Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #72 *ARREST*

[Cindizzi]

Totally random but <modsnip> would he just happen to be looking for a Turkey that his daughter shot some time ago. Not likely.

Total fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants nonsense.
JMO

 

[steeltowngirl]

No, there is no scenic background -- not even the bathing suit. Reporter LS described the photo as SM on her stomach, raises her head for a selfie headshot, her hair draped forward covering her bathing suit.

Why is this being challenged when it was an unopposed exhibit admitted by the prosecutor?

I’m not the OP, but I’m going to take a guess what the OP is theorizing. BM may have attacked and killed SM, then sent an old photo of her to JL. This theory would mean some of the texts from earlier Saturday may have been faked or spoofed, and it would get messy with the timeline and car GPS data of BM coming home at 2:44 PM, though.

So, I think it’s very unlikely that he did what I describe above, but it’s a theory that I think a few of us have considered, but later dismissed due to vehicle data.

jmo

 

[steeltowngirl]

What Spa? Is that the hot tub stuff? Or a different kind of spa? Would not doubt he went there often. IMO

Barry is said to have visited Salida Spa and Stove the afternoon of May 9. There is a reported discrepancy on what time he was there. I can’t understand why the time is not nailed down. There are likely security cameras at the door of the store, as the store moved to this location in 2018. They keep product outdoors, and security cameras should be a business necessity. There are also nearby businesses, including a gas station. Someone had to have a camera. Salida Stove and Spa moves to Poncha Springs

 

[clearskies1]

Barry is said to have visited Salida Spa and Stove the afternoon of May 9. There is a reported discrepancy on what time he was there. I can’t understand why the time is not nailed down. There are likely security cameras at the door of the store, as the store moved to this location in 2018. They keep product outdoors, and security cameras should be a business necessity. There are also nearby businesses, including a gas station. Someone had to have a camera. Salida Stove and Spa moves to Poncha Springs

By the time his visit there was reported maybe any security tapes had already been taped over.

 

[Momofthreeboys]

MOO - I am now realizing that BM had the bobcat and trailer with him on 5/9 when he is getting the bobcat blade replaced at 2pm in town (Salida I presume). I hadn’t paid attention to that detail.

So then when he arrives back home at 2:44pm, the bobcat and trailer must be attached to the truck as far as we know, because it hasn’t been mentioned he left it behind.

Therefore, the truck not moving and then going into reverse at 9:25pm and backing up 95 feet in the driveway, tells me BM was likely backing up the truck to park the trailer at the end of driveway and detached it from the truck. He then likely drove the bobcat off the trailer to park it next to the trailer.

I’m guessing this is what might have happened because I remember seeing a news chopper video of the home where you see the police tape around the home and the trailer and bobcat were parked at the end of the driveway next to each other. Assuming they were not moved there by LE after seizing the property, I’m led to believe the activity on 5/9 regarding BM’s truck going into reverse was him parking the trailer and bobcat.

What do you all think?

MOO

Yes I posted similar thoughts awhile back. I think that is exactly what was happening because he did not bring the skid steer to Broomfield.

 

[OldCop]

Barry is said to have visited Salida Spa and Stove the afternoon of May 9. There is a reported discrepancy on what time he was there. I can’t understand why the time is not nailed down. There are likely security cameras at the door of the store, as the store moved to this location in 2018. They keep product outdoors, and security cameras should be a business necessity. There are also nearby businesses, including a gas station. Someone had to have a camera. Salida Stove and Spa moves to Poncha Springs

I agree, @steeltowngirl. Why would the defense be relying on word of mouth statements from two store employees when all that technology is available nearby? And why would BM feel the need to lie about going there in the first place?

 

[TKG]

Bravo, @OldCop , @oviedo.

This is so helpful, thank you.

One question for clarification:
Did the 12:02 a.m call come in Sunday morning (the 10th)?

Bravo, @OldCop , @oviedo.

What is the significance of an incoming call at 12:02 am on the 9th? She used her phone after that.

 

[Cindizzi]

By the time his visit there was reported maybe any security tapes had already been taped over.

Unfortunately this might be true. The thing about this stop is not only fitting it in to the timeline but the Defense is saying it goes to his demeanor . He couldn’t have just killed his wife and then shown up talking to the owner all calm-like. The Prosecution says they could be wrong about the time.
Anxious to hear more.

 

[BeckyF]

Some people do dye and sell the feathers. They are sold at craft stores. Turkey feathers are sometimes dyed to resemble Golden Eagle feathers (which are, I think, illegal to pluck or own). Most of the feathers used in costumes where an Eagle feather is called for...are turkey feathers.

This is a man who was selling his pet racoon's pelt as a boy. Not judging, just saying.

OTOH, if he is claiming to be using tranquilizer darts on chipmunks, well, I need to see the dosage, otherwise, that's inhumane and I had no idea that there was a chipmunk-hunting season in Salida.

