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

[clearskies1]

Stating the obvious: in these types of cases, phone and computer forensics can show google searches that support the "with deliberation" charge. JMO. Speculation.

 

[EggSalad]

Agree, sounds like a rage killing, but CM did a great show on how police investigate these cases. He said there is a progression of violence, and evolving thinking that leads from repetitive abuse to making plan.
To arrest for M1 the Sheriff must have convinced a judge and a DA that there was evidence of prepared elements.

Agreed. And depending on when LE suspects SM was killed, we have potentia premeditation aspects of:

-Daughters being out of town
-Was the Sunday alibi planned before SM was killed?
-Was a spare bike purchased by BM prior to that weekend and that is the bike that was found
-How much chlorine was purchased prior to that weekend?
-Did BM do the mechanical thing to his bobcat before SM was killed?

 

[Skigh]

Re: running late/camping trip. We have always wondered about this and maybe it might not be exactly the way it was explained. I wonder if Barry had any idea at all when the girls were expected home. He’s a broadbrush guy, I think. Many fathers leave the details to the Moms, sorry, it sounds stereotypical. He may have had no clue of the trip details either. Suzanne might just have always passed along what she thought he needed to know.
I really think he might have only known they would be back on Sunday. He may not have had to discuss Mother’s Day at all with Suzanne because she was already dead. So he needed to get out of Dodge before there was any chance of the girls showing up. 4 or 5 am departure ensures he is gone before they get back. He might have thought that they would get home and find Mom missing early in the day. He could have been “working”, showering, waiting for them to call and say they couldn’t find Mom. Waiting, and waiting.. It would be interesting to know if they called him first or he called them. He may have had to go to plan B and get the neighbor involved because they weren’t there to report Mom missing.

I think Barry liked to be in control of his girls and would know their movements. I think he would know when they originally planned to be home and any changes to their plans.

 

[Dre]

I find it quite likely she was part of a group therapy for DV. They can often be low-key, free, come when you can, no need for sign-ups, phone calls, appointments, diagnoses etc. a sorta similar setup for AA. When it comes to DV, getting support needs to be done in secret, as the abuser will view this support system as their enemy and a true threat to the control one has been building, creating more space in their mind for violence.

I went to a group therapy for about 6 months (incredible btw) and I felt I was “working with others” there’s often a sense that you’re giving help as well as receiving it, it’s way more gratifying than one-on-one expensive sessions that leave a paper trail.
Just Moo though!

 

[LaineyJ]

Is there any way of knowing whether any parties OTHER than the prosecution have responded to the defendant's motion to keep the AA sealed? Press?

No, the judge’s order on 5/14 states that motions in response to the defense’s motion must not be made public. I’d say that’s for all motions made, even by the media. Imo.

here’s the order

https://www.courts.state.co.us/user...lic Access To Court Records Already Filed.pdf

 

[DizzyB]

I find it quite likely she was part of a group therapy for DV. They can often be low-key, free, come when you can, no need for sign-ups, phone calls, appointments, diagnoses etc. a sorta similar setup for AA. When it comes to DV, getting support needs to be done in secret, as the abuser will view this support system as their enemy and a true threat to the control one has been building, creating more space in their mind for violence.

I went to a group therapy for about 6 months (incredible btw) and I felt I was “working with others” there’s often a sense that you’re giving help as well as receiving it, it’s way more gratifying than one-on-one expensive sessions that leave a paper trail.
Just Moo though!

DV groups during Covid must have a unique set of issues. How do they “meet”? It’s not like you can tell your abuser that you have a Zoom DV meeting and close the door. In my part of the country at that time, there were no in person groups of any sort. Church in CO was virtual; I assume groups had to be. Do you meet via one of those encrypted apps, or do you text and erase, how does this work?

 

[Diddian]

No, the judge’s order on 5/14 states that motions in response to the defense’s motion must not be made public. I’d say that’s for all motions made, even by the media. Imo.

here’s the order

https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfiles/file/Court_Probation/11th_Judicial_District/Chaffee/cases of interest/21CR78/Order Regarding Defense Motion To Limit Public Access To Court Records Already Filed.pdf

Thank you. Will just have to remain patient then. Ugh.

