd]

I think you are spot on, @Trackergd. I think if she's ever found, it will be on or adjacent to the PP property, vertically buried by that incredible cat up there ^^^, and somehow missed by any of LE's equipment that was there in the early days of the warrant(s). I've never wavered in my opinion that's where she is. I hope one day, in the very near future, that they do go back there again to search further.

I was watching some random Youtube videos of the area, specifically the river, and had the idea that perhaps what BM was retrieving from the river that day TD saw him, sweating and stressing, was boulders for her place of burial, not unlike the ones that are placed around the memorial. I think it could likely be that he buried her deeply, then planted a tree or some other landscape item on top, then surrounded by those same boulders that he seems to have a thing for.

Imo.

I honestly hope that LE looks at these threads to pick out some ideas. I try to think like the actor, what resources does he have available, what experience does he have and then apply over 50 years of experience to get in his head and noodle out what he might have done. My suggestion to them is Landscape Features created by BM, round settling depressions in the ground around PP and/or jobsites and using a LiDar drone to scan the back 400 behind PP. If they want to discuss, they can reach me through Tricia. What kills us these days is that everyone and their brother watch forensics shows and think they are experts. Hopefully they never figure out there not as smart as they think they are.

 

[Trackergd]

And didn’t the Profiling Evil guys make much noise about a receipt for 3 trees purchased by BM?

I think so, and for good reason as it turns out. When you are up against the BM's of the world, you have to think outside of the box.

 

[Trackergd]

Can some of our longtime sleuths name missing wife cases where the husband never looked for her, sold all properties, her car and possessions, declared her deceased or obtained guardianship and didn’t have anything to do with the disappearance?
TIA

Not in my over 50 years of working or following cases.

 

[Hair of the Dog]

I honestly hope that LE looks at these threads to pick out some ideas. I try to think like the actor, what resources does he have available, what experience does he have and then apply over 50 years of experience to get in his head and noodle out what he might have done. My suggestion to them is Landscape Features created by BM, round settling depressions in the ground around PP and/or jobsites and using a LiDar drone to scan the back 400 behind PP. If they want to discuss, they can reach me through Tricia. What kills us these days is that everyone and their brother watch forensics shows and think they are experts. Hopefully they never figure out there not as smart as they think they are.

Those are great ideas @Trackergd! Thank you so much for sharing your vast knowledge and experience with us.

Am I the only one here who sees @Trackergd and thinks Tracker God? LOL

Would it be a herculean task even for a bobcat to drill down 8' given the geological make up of the land? Might that make the beach site more attractive (and viable for burial) for someone drilling a vertical shaft? The PE guys just prior to Andy's search were talking about boulders placed in the beach area that seemed askew and BM did have MK rake out the beach area on Saturday before he abruptly ended the workday.

JMO and things I wonder about...

 

[DizzyB]

Tracker God for me too. I still think Suzanne is close and was overlooked during the many searches. No idea how much physical evidence LE has but apparently not enough for an arrest yet.

I’m a cynic. Maybe someone thought that Suzanne should be commemorated in some way, especially before the anniversary of her disappearance, for optics sake. What better way than to reinforce the last place she supposedly was according to someone’s plan by placing something there. Something that could be identified with the family by a source, and also taking a beloved memento and putting it in a location distant to where they are now. Suzanne took the statue all the way to Colorado, in memory of her mother, and kept it with her. Now it’s in the public’s hands.

 

[Trackergd]

No, not any sort of deity. Just an old man with a whole lot of experience under his $10.00 Cabela's belt. You learn to do things right by doing a whole bunch of things wrong and learning from them.

 

[Cassady]

For the most part, yes. The GPS antenna has to pass over the spot to get a good return signal. You don't really "see" a body, you see a return that indicates disturbed soil or a void.

How about cadaver dogs?

IMO cadaver dogs can detect human remains 15' deep in soil and over 20 meters in water.

IMO cadever dogs have a high rate of success discovering human remains when they are present in a search area.

 

[cattlekate]

BM was seen at a second hand store trying to get rid of Suzanne’s clothes and the store owner declined them.

MOO

Wow. Who does that? A link would be nice but after listening to interviews and looking at real estate sales, I guess it’s not out of the purview. But still wow.

 

[al66pine]

The statue.
Anyone have an idea of the size?
One or two feet high?
Plants could grow and cover it in a short time. Maybe one summer season.
Visually obliterated. Out of sight, out of mind?