Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #68 *ARREST*

[katydid23]

This is the state's case. The state called these witnesses. The state somehow thinks this is important.

One rule in litigation is to get ahead of your bad facts. The state may have thought they wanted to introduce this up front to get it over with so the defense can't do an "ah ha" later on.

Or they may be setting this up for motive.

Suzanne is texting her boyfriend at 2:11pm. Barry walks in and sees her texting, grabs her phone, reads through the messages and flies into a rage. Cue their evidence of his destruction of evidence over the next few hours.

I think they kind of had to throw this out there immediately. It would have been devastating if the defense was the first to reveal it---This way, it is awkward, and not optimum way to open their case---but we are digesting it and processing it so we can move on to the murder details. JMO

 

[EggSalad]

This is the state's case. The state called these witnesses. The state somehow thinks this is important.

One rule in litigation is to get ahead of your bad facts. The state may have thought they wanted to introduce this up front to get it over with so the defense can't do an "ah ha" later on.

Or they may be setting this up for motive.

Suzanne is texting her boyfriend at 2:11pm. Barry walks in and sees her texting, grabs her phone, reads through the messages and flies into a rage. Cue their evidence of his destruction of evidence over the next few hours.

I had that same thought about timing. SM would have expected BM to be at that job site all day but he called the day early to make the wife happy. Plus they had just gotten in a big fight the night before. It’s very plausible that BM saw the messages and erupted.

 

[charminglane]

IMO, "make the wife happy" meant he was going home to kill her.
Giving her his kind of freedom.

 

[10ofRods]

MOO Ecuador is a euphemism for safety.
Suzanne didn't want to die leaving BM.

Yes! It's so sad, because most women in Suzanne's situation have been barred by their husbands from figuring out a real escape plan.

And real escape plans are hard - and probably best kept close to the vest.

 

[Tibeliz]

Something I still expect/hope to hear about in this hearing: Where was BM’s phone in relation to SM’s phone when she sent her last message before disappearing, as well as when her phone went dark? While the info we learned today can cause emotional reactions, there are important fact that matter much more when it comes to bringing SM justice. JMO

 

[10ofRods]

I had that same thought about timing. SM would have expected BM to be at that job site all day but he called the day early to make the wife happy. Plus they had just gotten in a big fight the night before. It’s very plausible that BM saw the messages and erupted.

Since you have followed this case closely, you're able to be very clear. And also, diplomatic. But yes, this is the story I hear as well.

 

[kittythehare]

I feel bad for Suzanne. Not one, but 2 cowardly losers. And the 2nd with a fakelove and 6 kids.

I think that a possibility exists that she died unaware that JL would betray her as he surely did, from what we read today.
I think or I hope. I don't actually know.
I also believe BM was fully aware of this affair but I don't know whether sufficient proof exists of his awareness or not.
He wanted to control what she wore, what meds she took and probably so, so much more.

His defense team are top level, however so it could go either way.

I have a whole lot of respect for Ms Shanley. I wish we could see her in action.

 

[Seattle1]

This JL was her boyfriend before BM?
BM was a lot older than Suzanne, not at HS same time.
I think he knew she was the richest gal he would have a chance with, pulled out all the stops to win her, bet that is also why he couldn't keep it going it going as a decent husband, got abusive.
Like Fotis Dulos, he found marrying for money was a terrible job especially as you get older.
And then of course ultimately the unloved person wants out.

I believe there's about 3- year age difference (SM was a freshman when BM was a senior). I believe they knew of each other in HS but did not begin dating until after BM failed at baseball and started at Purdue, and began working at the golf course (groundskeeping) that SM lived on with her mother and her step-family. MOO

ETA: I don't recall hearing anything today about JL and SM dating in HS but I suppose it's possible.

 

[marylamby]

I would think BM would most definitely be seeing someone else as well. How else would Suzanne slip away that many times without BM catching them? There's always hunting/working out but with his controlling nature there had to be more keeping his focus off what she was doing.

And I can't imagine his rage once he found out. (that's if he "knew"), which I think at some point he did. Whether he had 10 girlfriends or not, he would be LIVID. How dare someone try to take his "top prize"...his possession. I was married to someone just like BM for 20 years...Avid Hunter, Deer Farm Owner, top tier narcissist, and all.

Suzanne's sister alluded to an affair in IN and how Suzanne had to forgive him. I'm sure she will figure prominently in many ways.