 

[LaineyJ]

Thank you. Will just have to remain patient then. Ugh.

right there with you. We all waited a whole year for the arrest, but since we’ve got that now we’re probably all impatient waiting another 2ish weeks for this AA...

 

[fcavanaugh]

For a refresher, just though I’d post the language in the Colorado statute of first degree murder after deliberation, which is from the first link and BBM below.

The second link below make a little more clear premeditation and deliberation must happen before and not at same time as the killing itself, which I believe is referring to spur of moment/impulsive anger, rage/blind rage type killing.
*IOW, perpetrator could’ve planned killing the victim for a year or years, up to mere days/hours before. But killing is not considered ‘after deliberation’ for example, when someone walks in on someone on the phone, gets upset with that person, flips out and kills them on the spot.
IMO, since DA Linda Stanley has charged Barry with M1 after deliberation, DA/LE must have proof/evidence of elements of preplanning, whether he started planning it a year/years ago, or the day/hours before. IANAL, but that is how I interpret the language.

First Degree Murder Laws in Colorado - 18-3-102 CRS. Colorado Statute:

• (3) The term “after deliberation” means not only intentionally but also that the decision to commit the act has been made after the exercise of reflection and judgment concerning the act. An act committed after deliberation is never one which has been committed in a hasty or impulsive manner.

First Degree Murder Overview - FindLaw
Deliberation and Premeditation:
Whether a killer acted with the deliberation and premeditation required for first degree murder can only be determined on a case by case basis. The need for deliberation and premeditation does not mean that the perpetrator must contemplate at length or plan far ahead of the murder. Time enough to form the conscious intent to kill and then act on it after enough time for a reasonable person to second guess the decision typically suffices. While this can happen very quickly, deliberation and premeditation must occur before, and not at the same time as, the act of killing


IMHOO

#FindSuzanne
#BringSuzanneHome
#JusticeForSuzanne

ETA-clarity

 

[Dre]

DV groups during Covid must have a unique set of issues. How do they “meet”? It’s not like you can tell your abuser that you have a Zoom DV meeting and close the door. In my part of the country at that time, there were no in person groups of any sort. Church in CO was virtual; I assume groups had to be. Do you meet via one of those encrypted apps, or do you text and erase, how does this work?

I would assume that she started well before covid rules were implemented, so it’s possible she wasn’t “attending” in the weeks prior to her going missing. I think that if one was experiencing DV they might opt out of remote therapy for those reasons- don’t get caught!

I will say, there is something special about in-person group therapy and some organizations kept their groups in person- masks and social distancing but still allowance to meet as some see support and mental health right up there with physical health, worth the risk. Especially if the group members are in a very real safety crisis.
They were harder find, but my bestie did find small in-person groups, even in a city taking Covid very seriously.
Jmo

 

[MsBetsy]

I have a slightly different opinion regarding the premeditation. I feel LE’s evidence for premeditation is significant and is 100% supportive of their murder charge. It’ll be interesting to see what the wording was of Suzanne’s messages to BFF and her sister. I think BM left the marriage “emotionally” when SM was diagnosed w/cancer the 2nd time. He was ready to move on. I think there will be lady-friends come forward to testify about BMs extracurricular activities. All MOO

Oh, I'm sure their evidence of premeditation is signficant. We just don't know if the premeditation was several weeks or days, a day, or just a few minutes.

I'm not sure if it was Barry that was ready to move on, though. I think it may have been Suzanne that wanted a change. Barry may have sensed he was losing control of her. He may have had affairs but I don't think he wanted to end his marriage. He probably liked things just the way they were, until he realized she was no longer under his control.

From what we've learned, it sounds like he was spying on her and becoming more and more possessive. Maybe their arguments became more heated that weekend. The girls were gone and they had the house to themselves.

