Found Deceased CO - Suzanne Morphew, 49, Chaffee County, 10 May 2020 #73 *ARREST*

[Cindizzi]

FBI agent Ken Harris testifies that #BarryMorphew and his wife had argued shortly before Suzanne’s disappearance about money. In particular, inheritance Suzanne had received that was used to buy the house and that Barry invested in business.

https://twitter.com/russellhaythorn/status/1424788127856668678?s=21

 

[Goldenseal]

I'm curious about the financial arguments from the hearing - couples that argue about money may argue because 1) there isn't enough to pay basic bills; or 2) one is a spender and one is a saver; or 3) one is secretly hiding money and it's discovered; or 4) one is using credit cards to the extreme .... what else? and why was this couple arguing about money? I've often wondered with the self employment/business of landscaping - was there any kind of steady "paycheck" or were they living off of savings after paying cash for the house? Since both names were on the PP deed - it's unlikely only one could take out a loan/line of credit without the other's signature from legitimate sources?
JMO

I'd like to add my own question about their finances: why the heck put all your cash into a huge house when you might be short of cash to live on? Couldn't they get a mortgage, 20% down and the cash in the bank for living expenses? In fact, with just the two of them, why buy a huge house at all? Surely there were other fine houses for a lot less money, and still decent SF.

 

[kakadu]

Hi All, here is updated link with some corrections made. I am not sure why for a bit I gave daughters the initials MalB and MaB instead of MalM and MaM... I could speculate...

I want to mention that you should know that whatever my notes are, they are to the best of my understanding and ability. I am lightyears from being an expert.

I hope this works....

Link Sharing

It works and is very helpful. Thank you. You are simply the best!!!

 

[steeltowngirl]

I definitely agree, @IRBHTX. When passions are rekindled in mid-life, after being long absent, I’d say they tend to burn even hotter than in youth. After the despair of her marriage and the return of her cancer I’ll bet SM was feeling young and vibrant and desirable again in ways she hadn’t for many years. She was finding herself again. She was buoyant. And this makes me happy even if there was no chance for success with the JL relationship.

That relationship was like a tattoo for her — it marked an inflection point in her life. It may not have started with sex, but sex is often in the cards when one goes from despair to hope, from depression to elation, from being taken for granted to being seen as a person deserving of love. No doubt the months in between meetups just fueled the fire. That relationship was doomed from the start even if BM hadn’t stepped in to end her life. But one’s doesn’t see that in the throes of new love. I’m glad she had those feelings again before her life was cruelly taken from her.

I think one’s faith can provide valuable ballast, especially in a stormy life like SM seems to have been living for quite some time. But it can also anchor you to unhealthy situations and cause guilt for desiring something more in life. I think SM’s spiritual self was maturing due to her second bout with cancer, among other things. She had come to realize that her wants and needs were just as important as anyone else’s. That she was entitled to be happy. And that you have to seize the day.

IIRC, she said, “What was young me thinking?” That’s a breakthrough question. I do wonder if she may have been in therapy of some sort — and we just haven’t heard about it yet — due to her cancer, DV, or some other new friend/opportunity that brought new perspective. Sometimes I wonder if that’s what BM was referring to when he accused her of “wanting to go back to town and talk to someone” after he hurt his leg. Perhaps we’ll find out more next week.

All MOO, all the time.

Beautiful, heartfelt post @24Brix

 

[Auntie Cipation]

And can we suppose that he doesn't have the excuse of it being an 'unknown' number, since he is FF volunteer, so LE's # should be in his phone. Wouldn't that be standard?
Not only that, any number should have been answered, in this situation.
I wonder what reason he came up with?

And even more -- wasn't his whole reason for going to Broomfield to establish his alibi, that he was hours away? So why not add a phone call from LE where his cell will be definitively tracked to Broomfield at that time, with him definitively on the line? I mean, isn't that what all the travel was FOR?

 

[Momofthreeboys]

I'd like to add my own question about their finances: why the heck put all your cash into a huge house when you might be short of cash to live on? Couldn't they get a mortgage, 20% down and the cash in the bank for living expenses? In fact, with just the two of them, why buy a huge house at all? Surely there were other fine houses for a lot less money, and still decent SF.

That house in Colorado was almost half the square feet of their Indiana home so they definitely downsized in square footage with the move to Colorado.