Chipmunks are not usually pests.

Well you know there was 85 of them! LOL I really hope investigators have searched for purchases by BM of anything related to tranquilizer guns.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

It's too bad that, when a person is known missing in a small town, the LE don't ask for all businesses in the vicinity to save their surveillance video, even if initially for some generic time frame like "a week prior to missing report" until they know more what they are looking for.

I mean, at that beginning point in time LE has no idea if they're dealing with a voluntary walkaway, head injury/amnesia, domestic issue, stranger kidnapping, etc, but in nearly every situation it might turn out to be, local video would still be helpful in figuring things out. MOO

 

[steeltowngirl]

It's too bad that, when a person is known missing in a small town, the LE don't ask for all businesses in the vicinity to save their surveillance video, even if initially for some generic time frame like "a week prior to missing report" until they know more what they are looking for.

I mean, at that beginning point in time LE has no idea if they're dealing with a voluntary walkaway, head injury/amnesia, domestic issue, stranger kidnapping, etc, but in nearly every situation it might turn out to be, local video would still be helpful in figuring things out. MOO

They did ask neighbors to save video, but I’m not sure about businesses. I believe Poncha Market did, but taped over it by the time they were asked, as you mention.

Search For Suzanne Morphew: Neighbors Asked To Save Surveillance Video

As the investigation into the Suzanne Morphew’s missing person case moves forward, Chaffee County residents are being asked to preserve any and all video footage from devices such as Ring doorbells, security cameras, game cameras, etc., from May 8th thru May 12th.

Citizens are only being asked to preserve the video at this time. Please do not send these videos to the sheriff’s office or call the sheriff’s office. As search areas are identified, investigators will contact residents in those locations to collect any camera footage within that May 8-12 window.

PLEASE DO NOT CALL CHAFFEE COUNTY DISPATCH WITH QUESTIONS.

“One of the most helpful ways the community can aid in the search of Suzanne Morphew is by preserving these recordings,” said Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze. “We are aware that some systems override video after several days, and we want to ensure video remains available if needed.”

May 17 Search Press Release - Chaffee County Sheriff

 

[Warwick7]

After going over my timeline here are some random thoughts and questions:

- I'm getting the feeling there is another person is involved. We have missing money. By Barry saying it's missing that is his excuse for the missing $$$. He can steer his responsibility of the money to Suzanne OR he can say someone broke into the house, stole the money and took Suzanne. OR what if that money was used to pay someone to either A. Murder his Wife or B. Get rid of the body of his murdered wife? The lack of a body and the fact that investigators didn't find much in the house or on the property leads me to believe that Suzanne was taken far away from the house. Suzphone last pinged from 4:10am-4:22am far from the Morphew home. With Barry's phone pinging near where the bike was found AND him returning home @ 4:31am he can't be at two places at the same time. This is a problem!


On the 9th
- 2:47pm Barry turns his phone off.
- 4:44pm Truck door opens and closes.
- The next bit of info we get is that the truck computer was reset a 5:53pm. What happened in the 2 hrs between 2:47 and 4:44pm( Is this the time of the murder?)
- We also have the hour and 9 mins from 4:44-5:53pm. What happened then?

- The sheets in the daughter's room. What if the murder didn't happen at 2:47pm? What if they had an argument about the texts to Libler and that was all? Say they talked for awhile and then went to bed and instead of sleeping in the same bedroom, Suzanne went to sleep in the daughter's room. Could Barry or someone else gone in there and murdered her? Then she is wrapped up in those bed sheets and taken away or Barry takes the sheets and disposes of them on one of his garbage runs? Just another scenario.

- Barry's truck moves to the end of the driveway on the night of the 9th. From 9:24 to 9:56 it would appear from the truck data that Barry was in the truck for 32 minutes. What was he doing in there? Is Barry waiting in the car while someone else goes into the house to kill and/or remove Suzanne?

-3:58am- Barry's phone goes to the area where Suzanne's bike is found.
-4:31am- Barry's phone is back at the home.
He's got a lot of explaining to do here!!

- I have a feeling that there is an explanation for the tranquilizer gun and dart. Why would Barry admit to throwing it away if it had anything to do with the murder? That's not smart AT ALL. That puts a possible smoking gun in his hand. After being careful with everything else, why be so careless with something that can and will be used against him. It doesn't make sense. Don't be surprised if this turns out to be nothing.

- We need more truck info. For instance the cell phone pings that have Barry moving around to the bike area and back home, does the truck data indicate that the truck doors opened and closed at those locations???!!! THIS IS IMPORTANT AS IT'S ANOTHER INDICATOR THAT HE WAS THERE. That info is missing and needs to be accounted for. I find this sloppy work by the DA. They make a big deal about truck data yet when it is really needed to corroborate phone data they don't bring it up!