He may have thought about killing her before, but whatever happened that weekend ended in violence and murder and left him scrambling to cover up. If it was planned in advance, it wasn't planned very well. The planting of the bike and the last minute decision to prepare the jobsite could have been an afterthought. Imo

 

[MimosaMornings]

I believe, the premeditation started no later than when the girls went on a "camping trip" in the middle of Corona, so a few days before Wednesday at least. School holidays were not at that time, if I am right. Did the extraordinary vacation have to be applied for from the HS of the minor daughter? What might the alleged reason for the application have been?
I can imagine, BM wanted to clear some severe problems (financial probably? much worse??) with Suzanne and planned to get his will, whatever it costs and be it the life of his wife. The girls had to be away at a safe place, not able to return untimely. Maybe, they were at a relative's home in MI; I think, I saw some connections with MI (business?) time ago. But it's not important at all, where they stayed. I'm though curious to know, if they were sent away more often, when the marriage went down since they all had been in Colorado (like SM's sister now discovered). Did DV happen? Did DV happen only, when the girls were far away and not able to see the physical characteristics on their mum? BM could have shown himself before and after as the nice husband and dad, who couldn't hurt a fly. He even could have told the girls, how he suffered once and again because of their "crazy" mother.

It is so very sad to think, that the marriage got into a downward spiral at the same time, when poor Suzanne became ill. Or the other way around: that Suzanne became ill with cancer, because her marriage was going down. Who knows, what came first.

A camping trip during stay at home orders in the middle of Covid?

It wasn’t spring break for either high school or college.

What do you tell your professors that you won’t be attending your remote class for the week or turning in schoolwork?

Or do you do it from the campsite? Maybe they had great internet wherever they were camping. Not sure if tent camping or cabin type environment.

Especially leading into finals/exams.
Could it not have waited 2-3 weeks until the end of school?

BM wanted it during that particular time frame?

JMO

 

[Error505]

For a refresher, just though I’d post the language in the Colorado statute of first degree murder after deliberation, which is from the first link and BBM below.

The second link below make a little more clear premeditation and deliberation must happen before and not at same time as the killing itself, which I believe is referring to spur of moment, impulsive type rage/blind rage killing.

First Degree Murder Laws in Colorado - 18-3-102 CRS. Colorado Statute:

• (3) The term “after deliberation” means not only intentionally but also that the decision to commit the act has been made after the exercise of reflection and judgment concerning the act. An act committed after deliberation is never one which has been committed in a hasty or impulsive manner.

First Degree Murder Overview - FindLaw:
Deliberation and Premeditation
Whether a killer acted with the deliberation and premeditation required for first degree murder can only be determined on a case by case basis. The need for deliberation and premeditation does not mean that the perpetrator must contemplate at length or plan far ahead of the murder. Time enough to form the conscious intent to kill and then act on it after enough time for a reasonable person to second guess the decision typically suffices. While this can happen very quickly, deliberation and premeditation must occur before, and not at the same time as, the act of killing


IMHOO

#FindSuzanne
#BringSuzanneHome
#JusticeForSuzanne

Excellent post @fcavanaugh
The distinction is certainly spelled out! It was NOT a “rage/fit of passion” killing according to the CCSO, Judge and DA. Thank you for the post!

 

[MsBetsy]

Stating the obvious: in these types of cases, phone and computer forensics can show google searches that support the "with deliberation" charge. JMO. Speculation.

Yes, as well as receipts showing the purchase of chlorine or other cleaners, garbage bags, tape, and things like that. Imo

 

[MsBetsy]

Excellent post @fcavanaugh
The distinction is certainly spelled out! It was NOT a “rage/fit of passion” killing according to the CCSO, Judge and DA. Thank you for the post!

For it to be a crime of passion, he would have to have been out of control and had no time to consider his actions. A common example is when a husband comes home to find his wife in bed with another man.

I think in this case his anger was building over time and finally escalated to violence. Imo

 

[Ontario Mom]

MOO his original garbled sentence is a thing people do when they are saying unfamiliar or unpleasant things.
A switch in the middle of the sentence.

MOO he is clear in this 9/25/2020 article that he means she was in a domestic abuse situation.

‘I’m afraid this is domestic abuse’; Suzanne Morhpew’s brother says husband not participating in search, carrying shotgun to keep people off property | FOX31 Denver

I'm sure AM did believe she was in a domestic abuse situation. From all I've read to date, I have to say that I do too.

