Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #58 *ARREST*

[NightFairy]

Did the husband show concern that Suzanne may have left for a day of biking with another biker? Since she was "missing" and he was claiming to be unaware of her movements beyond asleep-at-5, did he wonder if she might be napping? Or had fallen? Or had dropped her phone in the washtub and was, sans a useful phone, curled up in chair, with a good book and a wrap? Did he suggest maybe she'd gone for a ride with an acquaintance? Bringing lunch and her bike....

Did he call around to everyone he could think of who might know her whereabouts? Did he inquire about her purse, her keys, her phone? Was anything out of place? Her favorite coffee mug? Clean? Empty? Half full? The remnants of Friday's take-out in the trash? Anything on top of that?

Or did the husband say: check for her car (indicating MISSING was already in his mind -- and not a half dozen other possible explanations) and then check for her bike, straight to we've got to find her bike, you know, at the crime scene?

Whelp.

JMO

This is my first time posting here, though I am not new to the case. I have been thinking about all of what you posted above for a long time. Why would you go from she is not answering her phone to check the garage for her bike to 911? There should be many steps in between as you noted above.

 

[TKG]

This is my first time posting here, though I am not new to the case. I have been thinking about all of what you posted above for a long time. Why would you go from she is not answering her phone to check the garage for her bike to 911? There should be many steps in between as you noted above.

Welcome to Webslueths! Indeed, many of us agree. Not only that but why would you have someone else call 911? He's a volunteer FF, couldn't his FF and best friend get there more quickly? He would better know their routines and what to look for, where to look? This was one of the first things that sent my hinky meter soaring. The neighbor has never been heard from, what did she find?

Happy to have you here!

 

[Whiteorchids]

In other words a woman would take her phone especially when alone while daughters were away and could need to reach out to her at any time.
i wonder if he took her phone in an effort to incapacitate her at least before she knew what was happening? To digitally incapacitate her in other words. IMO
Sketchy Wifi and cell service and security cameras not working or disabled? Suzanne’s lifestyle because she was likely not safe yet still watched and observed? She would have taken that damn phone so where is it? It will tell the tale. IMO
ETA I meant to respond to Katydid! Sorry scrolling beneath a flashlight while camping lol

Maybe this?

If you've lost your iPhone and it's completely out of battery or not connected to Wi-Fi or data, you can still find out where it is. ... If you've enabled the Find My iPhone feature in the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad, you can use Find My to locate the missing device, even if it's powered down or the battery's dead.

How to Find Your iPhone Even If It’s Dead or Offline (Updated for iOS 14)

 

[Boxer]

Welcome to Webslueths! Indeed, many of us agree. Not only that but why would you have someone else call 911? He's a volunteer FF, couldn't his FF and best friend get there more quickly? He would better know their routines and what to look for, where to look? This was one of the first things that sent my hinky meter soaring. The neighbor has never been heard from, what did she find?

Happy to have you here!

Yes. Why? If he couldn't reach his FFl neighbor pal then he really should call the Sheriff direct and they either would patch to 911 or just take the call.
Spouse not answering, husband worried, wellness check on her.
Calling an elderly neighbor to go over twice was inconsiderate. Embellishment.

 

[LietKynes]

This is my first time posting here, though I am not new to the case. I have been thinking about all of what you posted above for a long time. Why would you go from she is not answering her phone to check the garage for her bike to 911? There should be many steps in between as you noted above.

Good questions and welcome to Websleuths !

There has been speculation that Barry wasn't currently living there ?
As in they were already having some issues.
Imo.

 

[MemPat]

Suzanne's phone.

Suzanne, if she's like most of us, had habits. Normally she took her phone with her to bed or she didn't.

Normally she checked her phone first thing in the morning or she didn't.

She shopped online, doom scrolled, couldn't get enough of YouTube tumbling kitten videos, checked her email or she didn't.

What hour and what day did her predictable behavior stop?