BBM
This was a preliminary hearing. They aren't supposed to corroborate all the phone data.

This is a proceeding after a criminal complaint has been filed by the prosecutor, to determine whether there is enough evidence to require a trial. Then at the trial everything comes out.

We are only 1/2 way through this hearing. There are still 2 more days.

And the DA is doing an incredible job.

 

[303gmf]

Who’s home is this? LS says LE say “she” is unavailable and MG had moved to another state. It doesn’t look like BM’s condo.
Unless I’m confused. ( it’s been known to happen).

The woman he was dating lived there
Her initials SD

 

[Warwick7]

Awesome work.

I am so intrigued by this activity:

5/9
12:02 am incoming call on SM’s phone(d)
2:07 am outgoing call on SM’s phone

I wonder if they had separate bedrooms. I wonder if JL tried to call her.

Or

Maybe we will find out SM's sister called her (or SO) to see if she was ok, since, on the 8th he was being abusive.
I think it was the 8th...

 

[mrsu]

Do we know if they took readings from Suzanne’s car? Were there any other vehicles available? The released timeline doesn’t account for the neighbor to the construction property that heard loud sounds late in the evening of 5/9. So far Barry’s phone comes off airplane mode at 10:17pm but his truck shows it hadn’t moved for most of the evening. Did it move after 10pm? Were all the phone stats released or just some? Could there be others after 10:17pm?

I’m thinking the good bulk of whatever happened, had to have been from 2:47pm to 10pm when phone was in airplane mode. There would be zero reason to switch it otherwise. As to lack of anything else being found, my thought is this…what if Suzanne was never really “dead”, then there would be nothing to find right? If he tranquilized her, he knew he had a certain amount of time. Getting shot with a dart wouldn’t leave blood and no decomp. I think he had a hole ready for her, wrapped her in the sheets that were never found, and buried her in the dark of night while she was tranquilized. I think she’s likely close by the Puma Path residence. And that honestly seems like the path of least resistance. I don’t believe he’s smart enough for some elaborate clean up. She was probably never dead for long enough anywhere for them to find anything glaringly obvious. JMO

Also, do vehicles not have GPS info that LE can access? I always assumed most newer cars did? Can’t they figure out where he was driving based off that info?

 

[Cindizzi]

They did ask neighbors to save video, but I’m not sure about businesses. I believe Poncha Market did, but taped over it by the time they were asked, as you mention.

Search For Suzanne Morphew: Neighbors Asked To Save Surveillance Video

As the investigation into the Suzanne Morphew’s missing person case moves forward, Chaffee County residents are being asked to preserve any and all video footage from devices such as Ring doorbells, security cameras, game cameras, etc., from May 8th thru May 12th.

Citizens are only being asked to preserve the video at this time. Please do not send these videos to the sheriff’s office or call the sheriff’s office. As search areas are identified, investigators will contact residents in those locations to collect any camera footage within that May 8-12 window.

PLEASE DO NOT CALL CHAFFEE COUNTY DISPATCH WITH QUESTIONS.

“One of the most helpful ways the community can aid in the search of Suzanne Morphew is by preserving these recordings,” said Chaffee County Sheriff John Spezze. “We are aware that some systems override video after several days, and we want to ensure video remains available if needed.”

May 17 Search Press Release - Chaffee County Sheriff

The way they asked citizens to preserve their footage was by sending out a reverse 911 call . This would go out to all phone numbers in the County ( including businesses) with a landline and all cell phones that were registered with Everbridge. I would think that most cell users would be registered to be alerted because of the high fire danger and other weather related emergencies .
Everbridge - Chaffee County Sheriff

 

[Warwick7]

RSBM
This is the day BM should have been most angry. Was he taking her out walking on the premise of talking about SM being “done” when, in fact, he intended for an accident to happen?
Did being seen by Bridget cause him to abort his plan?

Funny that you say this. When he said want to go for a hike--she says "where?" He never answers her.

I have thought he couldn't tell her where for fear she may inadvertently text anyone and tell them. I always wondered if that was "plan A" and it fizzled.

But with what you are saying---that makes complete sense.

 

[Hummingbird28]

Ive been wondering about the tranquilizer dart. Didn’t really know much about it. I thought this video was helpful

 

[sunshine4040]

MOO they don't know where he was once it went on airplane mode.
But that is unclear.

Ha,
But a lot of phones have # of steps. That's how they busted Ashley Macarthur, Great case out of Pensacola. My phone lies to me and said I had 18 steps,
when I know I haven't done jack squat all day. I think that type or kind of data is going to come into play. It seems SM had a smart watch.
IMO

 

[Sillybilly]

Can a MOD approve this for tomorrow please?

Yes, because it is Lauren and Chris, it can be allowed.