 

[bestill]

That house in Colorado was almost half the square feet of their Indiana home so they definitely downsized in square footage with the move to Colorado.

Wow! What exactly drew them to Colorado, did they have a connection there? I think I read it was a "fresh start" but why Colorado? The cost of living is quite high, not exactly a lot of bang for the buck.

 

[Scootie98]

I'd like to add my own question about their finances: why the heck put all your cash into a huge house when you might be short of cash to live on? Couldn't they get a mortgage, 20% down and the cash in the bank for living expenses? In fact, with just the two of them, why buy a huge house at all? Surely there were other fine houses for a lot less money, and still decent SF.

there's the idea floating around out there that the house was "Suzanne's idea"..and "she picked it"....I don't buy it for a second. It would be about the only thing that was her idea....as far as I can tell.

 

[Scootie98]

And even more -- wasn't his whole reason for going to Broomfield to establish his alibi, that he was hours away? So why not add a phone call from LE where his cell will be definitively tracked to Broomfield at that time, with him definitively on the line? I mean, isn't that what all the travel was FOR?

Well, we seem to know that Barry had an aversion to being recorded...and a phone call from or to LE would certainly do that.

 

[Seattle1]

I'd like to add my own question about their finances: why the heck put all your cash into a huge house when you might be short of cash to live on? Couldn't they get a mortgage, 20% down and the cash in the bank for living expenses? In fact, with just the two of them, why buy a huge house at all? Surely there were other fine houses for a lot less money, and still decent SF.

I think the cash shortfall from the delayed Indiana house sale created the perfect storm. Just one year earlier, the Indiana residence probably would have sold in a matter of months (versus years) and for 20% higher sales price if not for the earlier government-imposed mortgage lending requirements that became effective during that period, slamming the 2016-17 economy.

MBM stated that BM did not like debt and was obsessed with "ownership." Public records seem to support that. Any mortgages were paid off decades before maturity and no record of UCC1 filings (Uniform Commercial Code). This means BM didn't finance his business equipment or $60k trucks!

Bobcat Skid Steer Loader Average Prices (2021): How Much Does a Bobcat Skid Steer Cost to Buy, Lease or Rent? How to Operate a Bobcat

 

[MaisieBella]

Thinking of Ecuador, I don't know how many of you may be following a case we currently have here in Australia - I know South Aussie is . Not that much has been happening lately, although this elderly couple have now been missing for nearly a year and a half. Their names are Carol Clay and Russell Hill if you are interested. They are/were another couple who were sweethearts in their teens, and came together again in later life. For a long long time I so hoped that they had faked their disappearance, and were living happily ever after somewhere far, far away. But sadly I don't think so anymore.

It is a fascinating case. I have followed it from the beginning.

 

[DizzyB]

If Barry had a bunch of workers, how did they get in touch with him? His phone was constantly in airplane mode. I get that some businesses (a lots of tradespeople such as landscapers) listen to voicemails and return calls in the evening or next day. But how did his family/friends/employees reach Barry when he made himself unreachable all the time? What happens in an emergency? I don’t want to hear this battery saving excuse. If you can afford two Range Rovers, you can get a Mophie or some other portable external battery or charger. Especially when you have kids on the road and a wife at home with cancer.

 

[DeDee]

Or she was still alive but tranquilized when moved with any vehicle and therefore no cadaverine for the dogs to hit on. Although BM made alot of mistakes, I do think he picked up some interesting ideas from Forensic Files and tried to use the info learned to correct mistakes made by the perps on the show. I can picture BM thinking something like 'OK, that guy got caught cuz he didn't realize what can be found if he had a dead body in his vehicle, so I just won't ever have a dead body in the house or vehicle. Problem solved.' IMO SM was taken somewhere alive but unconscious and killed wherever her body is.. pushed off a cliff, strangled and put under a newly planted tree, etc.

Not for a lack of trying am I able to determine when Barry accessed the Forensic Files episode(s).

Would listening to the episodes be included as possible planning and support premeditation charges, for I recall one, in particular, that he listened to involved a Missing Person who vanished while on a bike ride?

If anyone has a link to toss my way, merci.

 

[Seattle1]

If Barry had a bunch of workers, how did they get in touch with him? His phone was constantly in airplane mode. I get that some businesses (a lots of tradespeople such as landscapers) listen to voicemails and return calls in the evening or next day. But how did his family/friends/employees reach Barry when he made himself unreachable all the time? What happens in an emergency? I don’t want to hear this battery saving excuse. If you can afford two Range Rovers, you can get a Mophie or some other portable external battery or charger. Especially when you have kids on the road and a wife at home with cancer.