IF Suzanne went for a bike ride on Sunday, per the inmate's version of events, she awakened on Sunday, Mother's Day, some time after 5 am. Surely she'd want to check her phone.... get up, get ready..... take her medication....

Now the bike ride.... (not because I believe it happened, I don't, but because I believe the inmate messed up his own story.)

If Suzanne took her phone with her, surely it would ping at least to the place where she biked TO. Unless she brought an uncharged, not-on phone because, um, who does that?

So she left it home? To ping there? Ping ping ping until the battery died? Is there anyone who DOESN'T charge his/her phone overnight? Full battery by morning.... unless... it never got charged overnight. And why would Suzanne fail to do that?

So, in keeping with the scenario, if she takes a phone without signal biking, it must've gone with her when she got herself in the creek or when Cat dragged her up the mountain, or when the ransom-averse kidnapper took her.

If her phone is the physical item that may have been found, was it pinging in any of the above locations? Or off? And again, why would an off phone go on a bike ride? For ballast?

If she didn't take her phone with her, it must've remained back at home, right wherever Suzanne would leave her phone if she ever chose to leave it behind. Right there for LE. IMO, it wasn't.

Follow the phone.

Tragically, Suzanne was silenced, but I have great hope that her phone will speak for her and point to her killer. Missing, found, broken, not broken, on, off, LE will uncover everything it has to say.

IMO somebody didn't think of all that.

But that's okay. He's got plenty of time to think about it now.

JMO

Excellent post! I believe, like in the Frazee case that cell phones have kept LE cackling with joy as each has been unearthed.

 

[Error505]

This is my first time posting here, though I am not new to the case. I have been thinking about all of what you posted above for a long time. Why would you go from she is not answering her phone to check the garage for her bike to 911? There should be many steps in between as you noted above.

Welcome to Websleuths,
Great first post!

 

[MsBetsy]

I may be wrong (as I am more often than not), My guess is that an ex-employee may have cooperated with the police which broke open the case. Either MG, Jeff or one of BM ‘hit men’ who threatened MG when meeting her with her paycheck.

I don't think his employees knew much more than what they told reporters. I do think it's possible that Barry slipped up and told someone close to him something incriminating. It would likely come as a surprise to him if it did turn out to be his nephew or his firefighter friend who uncovered valuable information and went to police. Imo

 

[Lyanna]

Excellent post! I believe, like in the Frazee case that cell phones have kept LE cackling with joy as each has been unearthed.

It was amazing to read in LS AA (posted by @Error505 earlier) that they could tell she had used Gannon's phone by the use of apostrophes when doing a Google search, maybe Barry has similar habits when Googlying - I really hope so.

 

[tmar]

Barry delving around in the trash out the front of the café.
What was he looking for?

Or was he setting the view for the shop keeper to see him...looking for his missing wife....or any sign of her...in the trash can??......

Then leaving a note there saying bike helmet and bike clothes.

He seems to have lacked the cognitive ability to insert Suzanne into his phantom story.

moo

BM is not organized, evident in the moving pics.
With SM's murder, he is in a frenzy, running back and forth, with body disposal, cleaning of the murder site, hiding evidence etc:
"What shall I do next.
No, Probably this.
No, I better do this.
No. I'm running out of time.
I can do that later, maybe.
Check market bins, so people see me.
Oh, I need an alibi......
(and on. and on.....)

No wonder, he looks horrid.
Never relaxed.

He is like a 'chook running about'.

LE would have loads of info, of BM's movements, with him, retracing his steps, going nowhere: chaos at work.
It will be pleasing when all of this is presented.
Above, MOO.

 

[FromGermany1]

Was the husband aware of Suzanne's plan for the virtual wedding and the build up to it? Was the husband even living at home? The nephew seemed to fumble when asked who lived at home....

Was Suzanne's online conversation interrupted by the presence or arrival of the husband? Did violence cut that messaging short?

