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

[Seattle1]

I wonder about the idea that the home sale will come up at trial…seems pretty easy to defend against if it were even admissible. The girls were scared is the simplest. Circumstantial evidence can’t have a reasonable alternative reason is my basic understanding of direction to juries.

The Puma Path sale seems a non-issue. I don't see any facts in dispute. After SM disappeared, I don't think the daughters ever returned and BM barely lived there but a few weeks while entertaining his guests. MOO

 

[TobyWong*]

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.

A hundred times like ty

 

[al66pine]

Evd of BM's Deliberation?

They feel they can prove he planned to do this, and it wasn’t Barry losing his temper and murdering Suzanne.
There has to be something strong here:
He talked about it beforehand with a witness.
His web searches indicate he prepared to murder Suzanne.
He made purchases beforehand that they can link to the crime.
He disabled security cameras prior to this occurring.
Maybe it’s a combination.

@MassGuy bbm Thanks for your post & let's say the state has evd of all ^ bbm's indicating planning, not loss of temper or heat of passion, so M-1, per Chaffee Co. DA. So far, so good.

Now, devil's advocate on those 'beforehand' points, as Def. team addresses them.
Talked about it w witness..... Just joking; and/or impeach witness credibility.
Did web searches ....................Research for short story he's writing.
Made purchases ..................... Ordinary. Chlorine - hot tub; garbage bags - work. etc
Disabled security cameras ... Elec glitch; trouble-shooting, prep for new cam's.

Is it conceivable all 12 jurors would believe all ^ (or whatever) responses the def offers? Likely not, but if a couple of jurors believe one or more of the above, then could there be collective juror doubt about deliberation, an element needed for M-1?

I hope the state has solid deliberation evidence on all the above & more. my2ct

 

[rainbowshummingbird]

I have to assume that comes up when they do the assessments after someone is convicted and sentenced to the prison system. As far as the local jail - I would bet my last dollar that Barry is doing what the attorney's are telling him to do. It would not shock me if "he's a model prisoner" came out of someone's mouth. He strikes me as the type that can comport himself as needed and has done that his entire life. I also think the "volative temper" is disproportionately used without anything but a couple anecdotal comments. <modsnip> LE might have discovered that he isn't quick to temper as they went through their investigation and the reason why they didn't tack on alternative charges like manslaughter that might have been easier to win, but that's just me speculating and wondering what caused them to go for the big enchilada and life in prison.

BBM
If Barry was capable of proper comportment, then he wouldn’t be in jail accused of murdering his wife.

 

[303gmf]

I have to say, that I find it interesting, that a guy who is worried about the intrusive media -
sells the family house on Puma Path, a house he could have easily “gated off” and made very secure from the intrusive media

This same guy then settles into a ground floor rental apartment in the tiny town where he was easy to find /
easily accessible/viewable to anyone driving by. He parks his shiny new truck and bobcat directly outside his place

The afternoon Lauren stops by, BM is inside his street level rental, windows wide open, shirtless with no blinds or curtains drawn –

Does this seem like a guy worried about his or his daughters privacy?

Nah, not so much.

This is a guy that likes to create drama, cast blame on others, further his narrative and do anything that benefits Barry

All IMO of course

Awesome thoughts, thank you !
Many other more private options within a 5 mile radius if the PP house was “unlivable”

 

[sk716]

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

I think they found enough blood evidence to conclude that she had been killed and the body was moved at least once after the initial act and disposal. DNA testing can take months in those rural counties, hence why it took a year for Chaffee Co to take him into custody.

 

[BeckyF]

We're all happy that Lauren has been on the case and kept it going. However, she should drop the "I'm trying to help you Barry" schtick. If she wanted to talk about the search she could have talked to, say, the guy who organized the search. She is chasing a story/scoop, just like everyone else, and is being quite aggressive about it. That is fine. But stop pretending. IMO

Detectives make very similar statements when they are interrogating a suspect. You know the ol’ “you need to get this off your chest” con game they use. I know Lauren is not a detective but personally I don’t think her tactics were objectionable. JMO

 

[Kittybunny]

Evd of BM's Deliberation?
@MassGuy bbm Thanks for your post & let's say the state has evd of all ^ bbm's indicating planning, not loss of temper or heat of passion, so M-1, per Chaffee Co. DA. So far, so good.

Now, devil's advocate on those 'beforehand' points, as Def. team addresses them.
Talked about it w witness..... Just joking; and/or impeach witness credibility.
Did web searches ....................Research for short story he's writing.
Made purchases ..................... Ordinary. Chlorine - hot tub; garbage bags - work. etc
Disabled security cameras ... Elec glitch; trouble-shooting, prep for new cam's.

Is it conceivable all 12 jurors would believe all ^ (or whatever) responses the def offers? Likely not, but if a couple of jurors believe one or more of the above, then could there be collective juror doubt about deliberation, an element needed for M-1?

I hope the state has solid deliberation evidence on all the above & more. my2ct

Research for the short story he's writing? I love your creativity, and while Barry is far from an Edgar Allan Poe he certainly did create a tale of horror for Suzanne and her loved ones.