The family moved to Colorado with knowledge of SM's cancer and the fact they didn't have a landline always staggered me. Long before cell phones, landlines were a necessity and not a luxury. We know the previous owners had a landline as did the Ritters.

IMO, BM did the calling. He hired individuals that he could dominate and "took orders." If and when BM called, they were expected to be ready. A perfect example was MG, CC, and first-timer JP that departed to Broomfield because BM commanded they go there!

ETA: Airplane mode does not prevent wifi and I think most in the area communicate via text versus phone because of the spotty cell coverage.

 

[Gigi3]

If Barry had a bunch of workers, how did they get in touch with him? His phone was constantly in airplane mode. I get that some businesses (a lots of tradespeople such as landscapers) listen to voicemails and return calls in the evening or next day. But how did his family/friends/employees reach Barry when he made himself unreachable all the time? What happens in an emergency? I don’t want to hear this battery saving excuse. If you can afford two Range Rovers, you can get a Mophie or some other portable external battery or charger. Especially when you have kids on the road and a wife at home with cancer.

Totally agree. If he was trying to “save battery” he would’ve stated that as an excuse already. As far as I know, he hasn’t has he?

 

[Momofthreeboys]

If Barry had a bunch of workers, how did they get in touch with him? His phone was constantly in airplane mode. I get that some businesses (a lots of tradespeople such as landscapers) listen to voicemails and return calls in the evening or next day. But how did his family/friends/employees reach Barry when he made himself unreachable all the time? What happens in an emergency? I don’t want to hear this battery saving excuse. If you can afford two Range Rovers, you can get a Mophie or some other portable external battery or charger. Especially when you have kids on the road and a wife at home with cancer.

My husband does this and it is a pain. We have all gotten used to immediate accessibility with cell phones that we seem to not be able to function without immediate accessibility. My husband returns calls and voicemails first thing in the morning and at the end of the day. Always has and always will. Drove his office nuts until he retired. At night when it's mostly friends and family he generally will answer his cell phone if their name pops up otherwise he waits for a voicemail. I don't think he's alone to be honest among tradespeople and some of the population. My garage repair service has a voicemail that says "don't leave a message, text me". I don't think it's a money thing at all....he probably can't even hear his phone ring half he time and alot of the time he might be out of a service area.

 

[GeorgiaRai]

Can someone clarify: testimony was that SM took a selfie while sunbathing. Is that based on the actual background of the picture - i.e., the yard, hot tub, and/or lounge chair were visible in the photo - as opposed to assuming she was sunbathing because she was in swimwear (or possibly nude)?

 

[girlhasnoname]

Not for a lack of trying am I able to determine when Barry accessed the Forensic Files episode(s).

Would listening to the episodes be included as possible planning and support premeditation charges, for I recall one, in particular, that he listened to involved a Missing Person who vanished while on a bike ride?

If anyone has a link to toss my way, merci.

BBM
Allegedly Suzanne had recordings on the spy pen of BM listening to "Forensic Files" type of podcasts, etc. while he was driving alone in his truck. I don't think anyone has clarified if it was specifically one in particular IIRC.?

Yes, this was months before the murder also where the woman went missing after a bike ride.

 

[steeltowngirl]

BBM
Allegedly Suzanne had recordings on the spy pen of BM listening to "Forensic Files" type of podcasts, etc. while he was driving alone in his truck. I don't think anyone has clarified if it was specifically one in particular IIRC.?

Yes, this was months before the murder also where the woman went missing after a bike ride.

From NoSI’s notes from the prelim:

Spy pen: “relevant” as per SAH. They listened to the files on the spy pen.
# Recording 1: Unintentional recording of radio when BM was driving F350. News from 2/3/20 on radio. BM also listened to Forensic Files episode were woman went missing while riding her bike.

 

[sunshine4040]

I know there has been post about BM and SM's daughters supporting him at court.
Now this is called jumping down the white rabbit hole.
He could have possibly told them that , Sorry girls, she had been drinking that day and we had been fighting.
And then she started taking her pain meds, the next thing I knew she was passed out , drowned in the hot tub?
I couldn't tell anyone because no one would possibly believe this? IMO

Well he would be correct. IMO