 

[MsBetsy]

This is to address those who feel free to condemn Suzanne for this affair, whether emotional or physical or both.
Suzanne isn't missing, she's dead, IMO.
If she's dead, someone killed her.
The state believes she's dead and the person who killed her is BM. So do I.
Witness accounts and text msgs describe severe emotional and physical abuse perpetrated by BM for years, at least.
I can't understand the outrage directed at a woman who not only endured years of abuse but WAS MURDERED by the man who made her life a living hell.
IMO IMO IMO IMO

Yeah, the post in the last thread stating it was wrong of Suzanne not to report the affair to LE after her disappearance makes no sense. How was she supposed to tell LE anything if she was dead?

Lots of people have affairs, especially when they are unhappy. I would be surprised if Suzanne had NOT had an affair.

It was Barry who had everything going for him in the marriage, not Suzanne. I don't think he wanted it to end, or at least not in divorce. He acted out of emotion. If he found out that she had been communicating with her lover that day I think it would have enraged him.

I'm wondering if that's why he seemed so distracted at the beach job and suddenly decided to leave early. Did he realize she was talking to him and go home to confront her?

 

[Gardenista]

Wonder if they think it was 2nd degree, but the fact that he disposed of her body pushes it up to 1st degree.

 

[marylamby]

I had that same thought about timing. SM would have expected BM to be at that job site all day but he called the day early to make the wife happy. Plus they had just gotten in a big fight the night before. It’s very plausible that BM saw the messages and erupted.

MG said he was a nervous wreck on Saturday and had her knock off before the job was done or cut it short. I think he already knew what he 'had' to do that day. I think (like you) he'd already seen enough messages.

 

[SeattleStew]

I had that same thought about timing. SM would have expected BM to be at that job site all day but he called the day early to make the wife happy. Plus they had just gotten in a big fight the night before. It’s very plausible that BM saw the messages and erupted.

That’s the motivation, and the girls being gone was his opportunity.

 

[Wendyb1063]

It appears they had some kind of a brief fling in high school:




Stephanie (Butzer) Rose
@stephaniebutzer
·
4h

Harris is now talking about how Suzanne and Jeff Libler knew each other. They both went to high school in Indiana and in the summer of 1989, he went to a party at Suzanne's house when Barry was not there and the two hooked up.

 

[clearskies1]

Waiting for substantial evidence. Do they have it?

 

[Gardenista]

Wonder if they think it was 2nd degree, but the fact that he disposed of her body pushes it up to 1st degree.

Replying to my own post, but thinking back to another CO case (Shannan or Kelsey) seems like there is some sort of a domestic violence modifier that pushes up the charge.

 

[SleuthBee]

Something I still expect/hope to hear about in this hearing: Where was BM’s phone in relation to SM’s phone when she sent her last message before disappearing, as well as when her phone went dark?

Smart thinking on your part! This will be incriminating information, for sure.

 

[Tiff23fr]

I believe there's about 3- year age difference (SM was a freshman when BM was a senior). I believe they knew of each other in HS but did not begin dating until after BM failed at baseball and started at Purdue, and began working at the golf course (groundskeeping) that SM lived on with her mother and her step-family. MOO

ETA: I don't recall hearing anything today about JL and SM dating in HS but I suppose it's possible.

I read this:
The two had gone to high school in Indiana and hooked up during the summer of 1989 at a house party. Barry was not at the party. Twenty years later, they hooked up again, Harris said.
https://www.thedenverchannel.com/ne...rs-confirm-suzanne-was-having-a-2-year-affair

 

[oviedo]

So far I’m not seeing the reason for sealing the AA to protect the girls - it’s an affair so what else is in that warrant ? I’m truly astonished that the DA/LE team kept this under wraps all this time …
JMO

 

[Love Never Fails]

I'm not disappointed at all. In fact, I'm glad she found any happiness.
Someone said it very well earlier (I think I may know who but don't want to give credit to the wrong party).
Suzanne was unloved and facing abuse in one form or another every day. She found the strength to LEAVE her abuser and if JL helped her find herself, to regain her sense of self-worth and realized life had much more to offer, then he served an invaluable purpose. I couldn't care less if it were a man, a friend, a girlfriend or a fairy godmother.
Suzanne made it clear she feared for her life and he wasn't going to let her go. The fact that she had people she could confide in and found comfort with makes me grateful that she at least had hope.
Oh, and she's dead. BM killed her. IMO
Horse is dead and I'm done.

I could agree with all you said except that Suzanne did not find happiness. She found death instead. And I do not believe for one moment JL would have left his life, his wife, and his kids for her. He even hid while authorities really needed to find him. Suzanne’s life was sad and tragic but she was not living some romantic dream.