Very little that Barry does surprise me, he's just acting from the narcissist wife killer playbook. These guys are all the same and so boring, gaslighting, manipulation, victimhood. I will give him props for the voter fraud though, at least that's different!

The release of the AA cannot come soon enough!

 

[Puzzles8]

I think Barry did whatever Barry wanted to do. Hunting trips, move t0 Colorado, restart a business in a new state, buy land, sell land, become a firefighter, meet néwbuddies, meet new ladies.was he ever fun

Much to BM's dismay, he has recently encountered three very strong women that will have great influence in determining his fate.

An aggressive and competent DA and two very accomplished female defense lawyers.

That can't be comfortable for Barry, having women deciding his fate...

All my rambling, JMO, MOO, etc.

 

[Puzzles8]

The Puma Path sale seems a non-issue. I don't see any facts in dispute. After SM disappeared, I don't think the daughters ever returned and BM barely lived there but a few weeks while entertaining his guests. MOO

I don't blame any of them for not wanting to reside in the Puma house again. There was most likely a murder committed there. The victim was their own mother.

What sets my hincky meter off is both the speed of the sale, and the sale price. Sale price was relatively close to the asking price.

How many of you would be interested in buying a house for top dollar that a very recent suspected murder had occurred in?

JMO, MOO

 

[Kittybunny]

Much to BM's dismay, he has recently encountered three very strong women that will have great influence in determining his fate.

An aggressive and competent DA and two very accomplished female defense lawyers.

That can't be comfortable for Barry, having women deciding his fate...

All my rambling, JMO, MOO, etc.

IMO, Barry prefers to deal with females, because he believes he can use his good looks and charm to manipulate them in anyway he wants. I believe it's worked for him most of his life so hopefully he's settled into a nice sense of complacency.

Although I do admit that the credentials and track record of his defense team do give me a bit of concern.

 

[MassGuy]

IMO, Barry prefers to deal with females, because he believes he can use his good looks and charm to manipulate them in anyway he wants. I believe it's worked for him most of his life so hopefully he's settled into a nice sense of complacency.

Although I do admit that the credentials and track record of his defense team do give me a bit of concern.

Charm those you can, and bully those you cannot.

His defense team is formidable, but the evidence will be the evidence. We’ll know in a matter of weeks whether there is reason for concern.

 

[marylamby]

I wonder about the idea that the home sale will come up at trial…seems pretty easy to defend against if it were even admissible. The girls were scared is the simplest. Circumstantial evidence can’t have a reasonable alternative reason is my basic understanding of direction to juries.

That's not my understanding at all. Cases are built on circumstantial evidence every day - not only that, we have juries to decide what's reasonable and what's not - it's their job. I believe a financial motive will be covered in it's entirety, whether one thinks a motive is necessary or not.
IMO, motive and circumstantial evidence is how this case will be tried and will be substantiated by many witnesses and financial records; deeds, transfers, bank accts, inheritance, possible insurance policies et al.
Then there's always a possibility that by the time this goes to trial, Suzanne's body or evidence of her remains could be found.

 

[al66pine]

Purpose of LLC. Investment or Intergenerational Wealth Transfer?

....A LLC purchased PumaP. Presumably for investment. Doesn't seem like a good investment to me....

Puzzles8 sbm bbm Interesting point, respectfully questioning about "presumably for investment" (because buyer was an LLC.) Yes, could be for investment, but not necessarily.

Many LLCs are established by couples who want to pass real est, other assets, or their entire estates to their offspring, while avoiding fed estate & gift tax which may be incurred, if transfers are made by other means. Ex: thru wills probated in court after their deaths, thru living trusts or testimonial trusts, or making current transfers outright. And other reasons for using LLCs: privacy, insulation from personal liability by holding in corp form and more. my2ct

 

[al66pine]

Motives? Or Flimsy Excuses?

Research for the short story he's writing? I love your creativity,....

@Kittybunny sbm bbm Thanks for post w your kind words, but I can't take credit for these creative explanations.
In MSM, I've read all those defenses/excuses (in my earlier post) provided by def team IRL cases to rebut prosecutor's evd of those actions showing pre-meditation or deliberation. Aside from worst excuse* in a case that did not make it to trial.*
__________________________________
* 40+ yrs ago. No MSM
I recall a school teacher who was married for 20 + yrs to a man, an engineer w decades-long 9-5 employment at a Fortune 500 co. Typical middle class, suburban church going fam; he was the ever helpful neighbor; a volunteer referee for high school sports, whole nine yards.
One day the wife became sick, then sicker, went to hosp., semi-recovered, was discharged, followed by half a dozen hosp stays like first one. For ~ 18 mo's, she rode this roller coaster up until the final stag when she was bedfast w virtually no motor control.
Finally a diagnosis, followed by rehab to re-learn ADL's, walking, talking, dressing & feeding herself, etc. She used wheelchair for many years afterward.

Oh, the diagnosis was poison. (I cannot recall which one. Arsenic? Strychnine? Something less common? Regardless.) The man had been poisoning wife w small, non-lethal doses for a year and a half. His explanation for doing this? He loved her and wanted to spend more time w her?!?!?

