Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #63 *ARREST*

[303gmf]

He has a formidable defense team, IMO. But they are going to be trying to build a nuclear reactor with tinker toys. MOO.

BM’s remaining assets trickling down all over Colorado…smh

 

[Momofthreeboys]

He has a formidable defense team, IMO. But they are going to be trying to build a nuclear reactor with tinker toys. MOO.

I think it's all going to turn on what direct evidence the prosecution has that ties Barry to the murder. I think it's not enough just to "prove" that Suzanne is deceased. The prosecution must leave no doubt in the juror's minds that it was Barry who committed the murder and no one else and it was deliberate. I have to believe they have it or they would have charged manslaughter but we'll find out next month. Second-degree murder under 18-3-103 C.R.S. is knowingly causing another’s death. The defendant may not have planned for the victim to die. But the defendant knew that death would likely result.

 

[steeltowngirl]

I think it's all going to turn on what direct evidence the prosecution has that ties Barry to the murder. I think it's not enough just to "prove" that Suzanne is deceased. The prosecution must leave no doubt in the juror's minds that it was Barry who committed the murder and no one else and it was deliberate. I have to believe they have it or they would have charged manslaughter but we'll find out next month. Second-degree murder under 18-3-103 C.R.S. is knowingly causing another’s death. The defendant may not have planned for the victim to die. But the defendant knew that death would likely result.

Barry is charged with first-degree murder, per the complaint.

COUNT 1-MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE (F1)
Between and including May 9, 2020 and May 10, 2020, Barry Lee Morphew unlawfully, feloniously, after deliberation, and with the intent to cause the death of a person other than himself, caused the death of Suzanne Renee Morphew; in violation of section 18-3-102(1)(a), C.R.S.

First Degree Murder Laws in Colorado - 18-3-102 CRS
Under Colorado law, first-degree murder is defined as the deliberate and premeditated killing of another human being with malice aforethought. It differs from second-degree murder which requires extreme indifference to human life generally rather than the intent to take the life of a particular person.

 

[Momofthreeboys]

Barry is charged with first-degree murder, per the complaint.

COUNT 1-MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE (F1)
Between and including May 9, 2020 and May 10, 2020, Barry Lee Morphew unlawfully, feloniously, after deliberation, and with the intent to cause the death of a person other than himself, caused the death of Suzanne Renee Morphew; in violation of section 18-3-102(1)(a), C.R.S.

First Degree Murder Laws in Colorado - 18-3-102 CRS
Under Colorado law, first-degree murder is defined as the deliberate and premeditated killing of another human being with malice aforethought. It differs from second-degree murder which requires extreme indifference to human life generally rather than the intent to take the life of a particular person.

Yup hence my point. The prosecution must think they have what it takes or they would have charged manslaughter.

 

[Seattle1]

I think it's all going to turn on what direct evidence the prosecution has that ties Barry to the murder. I think it's not enough just to "prove" that Suzanne is deceased. The prosecution must leave no doubt in the juror's minds that it was Barry who committed the murder and no one else and it was deliberate. I have to believe they have it or they would have charged manslaughter but we'll find out next month. Second-degree murder under 18-3-103 C.R.S. is knowingly causing another’s death. The defendant may not have planned for the victim to die. But the defendant knew that death would likely result.

I disagree that a conviction here will be based on what direct evidence the prosecution has that ties Barry to the murder. Direct evidence requires no inference -- the evidence alone is the proof, which is hardly typical with no body cases where not even the cause of death can be determined including the recent Colorado convictions of Donte Lucas and Patrick Frazee.

If there was a murder weapon used to kill SM with BM's fingerprints, an eyewitness that saw BM kill SM, and/or surveillance video recording the murder (i.e., direct evidence), an arrest would not have taken 12 months. This is going to be another circumstantial case. MOO

 

[JosieMae]

I thought it was hilarious when he promised to attend the vigil and search, as well as conduct his first on camera interview.

I’d bet not a single person here believed that would happen.