Later, when the friend received messaging that was "off", is it possible that the husband needed to duck and cover -- create a sudden alibi? Could he have messaged the friend ON SATURDAY and AS IF SUZANNE that she was going on a bike ride.... (which would feel very "off" to the friend -- that Suzanne would suddenly bail on the wedding plans in favor of a bike ride)... and then the husband tossed the bike, went into town to see and be seen, as an alibi for A SATURDAY BIKE RIDE.

And when it failed to get notice, he pushed it forward to Sunday? Same story, different day? Giving him more time to enhance his story and conceal her body....

How ever it unfolded, the timing of Suzanne's messaging, the content of her messaging, the location of her phone and his should speak loudly for Suzanne....

Just how many dewy cobwebs adorned Suzanne's bike when it was located?

The husband's right -- we don't know the truth.

But we will.

Clear the way for the AA.

JMO

bbm

Your timeline could very well make sense!! IMO

 

[DizzyB]

The phone has to be key. I’m thinking that spotty reception or not, Suzanne used her phone every day. Phone usage on Saturday may have ended at a particular time. Records may show that Suzanne normally used her phone daily x amount of times, so it may have been highly unusual for her phone to be off or unused for a length of time. Then perhaps the weird FB stuff happened from her phone-or maybe from Barry’s or another device. If her phone was off or unused on Sunday completely, there was no bike ride, and it will go to the theory of whenever she was murdered.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Good questions and welcome to Websleuths !

There has been speculation that Barry wasn't currently living there ?
As in they were already having some issues.
Imo.

I hadn't heard this before. Source?

 

[Megnut]

I hadn't heard this before. Source?

Early on, as I recall, the nephew was asked who was [living] at home at the time, and he stumbled over his tongue. Spoken interview obviously. My impression is that the truth was somehow unfavorable and his mouth didn't want to deliver it.

Putting that awkward fumble togther with the information we're piecing together, I can only wonder why that question didn't have an easy answer.

Hoping someone here can supply the interview!

JMO

 

[LietKynes]

As far as the living arrangements, it was speculation.
@Megnut clarified it a bit better, thanks !
I am curious since LE seemed to be suspicious within hours despite the fact that they thoroughly scoured the area !
Did they get a whiff of something rotten in Maysville; because Suzanne was there that day alone and Barry was possibly temporarily living elsewhere ?
And thus he wasn't expected to go inside the house while Suzanne was there and she had assumed she'd be alone ?
Or was it something else that raised LE's interest ?
Imo.

 

[JudgeJoe]

Suzanne's phone.

Suzanne, if she's like most of us, had habits. Normally she took her phone with her to bed or she didn't.

Normally she checked her phone first thing in the morning or she didn't.

She shopped online, doom scrolled, couldn't get enough of YouTube tumbling kitten videos, checked her email or she didn't.

What hour and what day did her predictable behavior stop?

IF Suzanne went for a bike ride on Sunday, per the inmate's version of events, she awakened on Sunday, Mother's Day, some time after 5 am. Surely she'd want to check her phone.... get up, get ready..... take her medication....

Now the bike ride.... (not because I believe it happened, I don't, but because I believe the inmate messed up his own story.)

If Suzanne took her phone with her, surely it would ping at least to the place where she biked TO. Unless she brought an uncharged, not-on phone because, um, who does that?

So she left it home? To ping there? Ping ping ping until the battery died? Is there anyone who DOESN'T charge his/her phone overnight? Full battery by morning.... unless... it never got charged overnight. And why would Suzanne fail to do that?

So, in keeping with the scenario, if she takes a phone without signal biking, it must've gone with her when she got herself in the creek or when Cat dragged her up the mountain, or when the ransom-averse kidnapper took her.

If her phone is the physical item that may have been found, was it pinging in any of the above locations? Or off? And again, why would an off phone go on a bike ride? For ballast?