Members of this couple's church, including my parents, had not seen this side of the husband's character before his arrest. They had a tough time understanding his purported line of reasoning. No difficulty grasping why he chose a 25 yr plea agreement, bypassing a trial & possible life sentence for attempted murder.

 

[Momofthreeboys]

Much to BM's dismay, he has recently encountered three very strong women that will have great influence in determining his fate.

An aggressive and competent DA and two very accomplished female defense lawyers.

That can't be comfortable for Barry, having women deciding his fate...

All my rambling, JMO, MOO, etc.

Does Barry disrespect intelligent women?

That's not my understanding at all. Cases are built on circumstantial evidence every day - not only that, we have juries to decide what's reasonable and what's not - it's their job. I believe a financial motive will be covered in it's entirety, whether one thinks a motive is necessary or not.
IMO, motive and circumstantial evidence is how this case will be tried and will be substantiated by many witnesses and financial records; deeds, transfers, bank accts, inheritance, possible insurance policies et al.
Then there's always a possibility that by the time this goes to trial, Suzanne's body or evidence of her remains could be found.

Yes many criminal cases have minimal direct evidence. I would just say that all presumptive evidence is circumstantial but all circumstantial evidence is not presumptive. I am trusting that the prosecution will keep this tight and selective to tell their story and not go off on too many tangents that leave the possibility of doubt for the jurors. Also the judge is not going to allow them to go off on fishing expeditions to try and convince the jury plus it's dangerous because along with no idea what defense plans they have very little idea what the defense investigators have uncovered. The defense is required to disclose to the prosecution the nature of any defense, other than alibi, which the defense intends to use at trial but there are less laws around the defense work product than they are with the prosecution work product due to presumption of innocence.

 

[Error505]

Motives? Or Flimsy Excuses?
@Kittybunny sbm bbm Thanks for post w your kind words, but I can't take credit for these creative explanations.
In MSM, I've read all those defenses/excuses (in my earlier post) provided by def team IRL cases to rebut prosecutor's evd of those actions showing pre-meditation or deliberation. Aside from worst excuse* in a case that did not make it to trial.*
__________________________________
* 40+ yrs ago. No MSM
I recall a school teacher who was married for 20 + yrs to a man, an engineer w decades-long 9-5 employment at a Fortune 500 co. Typical middle class, suburban church going fam; he was the ever helpful neighbor; a volunteer referee for high school sports, whole nine yards.
One day the wife became sick, then sicker, went to hosp., semi-recovered, was discharged, followed by half a dozen hosp stays like first one. For ~ 18 mo's, she rode this roller coaster up until the final stag when she was bedfast w virtually no motor control.
Finally a diagnosis, followed by rehab to re-learn ADL's, walking, talking, dressing & feeding herself, etc. She used wheelchair for many years afterward.

Oh, the diagnosis was poison. (I cannot recall which one. Arsenic? Strychnine? Something less common? Regardless.) The man had been poisoning wife w small, non-lethal doses for a year and a half. His explanation for doing this? He loved her and wanted to spend more time w her?!?!?

Members of this couple's church, including my parents, had not seen this side of the husband's character before his arrest. They had a tough time understanding his purported line of reasoning. No difficulty grasping why he chose a 25 yr plea agreement, bypassing a trial & possible life sentence for attempted murder.

I always enjoy your posts! Thank you for the story about the school teacher & her engineer hubby. Unbelievable but I believe it!

No wonder I like dogs & cats better than most people.

A few more weeks and BM will be heading into court. I wonder if he’s getting threatening messages in his peanut butter like Letecia Stauch…. MOO

 

[swedeheart]

Anyone know who his jail visitors are, if any?

I would not be mad if Chris M. decided to drop by and finally get his chat with Barry.

I'm sure Chris would be denied a visit by him, though. Barry comes across as the type of man who hates other men that he perceives to be smarter than him, and stays far away from conversation with them.

 

[Momofthreeboys]

I would not be mad if Chris M. decided to drop by and finally get his chat with Barry.

I'm sure Chris would be denied a visit by him, though. Barry comes across as the type of man who hates other men that he perceives to be smarter than him, and stays far away from conversation with them.

I imagine it would be a cold day in you know where before Barry would talk to that man if you are talking about the guy that used to be with PE. If Barry wouldn't talk to a legitimate journalist like Lauren who has rules and ethics guiding what they publish he isn't going to talk to a guy that gets his social channel viewers with a whole bunch of innuendo. Makes me chuckle. Chris has made it clear that he has no ability to be objective in the least. His prerogative of course. All our opinions are our own opinions.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

I Makes me chuckle. Chris has made it clear that he has no ability to be objective in the least. His prerogative of course. All our opinions are our own opinions.

RSBM

I admire him though for sticking to his guns, almost from day one. His gut knew that BM had murdered his wife (in his opinion, ofc) and he never strayed from his mission to bring that home. And now here we are, with BM arrested for murder and locked up.

JMO