But that doesn't automatically mean she was attending domestic abuse meetings for her own situation. She could have been, but that's never actually been stated.

 

[DeDee]

Respectfully, I'd like to know where the information about canned or guided hunts is coming from. The few photographs I've seen of BM with his kills don't have other folks in them (except his daughter is in the one where he has a dead black bear spread over a boulder).

Chris M. in his recent trip to the area BM grew up and BM and SM raised their family indicated that BM hunted his whole life. I sincerely doubt he was investing in canned hunts or hiring guides. I think he hunted alone or with groups of his friends. Since he was an experienced hunter, I just cannot see him laying out the dough to pay someone else to sponsor his hunt.

ETA: I don't know what guided hunts go for in Colorado, but I have a friend who does them in Montana and a 5-day Whitetail Deer hunt (client can bring son/daughter) goes from $4,200 to $5,650. ETA: I found a rate sheet for Colorado (but, it is for a "hunting ranch") and those rates look a little less expensive:
Colorado Hunting Rates | Guided and Non-Guided, Elk Hunts, Mule Deer Hunts and Antelope Hunts on Private Ranches and Hunting Leases

AM stated that BM was an expert hunter and tracker. There was obviously enough land in IN and CO for BM to enjoy the hunt without venturing into countries with more exotic animals.

Mike, of Profiling Evil, does not specifically state that Barry ventured into Africa to hunt, yet it is implied. I personally feel if BM traveled out of country for a paid hunt, he would have boastfully posted photos of his kills.

@ 24:23 The discussion with Patti Arthur is centered around the S R M Hope Foundation's missions work where they talk about the Foundation delivering packets to Kitwe Zambia Africa. However, the entire discussion also includes the breaking down other important documents that pertain to the sell of PP, by example.

 

[Ontario Mom]

Is there any way of knowing whether any parties OTHER than the prosecution have responded to the defendant's motion to keep the AA sealed? Press?

In Leticia Stauch's case, the motions to unseal were listed here Colorado Judicial Branch

So, if there are any in Barry's case, they should be listed here Colorado Judicial Branch - Chaffee - Cases of Interest - People of the State of Colorado v. Barry Lee Morphew

ETA: Correcting myself to include the wording of the order (which I should have read more carefully before responding - my apologies)

The Motion, and any Response, shall also be inaccessible to the public pending the court's resolution of the Motion. The court makes this decision because the Motion itself contains significant information that the Motion argues should not be accessible to the public.

Ordered: Until the court resolves the motion, the arrest affidavit, the motion and any response to the motion are to remain inaccessible to the public.

This is the most curious part: the Motion itself contains significant information that the Motion argues should not be accessible to the public.

 

[Skigh]

A camping trip during stay at home orders in the middle of Covid?

It wasn’t spring break for either high school or college.

What do you tell your professors that you won’t be attending your remote class for the week or turning in schoolwork?

Or do you do it from the campsite? Maybe they had great internet wherever they were camping. Not sure if tent camping or cabin type environment.

Especially leading into finals/exams.
Could it not have waited 2-3 weeks until the end of school?

BM wanted it during that particular time frame?

JMO

I would be very interested to know who was behind suggesting or organising the camping trip. Was at one stage the whole family planning to go and then it changed to just the two girls?

 

[MsBetsy]

Agree, sounds like a rage killing, but CM did a great show on how police investigate these cases. He said there is a progression of violence, and evolving thinking that leads from repetitive abuse to making plan.
To arrest for M1 the Sheriff must have convinced a judge and a DA that there was evidence of prepared elements.

Evidence of premeditation could also come from the crime scene. If there was a significant amount of blood, spatter patterns, or blood found in different locations throughout the home, it could indicate that he pursued her as she tried to escape. (Similar to the crime scene in the Kelsey Berreth case. LE could tell Frazee struck her several times.)

Not that we know this was a bloody crime, but it's possible there was something about the crime scene that pointed to premeditation. I'm sure it was a combination of things that occurred that weekend that pointed to premeditation and deliberation. He also could have made incriminating statements to other people. Imo