He didn’t stop there though. In order to get out of the bench dedication, he decided to place Suzanne’s mother’s statue at the location of the bike he planted.

I laughed (hard) at that, as it was the most transparent thing ever.

Yes. The actions of a man who expects his lies to be believed, who's never been held accountable.

Until now.

 

[al66pine]

Defense Team. Moronic or Capable?

I am so freakin curious how his trial is going to play out. Does he have a capable defense team?
Mark Redwine has a moronic defense team so he is headed for a guilty verdict, imo.
But I do worry about this next trial with Barry. Are his daughters going to plea for mercy on him?

@katydid23 Thx for your post, just jumping off it.
Not disagreeing w you about Redwine's defense team (although I'm going by MSM and W/S discussion and have not followed closely).

A maaajor distinction, btwn these cases is the recovered remains of poor little Dylan pluuus discovery of skull at a site remote from other bones, and only a laaame reason def. team offers to explain it - coyote carried it. Sadly, no remains of SM's have been recovered.

So in Redwine's case, prosecutor had physical evd of the fact of death <---an advantage Chaffee Co prosecutor does not have, at least not yet.
Altho prosecutor has less definitive evd about cause of Redwine's death.
my2ct.
{{Ebm, rewording to clarify.}}

 

[nyvictoria]

I think the episode that Lauren shared was a preview into what Suzanne experienced during her marriage. Barry totally gaslighted both LS and his own daughter. He agreed to talk to LS, then told the daughter a different story and turns her back against Lauren. Oh, but wait.. he doesn’t leave it there. He texted Lauren to apologize and drew her back in again.

I have no doubt this type of vicious circle and manipulation is what Suzanne experienced with Barry over and over during the marriage.

He wanted his daughter to see him as the poor guy persecuted by the media and LE. Despicable!

 

[Melsworld]

I disagree, I think we'll see more than that. Can we star this conversation and circle back once the evidence is made public?

Of course, it's simply MOO.

I agree with you and think Barry might have used meth. He refers to JP like he is sooo beneath him and calling him a meth-head reminds me of how people hate something about someone else when they actually do it or have done it themselves. Reminds me of how I didn't like my niece for so long when she was growing up until it hit me it was because she was just like me and making the same mistakes I did at that age. I've learned that we don't like the things in other people that we hate within ourselves.

Totally speculation but it's hard to live up to the person Barry sold himself to be. Especially when he had to do everything both physically and financially (I'm sure he told his friends that he handled ALL things in the Morphew household). You know, he took care of his girls, all 3 of them.

--MOO--

 

[BeckyF]

Will LS be called to testify at the prelim? Any opinions?

 

[BeckyF]

Does anyone think that Barry planned to murder her before they moved to Colorado?

 

[MassGuy]

Will LS be called to testify at the prelim? Any opinions?

In general, courts seem to protect a reporter’s privilege, as testifying in a case hurts their ability to do their job, which is to objectively cover a case.

If I’m reading this correctly, Colorado offers broad protection to reporters in this regard.

Colorado’s press shield law protects “newspersons” who as part of a judicial proceeding refuse to disclose any “news information [they] received, observed, procured, processed, prepared, [wrote] or edited.”

Reporter's Privilege guide: Alabama - Illinois - Student Press Law Center

 

[Momofthreeboys]

Does anyone think that Barry planned to murder her before they moved to Colorado?

No not in my opinion.

 

[MassGuy]

Does anyone think that Barry planned to murder her before they moved to Colorado?

I don’t. I think their marriage deteriorated while they were there, and Barry knew that would have a devastating financial impact on his ability to live his dream.

Suzanne wasn’t leaving Barry alive.

 

[Momofthreeboys]

In general, courts seem to protect a reporter’s privilege, as testifying in a case hurts their ability to do their job, which is to objectively cover a case.

If I’m reading this correctly, Colorado offers broad protection to reporters in this regard.

Colorado’s press shield law protects “newspersons” who as part of a judicial proceeding refuse to disclose any “news information [they] received, observed, procured, processed, prepared, [wrote] or edited.”