If she didn't take her phone with her, it must've remained back at home, right wherever Suzanne would leave her phone if she ever chose to leave it behind. Right there for LE. IMO, it wasn't.

Follow the phone.

Tragically, Suzanne was silenced, but I have great hope that her phone will speak for her and point to her killer. Missing, found, broken, not broken, on, off, LE will uncover everything it has to say.

IMO somebody didn't think of all that.

But that's okay. He's got plenty of time to think about it now.

JMO

This is possibly the most EPIC post I’ve ever read on WS. Appreciate! Using a dead phone on bike ride for ballast. I digress. Carry on the excellent work. Following this case intermittently- looking forward to seeing how prosecutors present all these details without a body. Sure wish they could find Suzanne…

 

[Megnut]

General question:

Are these the same?:

Working in Denver for weekend

In Broomfield on Sunday

There seems to be much confusion about where BM was and was supposed to be that weekend, and I submit to you that IMO the source of the confusion is BM himself.

I think he told different people different things, perhaps believing some people wouldn't talk to other people and some people wouldn't talk at all.

I'm most interested in knowing what SUZANNE's understanding was, that fateful weekend. Did SHE think Barry would be home, not at home, gone for a day, gone for the weekend, working locally, working in Broomfield, at fire fighter training in Denver or something else entirely?

When Barry talked about that Sunday to Lauren Scharf, he said that the daughters were late but that they had planned to be with Suzanne. To my ears, I noticed he did not include himself in those plans.

Did he have an overnight bag with him, as if he intended to spend the night in Broomfield, if not for misplacing his wife?

LE knows but I'D like to know where Barry's phone was charged every night in the week leading up to Mother's Day.

The truths will be revealed.

JMO

 

[LietKynes]

General question:

Are these the same?:

Working in Denver for weekend

In Broomfield on Sunday

There seems to be much confusion about where BM was and was supposed to be that weekend, and I submit to you that IMO the source of the confusion is BM himself.

I think he told different people different things, perhaps believing some people wouldn't talk to other people and some people wouldn't talk at all.

I'm most interested in knowing what SUZANNE's understanding was, that fateful weekend. Did SHE think Barry would be home, not at home, gone for a day, gone for the weekend, working locally, working in Broomfield, at fire fighter training in Denver or something else entirely?

When Barry talked about that Sunday to Lauren Scharf, he said that the daughters were late but that they had planned to be with Suzanne. To my ears, I noticed he did not include himself in those plans.

Did he have an overnight bag with him, as if he intended to spend the night in Broomfield, if not for misplacing his wife?

LE knows but I'D like to know where Barry's phone was charged every night in the week leading up to Mother's Day.

The truths will be revealed.

JMO

bbm
Thanks again for your insightful posts !

LE requested that people save their security footage from the 8th .
They want to know Barry's movements in the days leading up to the murder.
At first in this investigation I thought LE wanted to know the comings and goings of people from the Morphew home ?
And maybe they still do ?
Obviously LE ruled out a kidnapping from a random stranger.
Or that Suzanne left of her own volition.
I'd assumed Barry was the only person to stop by that weekend.
Have LE already spoken with others who may have been at the house ?
As Barry so helpfully put it -- Suzanne may have (paraphrased) "... run into someone known to her" ?

Barry's frantic energy in those days made LE sit up and take notice.
So much hurrying and scurrying.
Barry playing the constantly moving around shell game, of 'where is the nut' ?
Imo.

 

[nyvictoria]

Good questions and welcome to Websleuths !

There has been speculation that Barry wasn't currently living there ?
As in they were already having some issues.
Imo.

I’ve had this thought too. Although it would paint the bullseye on his back in indelible ink.

 

[genuineusa77]

He did ask her first to see if the cars were there. She checked, went home and called him back from a landline phone and said they were there. Then he sent her back to check to see if her bike was in the garage. Imo

So if he killed her and staged the bike, WHY would he ask her to check to see if the cars were there??? Hmm. And even make her go there and check.