Reporter's Privilege guide: Alabama - Illinois - Student Press Law Center

I agree. Her work product would be interesting to the prosecution if it contradicts his story as told to investigators, but it might be very difficult to get a subpoena for the station's work product. Other than that, I can't imagine what she would be called to testify about. Here's a good summary of Colorado reporter's privilege and other info: Reporters’ Privilege Compendium | Colorado Shield Laws Guide - RCFP

 

[Seattle1]

In general, courts seem to protect a reporter’s privilege, as testifying in a case hurts their ability to do their job, which is to objectively cover a case.

If I’m reading this correctly, Colorado offers broad protection to reporters in this regard.

Colorado’s press shield law protects “newspersons” who as part of a judicial proceeding refuse to disclose any “news information [they] received, observed, procured, processed, prepared, [wrote] or edited.”

Reporter's Privilege guide: Alabama - Illinois - Student Press Law Center

I really can't think of any cases where a reporter covering a case was called to testify on information they obtained while acting as a reporter.

On the other hand, I think we can all recall cases where prosecutors attempt to admit into evidence a suspect's video interview with a network reporter.

Scott Peterson comes to mind:

R E D W O O D C I T Y, Calif., Feb. 24, 2004 -- Prosecutors in the Scott Peterson case say they can prove the man accused of killing his young pregnant wife and his unborn son is a liar. But first they've got to convince the judge to admit their evidence.

Peterson wanted to tell the world he was innocent in his 2003 interview with ABCNEWS' Diane Sawyer. ......

Prosecution: TV Interview Reveals Peterson's Lies

 

[Tiff23fr]

I really can't think of any cases where a reporter covering a case was called to testify on information they obtained while acting as a reporter.

On the other hand, I think we can all recall cases where prosecutors attempt to admit into evidence a suspect's video interview with a network reporter.

Scott Peterson comes to mind:

R E D W O O D C I T Y, Calif., Feb. 24, 2004 -- Prosecutors in the Scott Peterson case say they can prove the man accused of killing his young pregnant wife and his unborn son is a liar. But first they've got to convince the judge to admit their evidence.

Peterson wanted to tell the world he was innocent in his 2003 interview with ABCNEWS' Diane Sawyer. ......

Prosecution: TV Interview Reveals Peterson's Lies

Different state: A reporter did share that she found out after the fact her phone calls were being intercepted during her journalism pursuits in the Pike County case: https://twitter.com/chrisgraves/status/1113956800506814465?s=21

 

[BeckyF]

In general, courts seem to protect a reporter’s privilege, as testifying in a case hurts their ability to do their job, which is to objectively cover a case.

If I’m reading this correctly, Colorado offers broad protection to reporters in this regard.

Colorado’s press shield law protects “newspersons” who as part of a judicial proceeding refuse to disclose any “news information [they] received, observed, procured, processed, prepared, [wrote] or edited.”

Reporter's Privilege guide: Alabama - Illinois - Student Press Law Center

And that is a good thing. Heaven forbid if investigative reporters were afraid to investigate.

 

[BeckyF]

I don’t. I think their marriage deteriorated while they were there, and Barry knew that would have a devastating financial impact on his ability to live his dream.

Suzanne wasn’t leaving Barry alive.

Thank you. This analogy certainly contributes to the opinion I’ve already had that the investigators in this case worked very hard to bring justice for Suzanne. It couldn’t have been easy to put all the pieces together with no body.

 

[borndem]

He has an excellent defense team, but that doesn’t worry me.

They have Barry as a client after-all.

This isn’t like their last major case, where the jury had to decide between suicide and murder; that was winnable.

In this one, they’ll have to choose between stranger abduction or mountain lion.

Good luck with that.

bbm
I understand & agree with your post -- but I don't want to say sl*m-d*nk. Hoping it is.
I just want to tell you that your "mountain lion" comment made me LOL.
How 'bout alien abduction...

He's in a heap o' trouble, IMO. I wonder if his Narcissistic personality will even let him think that he may be at high risk of losing this fight.